Smile Makeover in Des Moines, Iowa
Perhaps you hide your teeth in photos. Perhaps one chipped tooth has bothered you for years. Perhaps age, coffee, or genetics left your smile looking different from how you feel inside. A smile makeover addresses all of it at once, with a plan built around your goals and your budget.
What Is a Smile Makeover?
A cosmetic smile makeover is not a single procedure. It is a combination of cosmetic and restorative treatments chosen to fix the specific things you want to change about your smile. Some patients need only two treatments. Others need several. The plan depends entirely on where you start and where you want to end up.
Think of it this way. One person might want whiter teeth and two veneers to close a gap. Another might need implants to replace missing teeth, plus whitening to match the new restorations. Both are smile makeovers. Both are personal.
Dr. Forrest designs each plan around three things: how your teeth function, how healthy your gums and teeth are, and how you want your smile to look. Function and health come first. A beautiful smile built on an unhealthy foundation will not last.
Why Patients in Des Moines Choose a Smile Makeover
More than one in three adults in the United States feel unhappy with their smile. You are in good company if you have put off fixing yours. Life gets busy. Dental work feels intimidating. Costs feel unclear.
A smile makeover removes the guesswork. Instead of treating one problem at a time over many years, you receive a complete plan upfront. You know what each step involves, how long it takes, and what it costs before treatment begins.
Patients choose a smile makeover for reasons beyond appearance:
- A wedding, reunion, or career change on the horizon
- Years of feeling self-conscious in photos
- Teeth worn down, stained, or shifted with age
- Missing or broken teeth affecting how they eat and speak
- A single flaw they have wanted to fix for a long time
Whatever brings you in, the result is the same. You leave with a smile built to fit your face, your goals, and your life.
Treatments Included in a Smile Makeover
A smile makeover draws from a range of treatments. Dr. Forrest selects the ones right for your situation during your consultation. Here are the most common options.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin shells bonded to the front of your teeth. They correct chips, stains, gaps, and uneven shapes. Porcelain reflects light the way natural enamel does, so the result looks like your own teeth at their best. Veneers anchor many smile makeovers because they address several concerns at once.
Teeth Whitening
Professional teeth whitening brightens your teeth several shades beyond what store-bought kits achieve. Dr. Forrest offers in-office and take-home options. Whitening often serves as the finishing touch on a makeover, or as the first step before matching other restorations to your new shade.
Dental Implants
Dental implants replace missing teeth with permanent, natural-looking results. An implant restores both the look of your smile and the function you lost. For patients missing one tooth or several, implants form the foundation of a complete makeover.
Invisalign
Crooked or crowded teeth change the entire look of a smile. Invisalign straightens them with clear aligners, with no metal brackets or wires. Many makeovers begin with Invisalign to align the teeth, followed by whitening or veneers for the finish.
Dental Bonding
Bonding uses tooth-colored resin to repair small chips, close minor gaps, and reshape teeth. It is a conservative option for patients who need small corrections rather than full coverage. Bonding often complements other treatments in a makeover.
Gum Recontouring
Sometimes the issue is not the teeth but the gums. A gummy smile or an uneven gumline draws the eye away from healthy teeth. Recontouring reshapes the gumline to frame your smile evenly.
The Smile Makeover Process at Des Moines Cosmetic Dentistry Center
A smile makeover follows a clear path from first visit to final result. Here is what to expect.
Your Consultation
Everything starts with a conversation. Dr. Forrest examines your teeth and gums, listens to what bothers you, and learns what you want your smile to look like. He takes photos and any necessary scans. This visit answers the first question on most patients’ minds: what is possible for my smile?
Custom Treatment Planning
Next, Dr. Forrest builds your plan. He considers your facial features, your gumline, the shape of your face, and the natural color of your skin to design a balanced, natural-looking smile. He walks you through each recommended treatment, the order of steps, the timeline, and the cost. You approve the plan before any work begins.
Treatment and Follow-Up
Treatment happens in the sequence your plan lays out. Some makeovers finish in a few visits. Others, especially those involving implants or Invisalign, take several months. Dr. Forrest checks your progress at each step and adjusts as needed. The goal is a result you love, not a result you settle for.
“I never permanently place any cosmetic work until a patient sees it and loves it. You wear your smile every day. It has to feel right to you above all,” says Dr. Stephen Forrest.
How Much Does a Smile Makeover Cost in Des Moines?
Cost is the question most patients want answered first, and it deserves an honest response. The price of a smile makeover depends on which treatments your plan includes and how many teeth need work.
A makeover involving whitening and a few bonding repairs costs far less than one involving multiple implants and a full set of veneers. Because every plan is personal, the only accurate price is the one Dr. Forrest gives you after your consultation.
What you receive at Des Moines Cosmetic Dentistry Center is transparency. Before treatment begins, you get a written plan with the cost of each step. No surprises. The practice also reviews financing options, so you understand the ways to fit treatment into your budget. Many patients spread the work across phases to manage cost over time.
Are You a Candidate for a Smile Makeover?
Most adults with healthy teeth and gums make good candidates for a smile makeover. The best way to know for certain is a consultation, but you are likely a fit if you:
- Feel self-conscious about the color, shape, or alignment of your teeth
- Have one or more chipped, cracked, or worn teeth
- Are missing teeth or have old restorations you want replaced
- Want a complete change rather than a single fix
- Have good oral health or are willing to address any issues first
If you have gum disease, decay, or other health concerns, Dr. Forrest treats those first. A healthy mouth is the foundation every beautiful smile is built on.
Why Choose Dr. Stephen Forrest
Experience matters in cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Forrest earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University of Iowa in 1985 and has practiced in the Des Moines area for more than 30 years. He holds a Fellowship with the Academy of General Dentistry and is a member of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Iowa Dental Association.
Patients describe him as a careful listener who takes time to understand their goals before recommending treatment. He pairs decades of clinical work with modern cosmetic techniques and state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, all in a comfortable, professional office in Clive.
“After three decades, I still find nothing more rewarding than the moment a patient sees their finished smile for the first time. This reaction is why I do this work,” says Dr. Stephen Forrest.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a smile makeover take?
It depends on your plan. A makeover built around whitening and bonding might finish in two or three visits. One involving implants or Invisalign often takes several months. Dr. Forrest gives you a clear timeline during your consultation.
Is a smile makeover painful?
Most treatments involve little or no discomfort. Dr. Forrest uses local anesthetic for procedures where you might feel sensitivity, and many patients report the process is far easier than they expected.
How long do the results last?
With good care, results last many years. Porcelain veneers often last 10 to 15 years or longer. Implants are built to last a lifetime with proper care. Dr. Forrest shows you how to protect your investment at home.
Will my new smile look natural?
Yes. Dr. Forrest designs each smile to match your facial features and the natural color and proportion of your teeth. The goal is a smile resembling the best version of your own, never fake or overdone.
Will a smile makeover work alongside other dental work?
Absolutely. Many patients address health needs and cosmetic goals in the same plan. Dr. Forrest sequences the work so your mouth stays healthy while your smile transforms.
Does insurance cover a smile makeover?
Cosmetic treatments are usually not covered by insurance, but some restorative parts of a plan, such as implants or crowns, might qualify for partial coverage. The practice helps you understand your benefits and financing options.
Schedule Your Smile Makeover Consultation in Des Moines
Your smile is one of the first things people notice. If yours has been holding you back, a smile makeover at Des Moines Cosmetic Dentistry Center offers a path to change. Dr. Forrest and his team have helped patients across the Des Moines metro feel proud to smile again, and they are ready to help you.
Call (515) 516-6769 to schedule your consultation today. Find out what a personalized smile makeover will do for you.
