There is a moment in every smile makeover journey when a patient realizes the investment is about much more than changing their teeth. For Wendy, that moment came when she saw her completed smile for the first time.
Dr. Nahata had placed the final restorations, brought everything together, and then asked her to smile.
“I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
Then Wendy saw her before-and-after images on the screen.
“It was mind-boggling how perfect they looked.”
But the word Wendy comes back to over and over isn’t actually perfect.
It’s natural.
“It’s natural. It’s just so natural.”
And that distinction is at the key to Wendy’s smile make over experience at Tewksbury Dental Associates.
It Started With Her Teeth and She Wasn’t Happy
For years, Wendy had been going to a local dentist in her town. She had noticed that her front teeth were changing and becoming more prominent.
“My front teeth were just not looking good,” she explains. “I was really concerned about them. And it felt like they were pushing forward. They were getting sort of bucky.”
She repeatedly asked if something could be done. But she wasn’t getting the answers she was looking for. Then her daughter, who had researched Tewksbury Dental Associates for herself, encouraged Wendy to make an appointment.
“She said, ‘Mom, you have GOT to go here. They’re amazing. High tech, everything is like super state-of-the-art.’”
That first consultation changed the direction of Wendy’s smile journey.
“Dr. Nahata was just amazing about how he explained exactly the whole process of what he wanted to do to me and what was wrong.”
For Wendy, understanding the why behind her treatment was important. Her smile makeover wasn’t about simply putting new teeth on top of an existing problem. Her bite, tooth position, and overall function all needed to be considered.
And there was a completely customized plan just for her.
“They (the TDA team) laid out the entire timeframe, how long everything would take from beginning to end.”
A Smile Makeover Is About the Details
Wendy ultimately underwent comprehensive treatment involving her entire upper arch. Her journey included orthodontic treatment, preparation of her teeth, an implant, bite adjustments, and final restorations.
“Everything was done here,” Wendy says.
But what impressed her most wasn’t simply the scope of the treatment. It was the attention to detail. Tewksbury Dental Associates used digital technology, imaging, 3D equipment, photographs, temporary restorations, and careful evaluation throughout her treatment. Wendy experienced the process of trying in temporary teeth and living with them before the final result was complete.
Sometimes adjustments were necessary. And that was exactly what she wanted. Dr. Nahata and Keri were tuned into the experience and the outcome for Wendy.
“He was so particular about the type of work he does,” she recalls. “A couple of times he put my front teeth in and said, ‘No, they don’t look right. The color’s not right.’”
Then she says something that perfectly captures what she valued about her experience:
“What I loved is that he didn’t settle.”
He didn’t settle for teeth that were simply acceptable.
“He didn’t settle for my mouth, just my teeth looking okay.”
That commitment mattered to Wendy because she wasn’t looking for a smile that looked artificial or obviously “done.” She wanted a smile that looked like her—only better.
“They were perfect and they looked so natural. And that’s what he wanted. He wanted a natural smile.”
Today, she says, “You can’t tell.”
And there’s another detail she loves:
“I can floss in between all my teeth. I mean, it’s like having real teeth.”
The Moment a Smile Becomes Confidence
Before treatment, Wendy had lived with her smile for so long that she hadn’t necessarily realized how much it had changed.
“You live with something. You don’t know any different.”
Seeing the before-and-after made the transformation much more apparent. Now, other people notice, too.
“When I am out and about and people haven’t seen me for a while, they just say, ‘Wow, you have a really nice smile.'”
For someone considering a smile makeover, that kind of reaction can be incredibly meaningful. Not because the goal is to have everyone notice your dental work. Quite the opposite. The goal is often to have people notice you. A beautiful smile makeover shouldn’t announce itself. It should look natural, harmonious, and completely at home on your face.
The Experience Matters as Much as the Result
A comprehensive smile makeover can take time. Wendy’s treatment journey lasted about a year, and some appointments were several hours long. That made the relationship she developed with the team especially important.
“My experience at Tewksbury through this entire process, from the minute you walk in the door, they’re so nice, and they remembered your name.”
She describes Dr. Nahata and Keri as “really fun” and “really funny,” but what stands out most is the personal care she received.
“They just took such care constantly when you’re having your work done. They’re like, ‘Are you okay? Are you okay? Put your hand up if you’re not.’”
Sometimes that meant checking whether she needed to get up or stretch her legs.
“Very compassionate, very caring.”
And despite how extensive the treatment could be, Wendy says:
“Never made me feel anxious or scared. It was pretty scary.”
That personal connection became especially meaningful when Wendy experienced difficult moments in her life during treatment, including losing her mother.
“They were really supportive of it,” she says. “Keri and I shared a lot about our moms.”
For Wendy, the people delivering the treatment became part of the journey.
“It was a very personal experience.”
And then she explains why that matters:
“You need that because it’s going through a process of having your looks changed and your confidence changed to have people who are supporting you.”
“They’re not just doing their work. They were worried about my smile and my looks…how I felt about myself—and to make it right.”
Is a Smile Makeover Worth the Investment?
This is one of the biggest questions prospective patients have and Wendy is refreshingly honest about it. When friends and acquaintances ask her about the experience, she doesn’t pretend that a comprehensive smile makeover isn’t a significant investment.
“I tell them it’s a big chunk of your life.”
But she also knows what she would tell someone who is considering taking that step:
“If you want to do it and need to do it, this is the place that you want to do it.”
Why?
“Because you will be truly cared for and love the result of how you leave.”
Wendy admits that at the beginning, she wasn’t sure how she would feel about the investment.
“I probably would have said, ‘Wow, I’m really not sure that’s going to be worth it.’”
Her perspective now?
“But I tell them it is totally worth it.”
For Wendy, the result isn’t simply cosmetic. She believes the treatment has given her a healthier foundation for the future.
“And now I will have healthy teeth for the rest of my life.”
Finding the Right Place Matters
Choosing a practice for a smile makeover is a significant decision. You’re not just choosing a dentist. You’re choosing the team that will guide you through months of planning, treatment, temporary changes, adjustments, and ultimately your new smile.
Wendy’s advice is simple:
“It’s very hard to find the right place and do your research.”
But when you do?
“When you come to the right place, you know it. You know you found the right people.”
Thinking About Your Own Smile Makeover?
If you’ve been living with a smile you’re not completely comfortable with, or you’ve wondered whether something can be done, Wendy’s story is a reminder that you don’t have to settle for a smile that simply looks “okay.” Start with a conversation.
At Tewksbury Dental Associates, your smile makeover can begin with understanding what you want to change, what is possible, and what a thoughtful, comprehensive treatment plan could look like for you. Because a smile makeover isn’t just about changing teeth. It’s about creating a result that looks natural, feels right, supports your oral health, and gives you the confidence to smile without thinking twice.
As Wendy puts it:
“I love my TDA smile. I really do.”
