From Fake to Flawless: A Complete Smile Redesign

When Veneers Go Wrong Abroad

She arrived at our Beverly Hills practice carrying photographs of her smile from several years earlier—before the veneers she had done in Colombia. At the time, she thought the color was acceptable. But something fundamental was wrong. The teeth were too bulky. They looked unmistakably fake. The shape lacked any natural variation or softness. Friends noticed. She noticed. Every photograph reminded her that her smile looked artificial rather than beautiful.

The original work had been completed without temporaries, without a try-in stage, without the iterative refinement that distinguishes quality cosmetic dentistry from assembly-line work. She had no opportunity to evaluate the design before permanent placement. The result was a cosmetic failure from day one—not because the materials were necessarily poor, but because the process that ensures beautiful outcomes had been skipped entirely.

"Cosmetic success is determined before the porcelain is even made—in the design process, not the laboratory."

The Hidden Problem: Asymmetrical Gum Architecture

Looking closely at her existing veneers revealed a problem that no amount of veneer replacement alone could solve. Her gum line was asymmetrical. The gum tissue sat at different heights on corresponding teeth, making perfect symmetry impossible regardless of how well the veneers were designed. This is something the original provider either did not see or chose to ignore.

Asymmetrical gum architecture is surprisingly common and often goes unaddressed in cosmetic cases. Dentists focus on the teeth—their color, shape, and alignment—while overlooking that teeth are framed by gum tissue. When that frame is uneven, the teeth will appear uneven no matter how perfectly crafted they may be.

Building a Foundation with Gum Lift Surgery

Before we could create beautiful veneers, we needed to create a beautiful canvas. Gum lift surgery, technically called crown lengthening or gingivectomy, involves precisely reshaping the gum tissue to establish symmetrical arches. This procedure is performed with local anesthesia and heals within one to two weeks.

For this patient, the gum lift was essential. It allowed us to make teeth that were genuinely symmetrical—not teeth that appeared uneven because they emerged from uneven gum tissue. This foundational step is what separates comprehensive smile design from superficial cosmetic work. We address the underlying architecture, not just the surface appearance.

Addressing the Missing Tooth

Beyond the veneer failure, this patient was also missing a back tooth. While not visible when smiling, missing teeth create functional problems and allow remaining teeth to shift over time. We placed a dental implant at the same appointment as the gum lift surgery, maximizing efficiency by combining procedures that both require healing periods.

This strategic approach—addressing multiple issues in coordinated stages—minimizes overall treatment time while ensuring each element receives proper attention. The implant would heal and integrate with bone while we proceeded with the veneer design and fabrication.

Comprehensive Redesign: Upper and Lower Veneers

With the gum architecture corrected and the implant healing, we turned attention to the teeth themselves. Twenty veneers—ten upper and ten lower—would replace the failed Colombian work. But more importantly, they would be designed from scratch using principles the original dentist had ignored.

We designed a symmetrical smile. We introduced softer, more natural shapes to replace the blocky appearance of her original veneers. We calibrated proper light reflection by adjusting surface contours. We added subtle texture so the teeth would not look like flat, manufactured objects. We incorporated natural variation at the tooth edges—the slight irregularities that distinguish real teeth from obvious dental work.

• Softer, more natural tooth shapes replacing blocky profiles
• Proper surface contours for natural light reflection
• Subtle texture replicating natural enamel characteristics
• Natural variation at incisal edges avoiding artificial uniformity
• Reduced bulk for harmonious facial proportions
• Color and translucency matching natural dentition

The Eight-Week Transformation

From initial consultation to final placement, treatment required eight weeks—remarkably efficient for a case involving gum surgery, implant placement, and twenty-one restorations. The timeline worked because procedures were strategically sequenced, with healing periods utilized for design refinement and laboratory fabrication.

Unlike her original experience in Colombia, this patient saw and approved her new smile design before any permanent work was done. She wore provisional veneers that previewed the final result. Adjustments were made based on her feedback. When the permanent restorations were placed, she received exactly what she had already approved—no surprises, no disappointments, no regrets.

"The difference between dental tourism and comprehensive care is the process—not just the final product."

Results: Natural Where It Matters

The transformation is evident in every photograph. Where there was bulk, there is now refined proportion. Where there was artificial uniformity, there is now natural variation. Where there was asymmetry, there is now balance. The teeth no longer announce themselves as dental work—they simply appear as beautiful teeth.

This is what proper cosmetic dentistry achieves. Not the obvious white blocks that immediately identify dental work, but teeth that look like they could have developed naturally. Beauty through subtlety, achieved through expertise and attention to detail that cannot be rushed or shortcuts cannot replace.