COSMETIC
Smile Makeovers Melbourne
A smile makeover is a treatment plan that combines two or more dental treatments, such as teeth whitening, clear aligners, porcelain veneers or crowns, to change how your teeth look. At The Dental Co. in Windsor, near Prahran, it starts with a check-up and a planning consultation. Results vary from person to person.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is a plan that uses two or more dental treatments together to change the colour, shape, size, position or spacing of your teeth. It is not a single procedure. Your dentist recommends the treatments, and the order to do them in, after examining your teeth, gums and bite.
A plan may combine some of these treatments:
- Professional teeth whitening to lighten the colour of natural teeth.
- Invisalign or other clear aligners to straighten crooked or crowded teeth and close small gaps.
- Porcelain veneers: thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth to change their shape, size or colour.
- Dental crowns to cover and strengthen broken or heavily filled teeth.
- Dental implants to replace missing teeth.
Some smile makeovers use only whitening and aligners. These leave the front of the teeth in place, although some aligner plans remove a very thin layer of enamel from between teeth to make space. Others include veneers or crowns, which need part of the tooth to be removed.
Smile makeovers at The Dental Co.: key facts
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| What it is | A plan that combines two or more dental treatments |
| Treatments it may include | Whitening, clear aligners, porcelain veneers, crowns and implants |
| First step | A check-up and a planning consultation, which may include photos and scans |
| Number of visits | Depends on the treatments in your plan. Porcelain veneers on their own usually take 2 to 3 main visits. |
| Typical timeline | From a few weeks to more than a year. Veneers on their own usually take 2 to 4 weeks; Invisalign usually takes 6 to 18 months. |
| Cost | Depends on the treatments and the number of teeth treated. Your dentist explains the costs before treatment begins. |
| Medicare | Cosmetic procedures are not covered by Medicare |
| Location | Level 2, 6-10 Chapel Street, Windsor, on the corner of Dandenong Road, near Prahran |
What treatments can a smile makeover include?
| Treatment | What it does | Is tooth removed? | Usual time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Teeth whitening | Lightens the colour of natural teeth. It does not change the colour of veneers, crowns or fillings. | No | One in-chair visit, or take-home trays over several days or weeks |
| Clear aligners (Invisalign) | Moves teeth into a straighter position with a series of removable aligners | Usually no. Some plans remove a very thin layer of enamel from between teeth to make space | Usually 6 to 18 months, then retainers |
| Porcelain veneers | Covers the front of the teeth to change their shape, size or colour | Yes, a thin layer of enamel | Usually 2 to 4 weeks, with 2 to 3 main visits |
| Dental crowns | Covers the whole visible part of a broken, worn or heavily filled tooth | Yes, more than for a veneer | Usually 2 to 3 weeks, with 2 visits |
| Dental implants | Replaces a missing tooth with a post in the jaw and a crown on top | No tooth is removed, but placing the implant is surgery | Usually several months, because the bone takes 3 to 6 months to heal around the implant |
Your plan may use only some of these. Your dentist explains why each one is recommended and what would happen without it.
Who may a smile makeover suit?
A smile makeover may suit adults who:
- have more than one concern with how their teeth look, such as colour, chips, gaps and crooked teeth;
- have healthy gums and no untreated decay, or are willing to treat these first;
- want to understand every option, including options that leave the tooth surface in place;
- can attend several visits and look after their teeth at home.
A smile makeover may not suit you, or may need to wait, if:
- you have decay or gum disease that has not been treated;
- you grind or clench your teeth heavily, which can chip porcelain unless it is managed, for example with a night guard;
- you want a change that can be fully reversed, which rules out veneers and crowns;
- one treatment, such as whitening on its own, would meet your goal.
How is a smile makeover planned?
- Check-up and health first. Your dentist examines your teeth, gums and bite and takes X-rays where needed. Decay and gum disease are treated before any cosmetic work, which often adds 1 to 2 weeks.
- Records and planning. Your dentist takes photos and scans of your teeth and face. This can include digital smile design, where software is used to plan the shape and position of the teeth with you at the consultation.
- Options, risks and costs. Your dentist explains each option, how much tooth it removes, its risks, the alternatives and the costs. You can take time to decide. Treatment usually starts at a later visit, after you have had time to consider the plan.
- Treatment in a set order. Teeth are usually straightened first, then whitened, and veneers or crowns are made last. Porcelain does not change colour with whitening, so its shade is chosen after whitening is finished.
- Review and maintenance. Your dentist checks your bite and gums after treatment and at regular check-ups. You may need retainers after aligners, or a night guard if you grind your teeth.
How long does a smile makeover take?
A smile makeover takes from a few weeks to more than a year. The time depends on which treatments are in your plan and whether any health treatment is needed first.
| Stage | Usual time |
|---|---|
| Check-up, consultation and planning | 1 to 2 visits; digital smile design planning can take 3 to 4 weeks |
| Treating decay or gum disease, if needed | Often adds 1 to 2 weeks |
| Clear aligners, if needed | Usually 6 to 18 months |
| Whitening, if needed | One in-chair visit, or several days to weeks at home |
| Porcelain veneers or crowns | Usually 2 to 4 weeks, because a dental laboratory makes them |
| Implants, if needed | Several months, while the bone heals around the implant |
Your dentist gives you a timeline for your own plan at the consultation.
Smile makeover or veneers: what is the difference?
Veneers are one treatment. A smile makeover is a plan that may or may not include veneers.
| Feature | Smile makeover | Porcelain veneers |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | A plan that combines two or more treatments | Thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth |
| When it may fit | Several concerns together, such as colour, crowding and chipped teeth | Chips, small gaps, worn edges, or colour that whitening cannot change |
| Is tooth removed? | Depends on the treatments. Whitening does not remove tooth. Some aligner plans remove a very thin layer of enamel from between teeth. | Yes, a thin layer of enamel |
| Can it be reversed? | Only the parts that do not remove tooth | No |
| How the cost is worked out | The fee for each treatment in your plan | The fee per veneer, times the number of teeth your dentist recommends |
| How long it lasts | Depends on each treatment (see below) | In one review of 13 studies, 89% were still in place after a median of 9 years |
How much does a smile makeover cost?
The cost of a smile makeover depends on the treatments in your plan and the number of teeth treated, so there is no set package price. Your dentist adds up the fee for each treatment they recommend, plus any listed extras such as X-rays, and explains the total before treatment begins.
Things that change the cost include:
- which treatments are in your plan;
- how many teeth need veneers or crowns;
- whether decay or gum disease needs treatment first;
- how long aligner treatment takes;
- laboratory work to make porcelain veneers or crowns.
Medicare and health funds. Medicare does not pay for most dental services, and cosmetic procedures are not covered by Medicare. Private health insurance may help with some costs, depending on your fund and level of cover, so check with your fund before you start.
We accept private health funds and other payment methods. See our payment options for the full list, and check the total cost, fees and terms before you start treatment.
What are the risks, limits and alternatives?
Each treatment in a smile makeover has risks and limits:
- Veneers and crowns cannot be reversed. Part of the tooth is removed, so the tooth will always need a covering.
- Sensitivity. Teeth can be sensitive to hot and cold after whitening, or after they are prepared for veneers or crowns. This is usually temporary.
- Chips and wear. Porcelain can chip or come loose, and veneers and crowns may need repair or replacement over time.
- Gum irritation. Gums can become irritated around the edges of veneers or crowns, especially if they are hard to clean.
- Teeth moving back. After aligners, teeth can drift if retainers are not worn as advised.
- Colour match. Whitening does not change the colour of existing fillings, crowns or veneers, so these may need replacing to match.
Alternatives include leaving your teeth as they are, whitening only, aligners only, or treating one tooth at a time. Results vary from person to person, and your dentist will explain the risks, alternatives and likely outcome for your teeth before you decide.
How long do smile makeover results last?
How long the results last depends on each treatment and on how you look after your teeth.
- Porcelain veneers: a 2016 review of 13 clinical studies estimated that 89% of porcelain veneers were still in place after a median of 9 years. Chipping or fracture was the most common problem.
- Whitening: the colour fades over time, especially with coffee, tea, red wine and smoking, and can be topped up.
- Aligners: retainers hold the new position of the teeth. Wearing them as advised helps stop the teeth moving back.
- Implants: a 2019 review estimated that 96% of implants were still in place after 10 years. A more cautious analysis in the same review gave 93%.
To help your results last, brush twice a day, clean between your teeth, wear a night guard if you grind, avoid biting hard objects, and keep up regular check-ups and cleans.
Who plans your smile makeover?
A dentist at The Dental Co. plans your smile makeover after a full examination. Dr Justtin Daniels is a general dentist (Ahpra registration DEN0001779717). He graduated with Honours from the University of Melbourne and has a particular interest in cosmetic dentistry, dental implants and full-mouth rehabilitation. Read more about Dr Justtin Daniels and our clinicians.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a smile makeover take?
A smile makeover takes from a few weeks to more than a year, depending on the treatments in your plan. Porcelain veneers on their own usually take 2 to 4 weeks. Straightening teeth with Invisalign usually takes 6 to 18 months, and implants need several months to heal. Your dentist gives you a timeline for your plan at the consultation.
How much does a smile makeover cost?
The cost depends on which treatments are in your plan and how many teeth are treated, so there is no set price. Your dentist adds up the fee for each recommended treatment and any listed extras, and explains the total before treatment begins. Cosmetic procedures are not covered by Medicare.
Does Medicare cover a smile makeover?
No. Medicare does not pay for most dental services, and cosmetic procedures are not covered by Medicare. Private health insurance may pay a benefit for some parts of the treatment, depending on your fund and level of cover. Check with your fund before you start.
Do I need veneers for a smile makeover?
No. A smile makeover can use whitening, clear aligners or crowns without veneers. Veneers are only recommended when other treatments cannot reach your goal, because they need a thin layer of enamel removed and cannot be reversed. Your dentist explains the options that leave the tooth surface in place first.
Can a smile makeover be reversed?
Only partly. Whitening does not remove tooth. Clear aligners move teeth, and some aligner plans remove a very thin layer of enamel from between teeth, which cannot be put back. Porcelain veneers and crowns need part of the tooth removed, so those teeth will always need a covering. Your dentist tells you which parts of your plan cannot be reversed before you decide.
How long do smile makeover results last?
It depends on each treatment. In a 2016 review, 89% of porcelain veneers were still in place after a median of 9 years. Whitening fades over time and can be topped up, and retainers help keep straightened teeth in place. Daily cleaning, a night guard if you grind, and regular check-ups help results last.
What happens at the first smile makeover consultation?
Your dentist checks your teeth, gums and bite, asks what you would like to change and may take X-rays, photos and scans. They explain the treatments that could help, how much tooth each one removes, the risks, the alternatives and the costs. Treatment usually starts at a later visit, after you have had time to consider the plan.
Is a smile makeover the same as full mouth rehabilitation?
No. A smile makeover mainly changes how the front teeth look. A full mouth rehabilitation restores the health and function of most or all of the teeth, for example after tooth loss, heavy wear or a bite problem. Some plans include parts of both.
Treatments in a smile makeover
Thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth
Photos, scans and software used to plan treatment
In-chair and take-home whitening
Clear aligners that straighten teeth
A cap that covers and protects a damaged tooth
A staged plan to restore most or all of the teeth
All cosmetic treatments at the clinic
Sources
- Services Australia, Get health care: what Medicare doesn't cover (page updated 15 October 2025, accessed 20 October 2026)
- Ahpra and National Boards, Guidelines for registered health practitioners who perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures (2 September 2025)
- Morimoto S, et al. Main clinical outcomes of feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Prosthodont. 2016;29(1):38-49
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9-21
Book Your Appointment Today
Experience exceptional dental care from your trusted dentist in Windsor. Whether you need routine check-ups, advanced restorative work, or cosmetic treatments, our dedicated team is here to provide comprehensive and personalised dental services. Contact us now to schedule your consultation and take the first step towards a healthier, brighter smile.
