Smile makeover over 60: what changes in the plan

A smile makeover over 60 is one of the most rewarding pieces of work our dentists do, and one of the most varied. A younger patient often has healthy, untouched teeth that are simply the wrong colour or shape. By 60, most mouths have a story: fillings from the 1970s, a crown or two, a bridge, a missing back tooth, some worn edges and gums that have crept down. None of that rules out a beautiful result. It does mean the plan starts with what is already there, not with a picture of a celebrity smile.

This article explains what our dentists look at when planning a makeover for an older mouth, the decisions that come up most often, and how to set goals that will still look right in ten years.

Why age changes the plan, not the answer

There is no upper age limit for cosmetic dentistry. What changes with time is the starting point. Teeth darken slowly as the outer enamel thins and the yellower dentine underneath shows through. Edges wear down, so front teeth look shorter and the smile shows less tooth when you talk. Gums may recede and expose root surfaces. Old restorations leak, stain or chip. And many medicines that are common after 60 reduce saliva, which raises the risk of decay around any new work.

Each of these has an answer. The point is that a good makeover plan for an older patient deals with them in the right order. Putting new veneers next to a leaking crown, or onto gums that bleed when brushed, is a short-lived result.

Step one: is the mouth healthy enough?

Before anyone talks about shade or shape, the dentist checks the foundations. At our clinic in Antalya this means a full exam and a 3D CBCT scan on the first day, so we can see the bone, the roots and what is happening under old crowns.

Gums

Many people over 60 have some gum disease without knowing it, because it rarely hurts in the early stages. The NHS lists bleeding when you brush, bad breath and loose teeth among the signs. Crowns and veneers need firm, healthy gums around them. If the gums are inflamed, the edges of new work can end up in the wrong place once the swelling settles, and the teeth underneath may not be strong enough to carry them. Where gum treatment is needed, we tell you and plan it first.

Old crowns, bridges and fillings

Every existing restoration is checked for fit, decay at the edges and colour. Some can stay. Others need replacing because they are failing, or because they will look dull next to new, brighter work. Our article on replacing an old failed crown or bridge explains what that involves.

Root canals and weak teeth

An older tooth that has had a large filling or root canal treatment may be brittle. The X-rays and 3D scan show whether a tooth can carry a crown or whether it would be wiser to replace it. We prefer to keep a healthy tooth rather than crown it, and we would rather keep a tooth that can be saved than remove it.

Missing teeth

Gaps at the back matter more than people think. If back teeth are missing, the front teeth take more of the chewing load and can be pushed forward or worn faster. A makeover that only treats the front six teeth may not last if the back of the bite is not supported. That may mean dental implants or a bridge as part of the plan.

The common problems, and what usually helps

Gum recession: the one cosmetic work cannot hide

Receding gums are very common with age, and research on gum recession links it to many causes, including gum disease, hard brushing and the position of the teeth. Recession changes how a smile looks. Teeth look longer, and small dark triangles can appear between them where the gum used to fill the space.

It helps to be clear about what a makeover can and cannot do here. A crown or veneer covers the tooth. It does not grow gum. The dentist can shape the new teeth so the triangles are smaller, and can place the edge of the work to cover some exposed root where that is safe. But the plan has to respect where the gum actually is. If you have recession, ask the dentist at the exam exactly how the new teeth will meet your gums. We would rather explain the limits at the start than surprise you at the fitting.

Choosing a shade and shape that suits you

This is where older patients most often get poor advice. Very white, flat, identical teeth can look artificial on anyone, and more so next to mature skin, lips and hair. A natural older smile has slightly varied edges, soft translucency at the tips and a shade that is light but not chalky.

• Ask to see the planned shape on your own face. We use digital smile design and, for cosmetic cases, a trial smile (mock-up) so you can see and feel the proposal before anything is made.
• Look at the shade in daylight, not only under clinic lights.
• Think about your lower teeth. If the uppers go much whiter and the lowers stay as they are, the difference shows when you talk.
• Bring a photo of your smile from twenty years ago if you have one. It is often a better guide than any celebrity picture.

Our page on the Hollywood smile explains the brighter end of the range. Many patients over 60 choose something more natural, and that is a perfectly good choice.

Which materials suit an older mouth?

For most older patients, the choice is between zirconia crowns, E-max crowns or veneers, and composite bonding.

• Zirconia crowns are very strong and metal-free. They suit back teeth, heavily filled teeth and anyone who grinds. Ours are £150 per tooth. See zirconia crowns.
• E-max is a glass ceramic with lovely translucency, often used on front teeth. E-max crowns are £225 and E-max laminate veneers £300 per tooth.
• Composite bonding (£125 per tooth) can lengthen worn edges or close small gaps with little or no drilling. It needs more upkeep, but it is a gentle first step for teeth that are otherwise healthy.

A large review of single crowns in Dental Materials found that metal-ceramic and modern all-ceramic crowns both perform well over five years, with differences between material types. In practice, the right material depends on the tooth, your bite and how much natural tooth is left, and older mouths often end up with a mix.

Health, medicines and comfort

Tell us about your health and every medicine you take when you send your photos or X-ray. Blood thinners, osteoporosis drugs, diabetes and heart conditions do not usually stop crown or veneer work, but they can change how the dentist plans extractions or gum treatment. The Oral Health Foundation notes that many medicines cause dry mouth, which raises the risk of decay, so we give clear advice on looking after new crowns if that applies to you.

Long appointments can be tiring. Sessions can be split over several days, with breaks whenever you need one, and sedation given by an anaesthetist is available on request for patients who are anxious.

How the trip usually runs

Most smile makeovers with crowns or veneers fit into one trip of about 5 to 7 days. If the plan includes implants, those need two trips, usually 3 to 6 months apart, because the bone needs time to heal around them. You will have the final plan and price in writing on day one, after the exam and scan, and you pay at the clinic against the plan you approved. Crowns, bridges and smile makeovers carry our written 5-year guarantee, and laminate veneers 3 years; the terms are on our guarantee page.

Setting realistic goals

A good makeover over 60 should make you look well and like yourself. It should let you eat comfortably, smile without thinking about it and be easy to keep clean. It will not make your gums younger, and it should not make your teeth the brightest thing in the room. Patients who are happiest with the result tend to be the ones who were shown exactly what was planned, and why, before treatment started.

If you would like to know what is possible for your own smile, send us a few photos or a recent X-ray through our contact page or on WhatsApp. One of our dentists will review them and send you a written plan with an itemised price, with no payment needed to receive it.

Common questions

Am I too old for a smile makeover?

Age on its own is not a reason to say no. What matters is the health of your gums and bone, the state of your existing teeth and your general health. Many of the patients we plan makeovers for are in their sixties and seventies.

Do my old crowns have to be replaced?

Not always. If an old crown fits well, has no decay underneath and matches the new shade, it can stay. Crowns that are leaking, chipped or very different in colour are usually replaced as part of the makeover, because new work next to them would make them look worse.

Can veneers cover receding gums?

Veneers cover the front of the visible tooth. They do not move the gum line. Where the gum has receded, the dentist plans the edge of the new work around it and may suggest gum treatment first. Exposed roots can be sensitive, so this is discussed at the exam.

How white should my teeth be at 65?

A natural light shade usually looks best. Very white, opaque teeth can look artificial next to older skin and lips. We show you the planned shade and shape with a trial smile before anything is made.

How long does a smile makeover take?

Most crown and veneer makeovers are one trip of about 5 to 7 days. If you also need implants, those need two trips a few months apart. See how it works.

Sources

1. NHS: Gum disease
2. Oral Health Foundation: Dry mouth
3. Kassab and Cohen (2003), Journal of the American Dental Association: The etiology and prevalence of gingival recession
4. Sailer et al. (2015), Dental Materials: All-ceramic or metal-ceramic tooth-supported fixed dental prostheses? Part I: Single crowns

Checked October 2026. Where we give our own view as a clinic, we say so.