Hollywood smile in Antalya, Turkey

What a Hollywood smile can change

• Colour — from yellow or grey to a brighter shade you choose
• Shape and length — short, worn, chipped or pointed teeth
• Gaps and mild crowding — small spaces and slight rotations, without braces
• Old fillings and crowns — replaced so that all visible teeth match

It does not move teeth, correct a strongly crooked bite or replace missing teeth. Where teeth are missing, a smile makeover can combine veneers and crowns with implants or a bridge.

A well-planned Hollywood smile does not look artificial. The shade, the shape of each tooth and the curve of the smile are designed for your face, your lips and your age.

Upper teeth only, or upper and lower?

Most people show 8–10 upper teeth when they smile. The lower teeth are often partly hidden by the lower lip, but show more when you talk or laugh, and more with age as the lips relax.

If only the upper teeth are treated, the lower teeth are usually whitened first so the colours match. A very white upper shade next to natural lower teeth is the most common reason a result looks unbalanced.

Choosing the shade: natural or very white

You choose the shade together with your dentist, on a shade guide and on the mock-up, in daylight. Most patients choose between two directions:

• Natural bright — similar to well-whitened natural teeth. The edges stay slightly translucent and the colour is a little warmer near the gum, as in natural teeth.
• Very white — the bleach shades, lighter than any natural tooth.

Why very white can look artificial: natural teeth are not one flat colour. Light passes through the edges and the surface reflects it unevenly. A very white, opaque tooth reflects all of it, so at conversation distance it can look like a single block, especially against fair skin or in photos with flash.

A very white smile is your choice to make. We show it to you on the mock-up first, together with a more natural option, so you can compare before anything permanent is done. The shade cannot be lightened later without making new veneers or crowns.

Veneers, crowns or a mix

E-max veneers are thin ceramic shells, 0.3–0.7 mm, bonded to the front of the tooth. They keep the most enamel and give the most natural translucency, so they are our first choice for healthy teeth. Zirconium crowns cover the whole tooth and need about 1–2 mm of reduction all round. They are used for teeth that are heavily filled, broken, root-canal-treated or strongly out of line.

Many Hollywood smiles combine both: veneers on healthy front teeth and crowns on the teeth that need protection. The laboratory matches the shade across both materials, but the translucency is not identical, so your dentist plans where each material is used. Your written plan lists the material for every tooth. See veneers and zirconium crowns for details.

When the gum line is uneven

New teeth look best when the gum line above them is even. If one tooth shows more gum than its neighbour, or the gum covers part of a short tooth, your dentist may suggest gum contouring: a small reshaping of the gum edge before the teeth are prepared. It is not part of every Hollywood smile and is only offered when the examination shows it would help.

Gum contouring is planned by our periodontology specialist. If the gums are inflamed or bleeding, gum treatment comes first, because veneers and crowns placed on unhealthy gums are more likely to cause problems later.

Is a Hollywood smile right for you?

A Hollywood smile suits adults whose teeth have several problems at once: colour, shape, wear and old restorations. It is less suitable, or needs extra planning, if you:

• have untreated decay or gum disease — these are treated first
• grind or clench your teeth heavily — a night guard is essential and the material choice may change
• are under about 18, while teeth and gums are still maturing
• have healthy teeth and only want a lighter colour

Simpler alternatives to consider first

• Teeth whitening if your teeth are healthy and only yellow. Nothing is removed.
• Composite bonding for small chips, gaps and uneven edges, without drilling and reversible.
• Orthodontic aligners with an orthodontist near home, if the main problem is crowding. Straightening first can reduce how much enamel has to be removed, or make veneers unnecessary.
• A few veneers instead of a full set, if only some teeth need work.

If one of these is enough for your goal, we will tell you so in your plan.

Your 5–7 days in Antalya

• Day 1: examination, X-ray, photos and digital smile design. A mock-up in your mouth shows the new shape and length; we adjust it until you are happy.
• Day 2: preparation of the teeth under local anaesthesia, digital scan and temporary teeth.
• Day 3–5: the laboratory makes your veneers or crowns in 3–4 days. These are free days.
• Day 5–6: try-in of shape and colour, adjustments and final bonding or cementation.
• Day 7: final check of the bite and gums, and your aftercare kit.

Most patients need one trip. If gum treatment, root canal treatment or implants are needed first, your plan may be split into two trips; your coordinator plans the dates around your flights.

What affects the cost

A Hollywood smile is priced per tooth, so the total depends on:

• Number of teeth — upper only or upper and lower
• Material for each tooth — E-max veneers or zirconium crowns
• Treatment needed first — fillings, root canal treatment, gum treatment or gum contouring
• Old crowns or bridges that need removing and replacing
• Whitening of teeth that will not be covered

Your written plan lists every tooth, the material, the number of visits, the days in Antalya and the total price before you travel. See prices for what is included.

Risks and disadvantages

• It is irreversible. Prepared teeth will always need veneers or crowns, and these will need replacing during your life.
• Sensitivity to cold for a few days after preparation and bonding is common and usually settles.
• Nerve irritation. Occasionally a prepared tooth becomes inflamed and needs root canal treatment, more often with crowns than with veneers.
• Chipping or debonding. Ceramic can chip and a veneer can come loose, especially with grinding or biting hard objects.
• Gum problems at the edges if cleaning is poor, and over the years the gum can recede and show the edge of a veneer or crown.
• Bite and speech. A change in tooth length can feel strange for a few days and may need small adjustments.
• Shade regret. A shade you liked in the chair can feel too white later; it can only be changed by making new restorations.

Aftercare at home

• Brush twice a day with a non-abrasive toothpaste and clean between the teeth daily with floss or interdental brushes.
• Do not bite nails, pens, ice or hard sweets with the front teeth.
• Wear the night guard we make for you if you grind or clench.
• See a dentist for a check-up and professional cleaning once or twice a year.

Tell your dentist at home which teeth have veneers or crowns and which material was used; your written treatment report lists this. Polishing pastes and fluoride gels for natural teeth are not all suitable for ceramic, so they should know.

How long it lasts and when it is replaced

E-max veneers typically last 10–15 years and zirconium crowns 15 years or more, often longer with good care. They rarely fail all at once. More often a single veneer chips or comes loose, or a gum line recedes and an edge shows. Then that one restoration is repaired or replaced.

Replacing a veneer means removing the old one and making a new one; a little more tooth structure may be lost each time. Plan for at least one replacement during your life, and keep your report so any dentist can match the material and shade.