Smile Transformation:

Patient Goals

When I first saw this patient, she had not been to the dentist in a long time and had not seen a dentist in the U.S. at all. She had a history of multiple large cavities, inflamed gums, and crowding — but she was ready to take control of her oral health and completely transform her smile.

After finishing Invisalign, she wanted to take the next step: to address her gummy smile, uneven tooth proportions, and worn, chipped teeth. Her goal was to have a healthier, fuller, more confident smile that still felt natural and age-appropriate.

Smile Analysis

When we first saw her, she had:

• Crowded teeth and an uneven bite
• Inflamed gums and several areas of decay
• A gummy smile and small teeth, making her smile feel imbalanced
• Chipped and worn-down teeth from years of damage and misalignment
• Black triangles and spaces that made her teeth look older and less clean

A “gummy smile” occurs when excess gum tissue covers too much of the teeth, creating the appearance of short teeth. Combined with alignment issues and decay, her smile didn’t reflect her vibrant personality or how far she’d come in her health journey.

‍

Treatment Plan

We designed a comprehensive treatment plan that included:

• Invisalign to align the teeth, improve function, and reduce crowding and black triangles
• Crown lengthening (gum lift) to expose more natural tooth surface and improve tooth proportions
• Porcelain veneers to rebuild damaged teeth, close remaining spaces, and enhance shape, size, and shade

Her treatment not only improved her smile aesthetically but also restored full oral health, bite function, and long-term stability.

Treatment Process

This case was completed over time with a multi-step, minimally invasive approach:

• Invisalign treatment laid the foundation by straightening the teeth and correcting her bite
• I performed the gum lift the same time as the teeth preparation appointment and it allowed us to gently sculpt the gumline and create more balanced tooth proportions
• Custom ultra-thin veneers were then used to rebuild worn and chipped areas, enhance symmetry, and close any residual spacing

We preserved as much natural tooth structure as possible while giving her a dramatically improved yet natural-looking smile. Both smiling and retracted before-and-after photos show the transformation — not just in the teeth, but in the overall harmony of her smile.

Final Result

This transformation was more than just cosmetic — it was a full rehabilitation.

She now has:

• Healthy, inflammation-free gums
• A balanced and functional bite
• No cavities
• A confident, radiant smile

Her new smile is fuller, healthier, and completely natural-looking — and most importantly, it feels like her. Along the way, she became not only a regular patient but a true friend of our team.