Smile Makeover in Duluth, MN
One plan for everything you'd change about your smile, designed around your face and previewed in your mouth first.
Dr. Camille Zelen, RN, DDS, AAACD, designs every makeover. Dr. Zelen is one of only a few hundred dentists worldwide accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Key highlights
- A smile makeover combines two or more cosmetic treatments into one plan.
- Most makeovers mix whitening, Invisalign, bonding, and veneers.
- We design from your face and lips inward, following AACD smile design principles.
- You see the result as a mock-up in your mouth while changes are still easy.
- The order matters. Whitening and alignment come first. Veneers come last.
- Healthy gums and teeth are the starting point. We treat problems first.
What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover is a custom plan that combines two or more cosmetic treatments to change the color, shape, alignment, or proportions of your smile.
One treatment fixes one problem. Whitening handles color. Invisalign handles position. A makeover handles the whole picture, in the right order, with one person designing it.
That's the difference between a smile that looks "done" and one that looks like you.
What a smile makeover can include
| Treatment | What it changes | Typical place in the plan |
|---|---|---|
| Teeth whitening | Color | First |
| Invisalign | Position, crowding, gaps | Early |
| Gum reshaping | Gummy smile, uneven gumline | Middle |
| Dental bonding | Chips, small gaps, edges | Late |
| Porcelain veneers | Shape, length, lasting color | Last |
| Crowns or implants | Broken or missing teeth | As needed |
Most makeovers use two or three of these. Few use all of them.
Smile makeover vs. veneers alone vs. full mouth rehabilitation
| Veneers alone | Smile makeover | Full mouth rehabilitation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Front teeth, one treatment | Front teeth, several treatments | All teeth, bite included |
| Main goal | Shape and color | Shape, color, position, gums | Function and appearance |
| Best for | Healthy, well-aligned teeth | More than one thing to change | Worn, broken, or failing teeth |
Teeth that are worn down or breaking need a full mouth rehabilitation. The consultation tells us which path fits.
What we look at when we design a smile
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry's smile design principles start with the full face. We follow the same sequence.
The lips frame the smile. How much tooth shows at rest, and how much when you laugh, sets the length of the front teeth.
The curve of the front teeth should follow the curve of your lower lip when you smile. Flat edges look fake. Reversed curves look old.
Uneven gums make even teeth look crooked. Sometimes the fix is gum reshaping, not a veneer.
Each tooth steps down in width from the center outward. Get the proportions wrong and the smile looks crowded or wide.
Shade is chosen against your skin and the whites of your eyes. Teeth that are whiter than the eyes look wrong in photos.
Dr. Zelen says of the team: "They've learned to look at the face differently because they know what's under the hood."
Why the order of treatment matters
Treatments interact. The order decides how much tooth you keep.
Porcelain and bonding don't whiten. Set the shade, then match the new work to it.
Veneers on crooked teeth must be thick to hide the crowding. Straighten first, and the veneers get thinner. Some people need none at all after Invisalign.
Reshaped gums need weeks to settle. Veneers made before that end up at the wrong height.
Everything else is adjustable. Porcelain isn't. It goes on when the rest is final.
Is a smile makeover right for you?
A makeover is likely a good fit
- Two or more things bother you: color, shape, gaps, crowding
- Healthy teeth and gums
- You want a result that looks like your own teeth
Let's talk it through first
- One issue only, where a single treatment may do
- Heavy grinding, where a night guard joins the plan
- A specific celebrity smile in mind that may not fit your face
Treat this first
- Cavities or gum disease
- Worn or broken teeth that need a full rebuild
- A bite problem that needs correcting first
What we do, and what we don't
What we do
We design the whole smile from photos of your face, scan your teeth, show you a mock-up in your mouth, and sequence every treatment so each one sets up the next. Dr. Zelen designs every case, and porcelain goes to a master ceramist.
What we don't
We don't start cosmetic work on unhealthy teeth or gums. We don't skip the preview. And we won't build a smile that's too white, too long, or too uniform to look like yours, even if a photo on your phone shows one. Our job is your smile on its best day.
The smile makeover process, step by step
- 01Consultation.You tell us what you'd change. We listen for what bothers you most, because that sets the priority. We check teeth, gums, and bite.
- 02Records.Photos of your face from several angles. A digital scan of your teeth. A short video of you talking and smiling, so we see how your lips move.
- 03Design.Dr. Zelen plans the finished smile on the records. Which teeth move, which get whiter, which get porcelain, and in what order. You get the plan and costs in writing.
- 04Preview.We place a mock-up of the planned teeth over your own. You talk, smile, and look in the mirror. This is where you say "shorter" or "less white." Most people change something.
- 05Treatment in sequence.Whitening, then Invisalign if needed, then gums, then bonding or veneers. Each phase has its own visits and its own cost.
- 06Final check.We fine-tune the bite, polish, photograph, and fit a night guard if you grind.
What an accredited cosmetic dentist means
Any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist. There's no license for it.
AACD accreditation is different. A dentist submits real patient cases. Leaders in cosmetic dentistry review them anonymously against strict standards. Dr. Zelen earned accreditation in 2021, serves on the AACD Board of Directors, evaluates accreditation cases, and has published twice in the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry.
For you, it means the design has been tested against a standard, not just a taste.
Timeline
| Plan | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Whitening and bonding | A few weeks |
| Whitening and veneers | One to two months |
| Invisalign, then veneers | Several months to a year |
| Gum reshaping included | Add six to eight weeks of healing |
Your timeline comes with your plan. We can work backward from a wedding or an event.
Caring for your new smile
- Wear your retainer if you had Invisalign.
- Wear your night guard if you grind.
- Keep your cleanings.
- Don't use teeth as tools.
- Touch up whitening a few nights a year.
Smile makeover results
Drag the handle to compare. Cases are photographed by the practice with the same camera at the same settings.
Smile makeover before-and-after pairs coming from the practice
Cost and financing
Cost depends on which treatments are in your plan and how many teeth they cover. Each phase is priced separately, so you can spread the cost over the timeline.
Insurance rarely covers cosmetic work. It may cover crowns or Invisalign for a bite problem. We file claims on your behalf and offer interest-free CareCredit plans. Financing options
Smile makeover FAQ
How long does a smile makeover take?
A smile makeover takes a few weeks to a year, depending on whether Invisalign is part of the plan. Whitening and veneers alone can finish in about two months.
Will my new smile look fake?
A smile designed around your face, lips, and skin tone looks like your own teeth. We preview the shape in your mouth first and adjust until it does.
Do I need veneers for a smile makeover?
Many smile makeovers use whitening, Invisalign, and bonding with no veneers at all. Veneers come in when shape or lasting color needs to change.
Can I see the result before I commit?
You see a mock-up of the planned smile in your mouth before any permanent work begins.
What's the difference between a smile makeover and a full mouth rehabilitation?
A smile makeover improves how your front teeth look. A full mouth rehabilitation rebuilds how all your teeth work, for worn or failing teeth.
Can I do a smile makeover in phases?
Most smile makeovers happen in phases, and each phase is priced on its own. You can pause between them.
Where can I get a smile makeover near me in the Duluth area?
Mount Royal Dental designs smile makeovers at our office on Woodland Avenue in Duluth, MN. Patients come from Hermantown, Superior, Two Harbors, and Cloquet. Call (218) 464-5222.
Smile makeovers on Woodland Avenue
Mount Royal Dental sits at 1624 Woodland Avenue, Duluth, MN 55803, at the corner of Woodland and St. Marie, next to the Mount Royal Shopping Center near UMD.
Monday 8 to 3, Tuesday through Thursday 8 to 4:30, Friday closed. Call (218) 464-5222.
