A smile makeover is a custom treatment plan that coordinates multiple procedures to change how your smile looks. The outcome depends entirely on who is directing the case. Dr. Cary Goldstein is a prosthodontist with nearly forty years on complex cosmetic cases. The distinction matters.
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A smile makeover is not a fixed menu of procedures. It is a custom treatment plan designed around your specific clinical situation, coordinating two or more cosmetic and restorative treatments in the right sequence. The problems it addresses can include discoloration, chips, gaps, worn teeth, missing teeth, uneven gum tissue, or bite issues that affect appearance. No two cases are identical. The right plan depends on what you want to change, the condition your teeth and gums are in, and the order in which the work needs to happen.
That last point is where many cases go wrong. Cosmetic work placed on a foundation that has not been properly prepared, whether that is gum health, bite alignment, or a missing tooth, will not hold up the way it should. A well-built smile makeover addresses those foundations first, then the visible work. That is what separates a result that lasts from one that requires revision two years later.
If the scale of your situation goes beyond cosmetics, with significant bite deterioration, multiple missing teeth, or full-arch structural damage, that may be full mouth reconstruction territory rather than a smile makeover. The distinction matters for treatment planning. A consultation will clarify which applies.
Any general dentist can offer veneers, whitening, and bonding. What a general practitioner typically may not do is coordinate a case that spans multiple disciplines: evaluating bite mechanics, managing sequencing when periodontics or oral surgery is involved, and designing cosmetic work that holds up functionally over time.
A prosthodontist is a dental specialist whose entire post-doctoral training is built around the restoration and replacement of teeth. It is the only specialty in dentistry whose curriculum is designed specifically for this type of case. Dr. Goldstein completed his Certificate of Prosthodontics at the University of Southern California in 1986. He has been doing this work as a prosthodontist, not as a side service within a general practice, for nearly forty years.
That training means something specific when it comes to a smile makeover. He evaluates the bite as part of every cosmetic case. He designs the final result before any tooth is prepared. When a case requires input from a periodontist or oral surgeon, he coordinates that work and ensures the cosmetic outcome is built on a stable foundation. Most patients never think to ask whether their provider has that coordination layer. For a case that will live on your face for the next ten to thirty years, it matters.
The procedures in a smile makeover depend on what needs to change. These are the most common elements, each of which can be used alone or in combination:
Your consultation will determine which combination is appropriate for your specific situation.
Every case at Goldstein Dental Center begins with a thorough diagnostic workup: clinical photographs, digital scanning with the ORI intraoral scanner, impressions, and a detailed examination of your teeth, gums, and bite. Dr. Goldstein uses that foundation to build a sequenced treatment plan. You review and approve the proposed outcome before any tooth is prepared.
The sequence of the work is not arbitrary. If your case requires preparatory steps, gum treatment, alignment correction, or implant restoration before cosmetic work can begin, those steps are completed in the right clinical order. A plan that skips foundational work to lower the visible quote often costs more over time when those conditions resurface and require correction.
Timeline depends on the scope of the case. A straightforward veneer case with minimal preparation may be completed across two to three appointments over a few weeks. A case with preparatory work first will take longer. Dr. Goldstein will outline the full timeline at your consultation. When whitening the lower teeth is part of the plan, that step comes first. In-office bleaching reaches the target shade in as little as three weeks. The upper veneers are then built to match the new lower tooth color.
To see completed cases, visit the Smile Gallery.
Dr. Goldstein completed his Certificate of Prosthodontics at the University of Southern California in 1986. Since 1992, he has served at the Dental College of Georgia, first as Clinical Instructor in Oral Rehabilitation and now as Professor. When Atlanta-area dentists learn to manage cases like these, many of them train under him.
In 2021, he served as International President of the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry, the most selective peer-elected organization in the field. Membership is by invitation, based on demonstrated clinical excellence. His peers have voted him Top Dentist in Atlanta every year since 2017. Courts appoint him as a dental expert witness in malpractice litigation, to establish the standard of care when complex dental work goes wrong. That appointment reflects the judgment of a legal system, not a marketing department.
The Goldstein name in esthetic dentistry is not incidental. “Change Your Smile” by Dr. Ronald Goldstein is the defining clinical reference in cosmetic and esthetic dentistry. Three generations of Goldstein dentists have been practicing in Atlanta for more than 80 years. The longest-running cases at Goldstein Dental Center have been performing for over thirty years.
A smile makeover is a customized treatment plan that combines two or more cosmetic and restorative dental procedures to improve the appearance of your teeth and smile. Common procedures include porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, bonding, gum contouring, and dental implants. The specific combination depends on your clinical situation and what you want to change. No reputable provider will quote a smile makeover plan without a clinical examination first.
Smile makeover costs vary based on the number of teeth involved, which procedures are included, the materials used, and the specialist performing the work. A comprehensive case at a specialist practice in Atlanta typically runs $15,000 to $40,000. For a detailed breakdown of each procedure and the factors that affect the final cost, see the Goldstein Dental Center smile makeover cost guide.
Timeline depends on the scope of the case. A straightforward case, typically 8 to 10 porcelain veneers with whitening, may be completed in two to three appointments over a few weeks. Cases that require preparatory work first, including gum treatment, alignment correction, or implant restoration, take longer. Dr. Goldstein will outline the full timeline at your consultation.
A smile makeover is cosmetically led. The starting point is appearance: what you want to change about how your smile looks. It typically focuses on the teeth visible when you smile. Full mouth reconstruction addresses functional breakdown: bite collapse, extensive tooth loss, or structural damage across most of your teeth. The two can overlap, but the clinical priorities are different. A consultation will clarify which applies to your situation.
Not every smile makeover requires one. A case involving two or three veneers and whitening may be well within a general practitioner’s scope. But a case involving multiple procedures, bite evaluation, coordination across specialties, or significant clinical complexity is precisely the situation prosthodontic training was designed for. A prosthodontist brings a level of case design and coordination that a general dentist typically does not.
Longevity depends on the procedures used, the quality of the materials, the precision of the preparation, and ongoing care. Veneer cases at Goldstein Dental Center have lasted 15 to 33 years, with the longest-running case still performing as placed. Results at this level reflect careful bite management, high-grade materials, and consistent follow-up care, not just the procedure itself.
A smile makeover is one of the most visible and lasting investments you can make. The right outcome starts with the right diagnosis. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Goldstein to see what is possible.
Serving patients in Buckhead, Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, and the greater Atlanta area.