9 Questions to Ask Before Investing in a Complete Smile Makeover

You’ve been thinking about it for months—maybe years. Every time you look in the mirror or see yourself in photographs, you think, “I wish my smile looked different.” You’ve scrolled through before-and-after galleries on Instagram. You’ve bookmarked dental practice websites. You’re ready to invest in a complete smile makeover.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: not all smile makeovers are created equal. The difference between a transformation you’ll love for decades and one you’ll regret spending thousands on often comes down to asking the right questions before you commit.

At Kissdental, we’ve been creating smile transformations since Dr Kailesh Solanki founded the practice in 2005. Dr Khushal Morar, who trained under Dr Solanki’s mentorship and now leads our cosmetic dentistry programme, has personally transformed over 1,000 smiles. Our master ceramicist Gary Jenkinson crafts each veneer and crown with meticulous attention to detail. We understand what makes the difference between good cosmetic dentistry and genuinely life-changing results.

This article provides the nine essential questions that will reveal everything you need to know about a practice’s expertise and approach and whether they’re the right fit for your smile transformation. These aren’t just clinical questions—they’re the conversations that protect your investment and ensure you’ll love your new smile not just on day one, but for the next twenty years.

1. Can I See Before-and-After Photos of Actual Patients with Similar Issues to Mine?

This is your absolute first question, and the response tells you volumes about a practice’s experience and transparency.

What you’re really asking: Do you have proven experience with cases like mine, and are you willing to show me realistic results rather than aspirational marketing?

Red flags to watch for:

• Only showing a handful of generic before-and-afters
• Photos that look professionally shot in studios (suggesting they’re stock images or purchased from labs)
• Before photos that are poorly lit or unflattering, whilst after photos are professionally shot with perfect lighting (creating exaggerated apparent improvements)
• Inability to show cases similar to your specific concerns
• Defensive responses or reluctance to share patient results

What excellent practices do differently:

At Kissdental, Dr Morar maintains an extensive portfolio of actual patient transformations, organised by treatment type and the specific issues addressed. If you’re concerned about gaps, he can show you gap cases. If you’re worried about discoloured teeth, he has those examples. If your teeth are worn and short, he’s got multiple cases addressing exactly that concern.

“I actually prefer showing patients a range of results—including the more complex or challenging cases—because it demonstrates what we can genuinely achieve in real-world situations,” explains Dr Morar. “Anyone can show you the easiest cases with the most dramatic lighting. I want patients to see realistic results from people whose starting point looked similar to theirs.”

What to look for in the photos:

• Consistent lighting between before and after shots
• Multiple angles (straight-on, profile, smiling, teeth together)
• A variety of patient ages and complexions
• Cases that genuinely resemble your situation
• Natural-looking results that suit each patient’s individual face

The quality and authenticity of a practice’s before-and-after portfolio are two of the most reliable indicators of their true skill level and experience.

2. Who Will Actually Be Creating My Veneers/Crowns, and What Are Their Qualifications?

Most patients focus entirely on the dentist’s qualifications—which absolutely matter—but forget to ask about the person who’ll be crafting their actual restorations. This is a critical oversight.

Why this matters so much:

Your dentist prepares your teeth and takes impressions, but a dental technician in a laboratory creates your veneers, crowns, or bridges. The technician’s skill, artistry, and attention to detail directly determine how natural and beautiful your final results look. Two dentists using identical techniques can produce dramatically different results if they’re working with technicians of different calibre.

Questions to ask specifically:

• Which laboratory do you use?
• Who is the specific ceramicist who’ll create my restorations?
• What are their qualifications and experience?
• Can I see examples of their work?
• Will the same technician handle all my restorations (ensuring consistency)?

The Kissdental advantage:

We work with Gary Jenkinson, a true master ceramicist whose craftsmanship is recognised throughout the profession. Gary doesn’t just create veneers—he creates works of art that mimic natural teeth so precisely that even dental professionals struggle to identify them as restorations.

His process involves:

• Studying your natural tooth colour, translucency, and texture
• Creating subtle variations between teeth (real teeth aren’t identical)
• Building in natural-looking characteristics like slight imperfections
• Ensuring the restorations suit your age, face shape, and personality

Dr Morar works closely with Gary on every case: “Gary and I have developed a collaborative relationship where we both understand what we’re trying to achieve for each patient. I can communicate exactly what characteristics I want in the final restoration, and Gary has the artistic skill to deliver it. That partnership is what creates exceptional results.”

For our All-on-4 and implant cases, dental technician Steve Bradburn—who has over 20 years of experience and teaches other technicians—crafts the permanent teeth. His expertise in Same-Day Teeth and full-arch restorations ensures that implant patients receive restorations engineered to withstand proper chewing forces whilst looking completely natural.

What to avoid:

Practices that are evasive about their laboratory relationships or that use multiple different labs (suggesting they’re shopping based on price rather than quality). If they can’t tell you the name of the technician who’ll create your restorations, that’s a significant red flag.

3. Will I See a Preview of My New Smile Before Any Permanent Work Begins?

This question separates practices using modern digital planning from those relying on guesswork and hope.

What you’re really asking: Can you show me what my new smile will actually look like, or am I supposed to trust your judgement and find out after irreversible work is done?

The digital smile design process:

Leading cosmetic practices now use digital technology to create previews of your new smile before any treatment begins. At Kissdental, Dr Morar’s process includes:

• Digital photographs of your face and teeth from multiple angles
• Impressions or digital scans of your teeth
• Computer-aided design that shows what your new smile will look like
• The ability to make adjustments to the design based on your feedback
• A clear visual understanding of the expected outcome before any preparation work

“This technology has transformed how we plan cosmetic cases,” says Dr Morar. “Patients can see their new smile, tell me if they want the teeth slightly longer or shorter, more or less white, a different shape—and we can adjust everything digitally. By the time we start the actual treatment, everyone are completely aligned on what we’re creating.”

Why this matters critically:

Porcelain veneers require removing a thin layer of enamel from your teeth. This is irreversible—once done, you’ll always need veneers or crowns on those teeth. Making such a permanent change without seeing a preview is like commissioning a portrait without seeing any sketches first. The digital preview ensures you love the plan before committing to the permanent change.

Temporary restorations as a preview:

For more extensive cases, Dr Morar often creates temporary veneers or crowns that you’ll wear for several weeks. These temporaries allow you to live with your new smile—eating, speaking, seeing it in different lighting, and getting feedback from people you trust—before the permanent restorations are made.

“If a patient wears temporaries for two weeks and tells me they’d like the teeth slightly shorter or a shade lighter, we can incorporate that feedback into the final restorations,” Dr Morar explains. “This ‘test drive’ period ensures the final result is exactly what the patient wants.”

4. What Happens If I’m Not Happy with the Results?

This might feel like an awkward question to ask, but a practice’s answer reveals their confidence, integrity, and patient-centredness.

What you’re really asking: Do you stand behind your work, and what recourse do I have if I’m not satisfied?

Red flags:

• Dismissive responses suggesting you should just trust them
• No clear revision policy
• Vague statements without specific commitments
• Implying that you’re being difficult or negative by asking

What confident, patient-focused practices do:

At Kissdental, we have clear policies about revisions and adjustments:

• If you’re not happy with the shape, size, or colour of temporaries, we’ll adjust them until you are
• If the final restorations don’t match the approved design, we’ll remake them
• Minor adjustments to final restorations (slight reshaping, small refinements) are included
• We maintain clear communication throughout the process to ensure alignment

Dr Solanki, who founded the practice on principles of exceptional patient care, insists on this approach: “We want every patient to love their smile. If something isn’t right, we need to know about it, and we need to fix it. That’s not a burden—that’s our commitment to excellence.”

The balance:

Understand that there’s a difference between genuine problems with the work (restorations that don’t match the agreed design, poor fit, inappropriate shade) and simply changing your mind about what you want after permanent work is complete. Good practices will fix problems with their work at no charge. Changing the design after you’ve approved it may involve costs for new restorations.

Ask specifically:

• What’s included in the cost if adjustments are needed?
• What’s your process if I’m not satisfied with the results?
• Can you share examples of how you’ve handled patient concerns in the past?

A practice that’s confident in their work will have clear, reassuring answers.

5. How Many Smile Makeovers Has This Specific Dentist Completed?

Cosmetic dentistry requires different skills than general dentistry. Experience with smile makeovers specifically matters enormously.

What you’re really asking: Is this something you do regularly with proven results, or am I going to be a learning opportunity?

Why specific numbers matter:

When Dr Morar says he’s transformed over 1,000 smiles, that’s not marketing hyperbole—it’s quantifiable experience. That experience means:

• He’s seen every type of case complexity
• He’s developed refined techniques through repetition
• He’s learned from any cases that didn’t go perfectly
• He can accurately predict outcomes
• He knows how to handle unexpected situations

Questions to ask:

• How many complete smile makeovers have you personally done?
• How many veneer cases do you complete per year?
• What’s your experience with cases similar to mine?
• What additional training have you undertaken in cosmetic dentistry?

Dr Morar’s training path:

After graduating from Riga Stradins University in 2018, Dr Morar specifically joined Kissdental’s private training scheme to learn advanced cosmetic techniques under Dr Solanki’s mentorship. This apprenticeship model—where a younger dentist trains intensively with an experienced practitioner—is relatively rare and incredibly valuable.

He’s also a course leader for Kisscourses, teaching other cosmetic dentists his techniques. This teaching role ensures he stays current with the latest developments and maintains the highest standards in his own work.

The difference experience makes:

An experienced cosmetic dentist can:

• Accurately predict how treatments will look on your specific face
• Handle complications that arise during treatment
• Create results that look natural rather than obviously fake
• Understand subtle aesthetic principles (tooth proportions, shade selection, how teeth interact with lips and face shape)
• Work efficiently without compromising quality

Don’t be afraid to ask directly about numbers and experience. Any competent cosmetic dentist should be proud to share their track record.

6. What’s the Realistic Lifespan of This Treatment, and What Maintenance Will I Need?

This question addresses the long-term value of your investment and helps you understand true costs over time.

What you’re really asking: What am I actually buying, and what ongoing costs should I expect?

Realistic lifespans for common treatments:

• Porcelain veneers: 10-20 years with good care (sometimes longer)
• Composite bonding: 5-10 years before repair or replacement needed
• Dental crowns: 10-15 years typically
• Teeth whitening: 1-3 years before touch-ups needed (depending on diet and habits)

Factors that affect longevity:

Your oral hygiene habits, whether you grind your teeth, your diet, whether you smoke, and how well you maintain regular dental visits all significantly impact how long cosmetic work lasts.

Dr Morar is direct about maintenance requirements: “I always tell patients that veneers aren’t a one-time expense. They’ll eventually need replacement—that’s just reality. But with good care, you’re looking at potentially 15-20 years. That’s excellent value when you consider the daily benefit you’re receiving.”

Maintenance requirements to understand:

• Regular hygiene appointments: Essential for gum health and long-term success (every 6 months)
• Night guard if you grind: Protects your investment and prevents premature damage
• Whitening touch-ups: If you’ve had whitening, periodic touch-ups maintain results
• Eventual replacement: All dental work eventually needs replacement

The true cost calculation:

If porcelain veneers cost £800-1,200 per tooth and last 15 years, that’s roughly £50-80 per tooth per year. For 8-10 veneers creating a complete smile transformation, you’re looking at £400-800 per year—or £35-65 per month—for a smile you love. When framed this way, the investment often feels more manageable.

At Kissdental:

We provide clear information about expected lifespans and maintenance requirements during consultation. We also offer Denplan Essentials (£16.20 per month), which covers your routine check-ups and hygiene appointments—essential maintenance for protecting your investment.

7. Are You Combining Multiple Treatments, and If So, in What Order and Why?

Complete smile makeovers often involve multiple treatments working together. Understanding the treatment plan’s logic reveals a dentist’s strategic thinking and expertise.

What you’re really asking: Is there a thoughtful, evidence-based plan, or are we just throwing treatments at the problem?

Common treatment combinations and their logic:

Example 1: Whitening before veneers Dr Morar always whitens natural teeth before placing veneers on front teeth. Why? Because veneers are made to match your tooth colour, and you can’t whiten veneers after they’re placed. By whitening first, he can match the veneers to your newly brightened teeth, creating a uniformly brilliant smile.

Example 2: Invisalign before veneers If your teeth are misaligned, Dr Morar might recommend straightening them first with Invisalign, then enhancing with veneers. This approach often allows him to use fewer veneers (saving you money) and create more natural-looking results because he’s working with properly positioned teeth.

Example 3: Gum recontouring before cosmetic work If your teeth look short because excess gum tissue is covering them, Dr Hannah might perform gum recontouring before veneers. This creates proper tooth proportions and often reduces the amount of other work needed.

Example 4: Hygiene treatment before everything Before any cosmetic work begins, our hygienists ensure your gums are healthy. Placing veneers or other cosmetic work on inflamed or diseased gums is building on a compromised foundation that will eventually cause problems.

Questions to ask:

• Why are we doing treatments in this specific order?
• What would happen if we skipped one of these steps?
• Are there alternative sequences we could consider?
• What’s the total timeline for the complete plan?

Dr Morar’s strategic approach:

“Every smile makeover needs to be planned strategically from start to finish,” Dr Morar explains. “I’m thinking about the end result from day one and working backwards to determine the optimal sequence of treatments. The order matters enormously—doing things in the wrong sequence can compromise results or cost the patient more money.”

This strategic thinking—backed by Dr Morar’s experience with over 1,000 transformations—is what separates excellent smile makeovers from disappointing ones.

8. How Do You Ensure the Result Will Suit My Face Shape and Personality?

This might be the most important aesthetic question you ask, because a smile that looks beautiful on someone else might look wrong on you.

What you’re really asking: Will my new smile look like it belongs on my face, or will it obviously look like “cosmetic dentistry”?

The factors that determine whether a smile suits you:

• Tooth length relative to your face height: Longer teeth suit longer faces; shorter teeth suit shorter faces
• Tooth width relative to your face width: The proportion must match your facial proportions
• Tooth shape: Angular teeth look masculine; rounded teeth look feminine
• Colour intensity: Should match your age, skin tone, and personality
• Amount of tooth shown when smiling: Should be natural for your age

Dr Morar’s personalisation process:

“I spend significant time during consultation just looking at each patient’s face and talking about their aesthetic preferences,” Dr Morar explains. “Are they conservative in their personal style or more dramatic? What do they do professionally—do they need to look traditionally professional or can they be more fashion-forward? What do they dislike about their current smile?”

He uses digital planning to create several design options, showing patients variations in tooth length, width, and shape. Patients can see these options on images of their own face—not generic models—which makes decision-making much clearer.

Red flags:

• Dentists who suggest the same “look” for every patient
• Heavy emphasis on “Hollywood white” teeth without discussing whether that suits you
• No discussion of your face shape, age, or personal aesthetic preferences
• Showing you magazine photos of celebrities without relating them to your features

Natural variation matters:

Real teeth aren’t perfectly uniform. Gary Jenkinson, our master ceramicist, deliberately builds subtle variations into each veneer or crown:

• Slight differences in shade between teeth
• Natural texture and translucency
• Characteristics appropriate to your age (younger people have sharper edges; older people show slight wear)
• Variations that make them look like real teeth that grew in your mouth

This attention to natural variation is what prevents the “chiclet teeth” look that obviously signals cosmetic work.

9. What Payment Options Are Available, and Are Financing Plans Transparent?

Complete smile makeovers represent significant investments. Understanding your payment options helps you plan appropriately without financial stress.

What you’re really asking: Can I afford this treatment, and are there hidden costs I should know about?

Typical costs for complete smile makeovers:

• Upper arch veneers (8-10 teeth): £8,000-12,000
• Full smile makeover (upper and lower): £15,000-25,000
• Combination treatments: Variable depending on what’s included

At Kissdental, we offer several payment options:

1. Full payment at once: Some patients prefer to pay the total cost upfront, often to simplify budgeting or because they’ve saved specifically for treatment.
2. Denplan payment plans Our Denplan Essentials programme (£16.20 per month) covers routine care, and Denplan also offers specific payment plans for major cosmetic treatment that spread costs over agreed timeframes.
3. Third-party financing We work with healthcare financing companies that offer credit specifically for dental treatment, often with promotional interest-free periods.

What to ask specifically:

• What’s included in the quoted price? (consultations, temporaries, adjustments, follow-ups)
• Are there any additional costs I should anticipate?
• What payment plans do you offer, and what are the terms?
• What happens if I need revisions—are those included?
• Do you require a deposit, and when is the balance due?

Dr Solanki’s commitment to transparency:

“We provide detailed written quotes that break down exactly what’s included,” Dr Solanki explains. “No hidden fees, no surprise charges. I want patients to make informed financial decisions without worrying about unexpected costs appearing later.”

The value perspective:

While smile makeovers represent significant upfront investment, most patients report that the daily quality-of-life improvements—increased confidence, improved professional presence, enjoyment of smiling freely—make the investment worthwhile. The key is ensuring the treatment is affordable within your specific financial situation.

Don’t let embarrassment about money prevent you from asking detailed questions about costs and payment options. Any reputable practice will be completely transparent and willing to help you find a payment approach that works.

What Happens at Your Kissdental Consultation

If you’re considering a smile makeover and want to ask these nine essential questions, here’s what to expect at your comprehensive consultation with Dr Morar:

Stage 1: Understanding your goals and concerns. Dr Morar will ask about what you dislike about your current smile, what you hope to achieve, and what’s important to you aesthetically. This conversation shapes everything that follows.

Stage 2: Comprehensive examination He’ll examine your teeth, gums, bite, and facial aesthetics. He’s looking not just at your teeth in isolation but at how they interact with your face, lips, and smile.

Stage 3: Digital imaging and planning Photographs from multiple angles, plus digital impressions or moulds of your teeth. These create the foundation for treatment planning and smile previews.

Stage 4: Treatment plan discussion Dr Morar will explain what treatments would achieve your goals, why he’s recommending specific approaches, what the timeline would be, and what results you can realistically expect.

Stage 5: Smile preview (if applicable) For many cases, he can create a digital mock-up showing what your new smile will look like. You’ll see the proposed changes on images of your own face.

Stage 6: Cost discussion You’ll receive a detailed written quote breaking down all costs, plus information about payment options.

Stage 7: Questions and next steps This is your opportunity to ask any of the nine questions in this article (or any others on your mind). Dr Morar will answer everything honestly and thoroughly. There’s never pressure to proceed—you can take time to consider your options.

The Questions That Protect Your Investment

A complete smile makeover can genuinely be life-changing when done well. But “done well” requires expertise, artistry, advanced technology, quality materials, and a dentist who genuinely cares about creating results you’ll love.

These nine questions help you identify practices that excel in all those areas. They reveal:

• Proven experience with cases like yours
• Commitment to quality materials and skilled technicians
• Use of modern planning technology
• Confidence in their work (evidenced by clear revision policies)
• Strategic treatment planning expertise
• Attention to personalised aesthetics
• Financial transparency

At Kissdental, we welcome these questions because they demonstrate that you’re a thoughtful, informed patient who wants to make the right decision. That’s exactly the type of patient we love working with.

Don’t invest in a smile makeover without getting clear answers to these essential questions. Book your consultation at Kissdental, where transparency, expertise, and patient education form the foundation of everything we do.

Call us on 0161 871 9426 to schedule your comprehensive smile makeover consultation at any of our eight locations across Manchester (Green Quarter, Cheetham Hill, Flixton, Altrincham), Cheshire (Alderley Edge, Knutsford), Liverpool, and Bury.

Your perfect smile is waiting—but the right questions ensure you’ll love it for decades to come.