CJ Henley, DMD, PA / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Smile makeover in Jacksonville, FL.
A plan first, then the right treatments in the right order.
A smile makeover is a plan that combines treatments like whitening, bonding, aligners, and porcelain veneers to change how your smile looks. We plan and do them at our San Marco office. Dr. Henley designs the plan himself, and you see a preview on your own teeth before any tooth is prepared.
- 89%estimated survival of ceramic veneers at a median of 9 years in a pooled review1
- 7.7×higher veneer failure risk with grinding or clenching in a 20-year study2
- 96%estimated 10-year survival of dental implants in a systematic review3
- 1 dentistDr. Henley does the planning, design, preparation, and delivery himself
Top-rated on Google: 4.9 stars from more than 225 patient reviews.
Smile makeover in Jacksonville
What a smile makeover actually is.
A smile makeover isn’t one product or one procedure. It’s a written plan that puts together the treatments your smile needs, such as whitening, bonding, tooth straightening, gum contouring, veneers, or crowns, and does them in an order that makes sense. Some plans use two treatments. Some use six.
People often come in asking for veneers because that’s the word they know. Sometimes veneers are the answer. Other times, whitening and a little bonding get you most of the way there for a fraction of the tooth preparation. And sometimes moving a few teeth first means fewer teeth need porcelain at all.
That’s why we start with what bothers you and work backward. The goal is the least treatment that gets you a result you’re happy with, done in a sequence that doesn’t box you in later.
Smile makeover or full mouth reconstruction?
The two overlap, but they start from different places. A smile makeover is mostly about appearance: color, shape, length, spacing, and how the teeth frame your face. Full mouth reconstruction is driven by function, usually because many teeth are worn, broken, or missing and the bite needs rebuilding. Plenty of plans are a bit of both. If you’re searching for full mouth reconstruction in Jacksonville, the first visit is the same: a careful exam and an honest talk about what’s needed.
Dr. Henley sees every patient himself. There’s no treatment coordinator handing you a package. You talk with the dentist who will do the work.
How we plan a smile makeover
The planning process.
Planning starts with photos, digital scans, and a full exam, including your gums and bite. Health problems get handled first. Then Dr. Henley designs the new smile and shows you a mock-up on your own teeth. You approve the look before anything permanent happens, and big plans can be split into phases.
Talk about what bothers you
Too dark, too small, crooked, chipped, gummy, old dental work that looks fake. Bring photos of your smile from years ago if you have them, and pictures of smiles you like. It all helps.
Exam, photos, and scans
A comprehensive exam with gum measurements, X-rays only when needed, smile and face photos, and digital scans of your teeth. We look at how your teeth meet and whether you grind.
Health and bite first
Decay, gum inflammation, and bite problems come before anything cosmetic. New veneers on unhealthy gums or over an unmanaged grinding habit start at a disadvantage.
Design and mock-up
This is the artistic part, and it’s grounded in your face, lips, and gum line, not a stock template. Dr. Henley builds a preview of the planned shape and length right on your teeth, so you can see it, smile with it, and ask for changes.
A written plan, in phases if you want
You get the sequence, the number of visits, and the fee for each step in writing. Larger plans can be phased over months or longer. We set up early phases so they don’t close off options you may want later.
Treatment, then protection
Each step is done in order, with check-ins along the way. When the work is finished, we talk about keeping it: cleanings, home care, and a night guard if you grind.
Smile makeover treatments
Treatments that may be part of your plan.
Most smile makeovers draw from the same handful of treatments: whitening, composite bonding, laser gum contouring, clear aligners, porcelain veneers, crowns, and dental implants. Which ones you need depends on the color, shape, and position of your teeth, your gum line, and what dental work is already there.
Teeth whitening
Brightens natural teeth. Options range from over-the-counter strips when they’ll do, to custom trays made from a digital scan, to in-office Opalescence Boost, to internal bleaching for one dark tooth. See teeth whitening.
Composite bonding
Tooth-colored composite added to fix chips, small gaps, and uneven edges with little or no drilling. Dr. Henley uses Filtek Supreme composite and a Bioclear matrix, and usually limits a bonding visit to six teeth or fewer. See dental bonding.
Gum contouring with a laser
Reshapes an uneven or high gum line so teeth look more even in length. It’s often a small step that changes how everything else reads.
Clear aligners
Moves crowded, spaced, or rotated teeth into better position. Dr. Henley plans aligner cases himself. Straighter teeth often need less preparation, or none, for veneers. See clear aligners.
Porcelain veneers
Thin layered e.max porcelain bonded to the front of teeth to change shape, size, and color. Each one is handmade by Paul Robert, a local ceramist at Dynamic Dental Solutions. See porcelain veneers.
Crowns
Cover the whole tooth when it’s broken down, heavily filled, or root-canal treated. Our crowns are handmade by the same ceramist, not milled in the office. See crowns and bridges.
Dental implants
Replace missing teeth so the smile doesn’t have gaps or a shifting bite. Implants take months to heal, so they’re often planned early. See dental implants.
Replacing old work
Many makeovers include redoing veneers, crowns, or bonding from somewhere else. We first find out why the old work failed: bite forces, preparation, material, or gum health. See veneer replacement.
Smile makeover order of operations
Why the order of treatment matters.
Health comes first, then tooth movement, then whitening, then bonding, veneers, or crowns. Whitening goes before tooth-colored work because bleach only lightens natural teeth. Veneers, crowns, and fillings keep the color they were made in, so they’re matched to your teeth after whitening, not before.4,5
| Stage | What happens | Why it goes here |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Health | Treat decay, gum inflammation, and failing fillings; address grinding | Cosmetic work lasts better on healthy teeth and gums |
| 2. Tooth position | Clear aligners, if teeth need to move | Moving teeth first can mean less drilling, or fewer veneers |
| 3. Gum line | Laser gum contouring | Tooth length and proportions are set before porcelain is designed |
| 4. Color | Whitening of natural teeth | Restorations don’t whiten, so the target shade comes first |
| 5. Shape | Bonding, veneers, and crowns | Matched to the new, settled shade and the approved mock-up |
| 6. Protection | Night guard if you grind; regular cleanings | Grinding is a major reason porcelain fails2 |
After whitening, we wait before final shade matching or bonding. Color settles during that time, and bonding works better once the bleach has cleared the enamel. Implants, when needed, are often started early because healing takes months.
Smile makeover timeline and upkeep
How long it takes, and how long it lasts.
A whitening and bonding plan may take a few weeks. Most porcelain veneer cases take three visits over about a month. Plans with aligners or implants run many months. Results can last for years, but nothing is permanent, and how long yours last depends a lot on grinding, gum health, and home care.
Typical timeframes
- Whitening plus bonding. Often a few weeks, including time for the shade to settle.
- Porcelain veneers. Usually three visits over about a month: planning and preview, preparation, and bonding.
- With clear aligners. Add the months it takes to move teeth. Many people wait to do veneers until movement is finished.
- With implants. Healing before the final tooth commonly takes several months.
How long results last
Porcelain veneers have good long-term data. A pooled review of ceramic veneers estimated about 89% were still in place at a median of 9 years, with chipping and fracture the most common problem.1 A 10-year review of dental implants estimated about 96% survival.3 Whitening fades gradually, and touch-ups are normal. Composite bonding can stain and chip more than porcelain, and it may need polishing or repair over time.
Keeping it looking good
- A night guard if you grind. In a 20-year study, people who ground or clenched had a 7.7 times higher risk of veneer failure.2 See tooth grinding and bruxism.
- Cleanings and checkups. Healthy gums keep edges looking clean and let us catch small problems early.
- Daily care. Brush and floss as usual. Don’t use your teeth as tools.
Is a smile makeover right for you?
Good candidates and realistic expectations.
Good candidates have healthy gums, or are willing to get them healthy first, and clear goals they can describe. You should expect a natural, believable result that fits your face, not a perfect smile from a photo. Ongoing upkeep is part of the deal, and some plans are better done in stages.
Often a good fit
Adults who don’t like the color, shape, or spacing of their front teeth, people with worn or chipped edges, and people unhappy with old cosmetic work done elsewhere.
May need steps first
Active decay, gum disease, heavy grinding, or a bite that’s collapsing from worn or missing teeth. These are treated before cosmetic work, and they can change the plan.
Realistic expectations
Natural teeth vary in color and shape, and a believable smile does too. Very white, very uniform teeth often look fake in person. The mock-up is where we sort out what looks right on you.
Seeing real cases
Our case studies and before and after photos show work done in this office. Every mouth is different, so your result will be your own.
Smile makeover cost in Jacksonville
What affects the cost of a smile makeover.
Smile makeover cost depends mostly on how many teeth are treated and which treatments are used. Whitening and bonding cost far less than a full set of porcelain veneers. We don’t publish fees, but you’ll get the fee for each step in writing before treatment starts, and plans can be phased.
The main cost factors
- Number of teeth. Four front teeth is a different plan than ten.
- Treatment mix. Whitening, bonding, aligners, veneers, crowns, and implants each carry different fees.
- Work needed first. Gum treatment, fillings, or bite work before the cosmetic phase.
- Replacing old work. Removing existing veneers or crowns adds time.
- Protection. A night guard, if you grind.
Insurance and phasing
We’re an out-of-network office. Dental plans usually treat purely cosmetic work as not covered, though parts of a plan, like treating decay or replacing a broken tooth, may be handled differently. We’ll help you understand how to use your benefits, and you’re responsible for what the plan doesn’t pay. Call with your plan details to ask about fees and payment arrangements. Phasing lets you spread treatment out. More on out-of-network dental insurance.
You see the mock-up and the written fees before any tooth is prepared. If you want time to think, take it.
Frequently asked questions
Questions about smile makeovers.
Where can I get a smile makeover in Jacksonville?
Dr. Henley plans and performs smile makeovers at our office at 3675 Hendricks Avenue in San Marco, Jacksonville. He does the exam, the design, the mock-up, and the treatment himself, and our porcelain is handmade by a local ceramist. Call 904.398.1549 or request an appointment to start with a consultation.
How much does a smile makeover cost?
It depends on how many teeth are involved and which treatments you need. A whitening and bonding plan costs much less than a full set of porcelain veneers. We don’t publish fees because no two plans are alike, but you’ll get the fee for each step in writing before anything starts, and larger plans can be phased.
Do I need veneers to get a smile makeover?
No. Many smile makeovers use no veneers at all. Whitening, bonding, gum contouring, or clear aligners can make a big difference on their own. Veneers make sense when you want to change shape, size, or color in a way the less invasive options can’t.
Can I see what my new smile will look like first?
Yes. Before any tooth is prepared, Dr. Henley makes a mock-up of the planned shape and length on your own teeth. You can look at it, smile, talk, and ask for changes. For bigger bonding changes, he can make a quick mock-up too.
Should I whiten my teeth before getting veneers or bonding?
Usually, yes. Whitening only lightens natural teeth. Veneers, crowns, and bonding keep the color they were made in. If you want your natural teeth lighter, it’s best to whiten first and then match the new work to that shade. See teeth whitening.
How long does a smile makeover take?
Anywhere from a few weeks to many months. Whitening and bonding can be done fairly quickly. Most porcelain veneer cases take three visits over about a month. Plans that include clear aligners, gum treatment, or implants take longer because teeth need time to move and implants need time to heal.
How long will my smile makeover last?
Porcelain veneers often last many years, and long-term studies are encouraging, but nobody can promise a specific number. Whitening fades and needs touch-ups. Bonding may need polishing or repair. Grinding, gum health, and home care make the biggest difference. If you grind, a night guard helps protect the work.
Is a smile makeover the same as full mouth reconstruction?
Not exactly. A smile makeover is mostly about how your smile looks. Full mouth reconstruction rebuilds many teeth because of wear, damage, or missing teeth, and focuses on the bite. Some plans include both. The first step is the same: an exam and an honest conversation about what you need.
Can you fix veneers or crowns I had done somewhere else?
Yes. Redoing old cosmetic work is a common part of the consultations we see. Dr. Henley first looks for why the original work isn’t working, whether it’s the bite, the preparation, the material, or gum health. Read more on veneer replacement.
Your next step
Talk with Dr. Henley about your smile.
Start with a consultation at our San Marco office. Tell us what bothers you about your smile. Dr. Henley will examine your teeth and gums, explain your options in plain language, and help you decide what’s worth doing and in what order.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Prefer a nonurgent text? 904.762.5616 is our practice on-call and text line. Please don’t send sensitive health information by text, and call for anything urgent.
Related pages
Sources
- Morimoto S, Albanesi RB, Sesma N, Agra CM, Braga MM. Main clinical outcomes of feldspathic porcelain and glass-ceramic laminate veneers: a systematic review and meta-analysis of survival and complication rates. Int J Prosthodont. 2016;29(1):38-49.
- Beier US, Kapferer I, Burtscher D, Dumfahrt H. Clinical performance of porcelain laminate veneers for up to 20 years. Int J Prosthodont. 2012;25(1):79-85.
- Howe MS, Keys W, Richards D. Long-term (10-year) dental implant survival: a systematic review and sensitivity meta-analysis. J Dent. 2019;84:9-21.
- American Dental Association. Teeth Whitening. MouthHealthy.
- American Dental Association. Whitening. Oral Health Topics.