Top 10 Smile Makeover Treatments by Cost in the UK

How to read this list

The list runs from the usual lowest cost to the highest, but a smile makeover is a plan, not a shopping list. Ranges are typical private UK prices and vary with the clinic, region, materials and complexity, so use them to compare quotes rather than to predict a price. Costs also change over time, because bonding and veneers need maintenance and eventual replacement, and a cheaper treatment that needs frequent repair can cost more in the long run. Orthodontics is placed ninth by cost, but in the treatment order it is usually the foundation. Where the treatments combine, ask for an itemised written plan. NHS care covers clinical need, so cosmetic work is generally private.

The usual order of treatment

A sensible sequence builds from the foundation outwards. First, a full examination, including gum health, because gum disease and decay must be treated before cosmetic work. Second, orthodontics if teeth are crooked, rotated or gappy, because moving teeth reduces how much has to be removed or added later. Third, whitening, because the shade of natural teeth should be settled before bonding or veneers are matched to it. Fourth, gum contouring if needed, once the final tooth position is known. Finally, finishing touches such as bonding, contouring, veneers or crowns. This is why the cheapest steps often come last in the treatment order but first in the cost order.

1. Scale and polish

A scale and polish removes plaque, tartar and surface stain and gives a clean base for everything else. It is not cosmetic in the strict sense, but it can make teeth look noticeably brighter and lets the dentist check your gums. It is usually the lowest-cost step, with price depending on whether you are seen by a dentist or hygienist and whether you pay privately. It does not need to wait for any other treatment, and it is worth doing before whitening, bonding or an impression for veneers. Expect to repeat it at the interval your dentist recommends. Watch out for paying for a premium polish that adds nothing to what a standard hygiene visit provides, and ask whether the visit includes a gum health check.

2. Whitening with custom trays

Custom trays are made to fit your teeth and used at home with a dentist-supplied gel, typically over one to two weeks. They cost £200 to £450 and the trays can be reused for top-ups, which lowers the long-term cost. Results depend on the starting shade and the type of staining, and whitening only changes natural enamel, so it should be done before any bonding or veneers are matched to your shade. If you are having braces or aligners, wait until treatment is finished. See our whitening guides for sensitivity, legal limits and timing. Watch out for trays offered without an examination, for gels of unclear strength, and for paying again for trays when your dentist can store the impressions for future top-ups.

3. Chairside whitening

Chairside whitening applies a stronger gel at the practice, protected by a barrier for the gums, and gives a quick result in about an hour. Typical UK cost is £300 to £700. It is a good option before an event or when you want a quick start, and many dentists combine it with take-home trays for top-ups. Sensitivity is more common than with gradual treatment. Like all whitening, it does not change crowns, veneers or fillings, so shade matching needs planning if you have front restorations. Watch out for providers who are not registered dental professionals, for sessions that add costly extras, and for expecting the result to last without top-ups.

4. Composite bonding

Composite bonding adds tooth-coloured resin to repair chips, close small gaps or change the shape of a tooth. Typical cost is £150 to £500 per tooth. It usually needs little or no enamel removal, so it is the most conservative way to change a tooth's shape, and it can often be done in one visit. The resin can stain, chip or wear, and typically needs polishing or repair over the years. It is best placed after any orthodontic treatment and whitening so that the shape and shade are right. Skill matters, so ask to see examples of the dentist's work. Watch out for prices that look low but exclude later polishing, and for bonding used to disguise crowding that would be better corrected by moving the teeth.

5. Tooth contouring

Contouring, or enamel reshaping, smooths or shortens small areas of a tooth to correct slight unevenness, pointed edges or minor overlap. The cost varies with the number of teeth and is often modest, and it is quick and does not need anaesthetic in many cases. It is limited by the thickness of the enamel, so it is only suitable for minor changes and only when a dentist has checked that enough enamel is present. It is irreversible because enamel does not regrow, so it should be conservative. Contouring is commonly done after braces to refine the final appearance. Watch out for being offered contouring on thin enamel, for repeated reshaping of the same teeth, and for treatment that is not explained in terms of how much enamel is taken.

6. Gum contouring

Gum contouring reshapes the gum line to even out the margins or reduce the amount of gum shown when you smile. Cost varies with the number of teeth and whether a laser or scalpel is used. It is suitable when excess gum is the cause of the problem, not when the cause is tooth position or jaw growth, in which case orthodontic treatment may be better. Because the removed tissue does not regrow, the result is permanent and should follow a gum health assessment. It is best planned after orthodontics so the final tooth position is known. Watch out for contouring suggested without a gum health check, and for cases where the cause is jaw or tooth position rather than excess gum.

7. Porcelain veneers

Veneers are ceramic shells bonded to the front surface of teeth to change colour, shape or length. Typical UK cost is £500 to £1,500 per tooth, so a set of several teeth is a significant investment. They resist staining better than resin and can last many years, but most need some enamel removal, which is irreversible, and every veneer will eventually need replacing. They are well suited to teeth that are discoloured in a way whitening cannot fix, or worn, chipped or misshapen. If your teeth are crooked, moving them first usually allows thinner, more conservative veneers or even makes them unnecessary. Watch out for per-tooth prices that exclude temporaries, laboratory fees or reviews, for sets bought as a package, and for the cost of replacing veneers over the following decades.

8. Crowns

A crown covers the whole tooth and is used to restore a tooth that is heavily filled, cracked, weakened or has had root canal treatment. It is not primarily a cosmetic treatment, but crowns appear in smile makeovers where teeth need structural strength as well as improved appearance. Cost varies widely with the material, such as porcelain, zirconia or metal-ceramic, and the laboratory. A crown requires more tooth reduction than a veneer, so it is generally reserved for teeth that need it. Be cautious about being told that every tooth needs a crown to look good and seek a second opinion if you are. Watch out for price differences between materials that are not explained, for crowns recommended on healthy teeth for cosmetic reasons, and for plans that do not state how much tooth is removed.

9. Orthodontics

Braces and aligners move teeth into a better position, which can transform a smile and often reduces or removes the need for veneers, crowns or extensive bonding. Costs vary widely with the type of appliance and the complexity of your case, so use our cost guides and compare written quotes. It is the longest treatment here, usually months to a couple of years, and requires retainers afterwards. Orthodontics is the foundation of the sequence, not the final step, which is why it matters even though it appears late in the cost order. Watch out for quotes that exclude retainers, review appointments or refinements, for very short treatment times without explanation, and for treatment with no named responsible clinician.

10. Full Hollywood smile package

A Hollywood smile combines several treatments, typically whitening with veneers or crowns on the visible upper teeth, and sometimes bonding, gum contouring or orthodontics. Typical cost runs to several thousand pounds depending on the number of teeth and materials. Done conservatively and in the right order, it can be a lasting result. Done as a rapid package on crowded teeth, it can involve removing a lot of healthy enamel. Always ask for an itemised plan, a preview such as a trial smile, an explanation of the alternatives and a clear estimate of future maintenance. Watch out for headline package prices that exclude essential steps, for time-limited offers, and for plans that skip the preview and the second opinion.

What affects the price of cosmetic treatment

Prices for the same treatment can differ widely between practices. The main factors are the number of teeth treated, the materials used, whether a dental laboratory is involved and where it is, the experience and training of the clinician, the time the appointments take and the region, with London and the South East usually higher. Complexity also matters: a small gap on one tooth costs less than reshaping a crowded arch. Some quotes bundle consultations, X-rays, temporaries, reviews and retainers, while others list them separately, so a lower headline price is not always cheaper. Ask what is included and compare like with like.

Ways to keep costs sensible without cutting corners

Start with the least invasive option that meets your goals, because it usually costs less to place and less to maintain. Ask whether treatment can be staged so that you can stop at a point you are happy with. Compare at least two itemised written plans for extensive work, and ask each clinician what they would do differently. Look at the cost of maintenance and replacement over ten years, not just the day-one price. Use the NHS for what it covers, such as check-ups and clinically necessary care, and keep private spending for what you actually want. Avoid time-limited discounts on irreversible treatment.

Example treatment sequences

For discoloured but straight teeth, a typical sequence is a hygiene visit, then supervised whitening, then bonding or veneers only if some teeth still do not match. For crowded teeth with dull colour, the sequence is orthodontics first, then a hygiene visit, then whitening, then minimal reshaping or bonding to finish. For a gummy smile caused by excess gum, the sequence is a gum health check, gum contouring if suitable, and then any bonding or veneers. For worn or broken teeth, a clinician may plan crowns or veneers to restore function first and then use whitening to match the surrounding teeth. These are examples rather than prescriptions, and your own plan depends on an examination.

Looking after the result

Cosmetic work lasts longest when it is protected. Good daily cleaning and regular dental check-ups keep the gums healthy around bonding and veneers, which matters because gum disease can undo a good result. A night guard is often advised if you grind your teeth, since grinding is a common cause of chipped bonding and veneers. Avoid biting hard objects such as pens, ice or fingernails with restored teeth. Return for polishing or repair when your dentist recommends it, and keep your retainers if you have had orthodontic treatment, because teeth can drift if they are not held. Budget for maintenance, because it is part of the real cost of any cosmetic plan.

When the cheapest option is false economy

A low upfront price is not always the lowest cost. Bonding that is placed on crowded teeth can look bulky and need repeated repair. Whitening bought cheaply and used without advice can cause sensitivity that needs treatment. Veneers fitted to avoid orthodontics can commit you to replacement every decade or so. Equally, the most expensive plan is not necessarily the best, and a long list of extras may include steps you do not need. Compare the cost over ten years, ask which parts of the plan are essential, and prefer the plan that achieves your goal with the least irreversible treatment.

Key takeaways

Plan from the foundation outwards: gums, orthodontics, whitening, then finishing touches. The cheapest step is not always the best first step, and moving teeth first can reduce the cost and invasiveness of what follows. Ask for itemised written plans, and include maintenance and replacement in any comparison. Get a second opinion before agreeing to irreversible treatment on healthy teeth.

Useful related pages

This guide is for general information only. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, or substitute for advice from a registered dentist or orthodontist.