ALYSON STRATFORDWOOD,

62, a retired dancer, is a mother of two who lives in Lincoln and London. Her treatment: Braces, gum lift, bone graft, veneers, crowns and an implant. I THINK it was the ageing process more than anything that made me decide to have it done — I just wanted to look the best I could.

I had my own teeth and had looked after them, but not the way children are encouraged to today. I’d been back and forth to the dentist over the years and had the odd crown and fillings — they were all a bit higgledy-piggledy.

Then, a few years ago, people kept talking about the ‘Hollywood smile’ and I thought: ‘I want that.’

I saw Dr Tim Bradstock-Smith at The London Smile Clinic and had veneers top and bottom, but not too white — I wanted them to look natural.

It was done in four slots of four hours while I watched films on goggles — Some Like It Hot, The Seven Year Itch and Breakfast At Tiffany’s. I wasn’t too nervous — I just wanted to look nice and was determined my life was going to change.

I knew how much it would cost, but I’ve spent a lifetime working and thought: ‘Now I’m going to jolly well enjoy it.’

My confidence has gone through the roof since I had

the work done. People notice my smile. It was worth it. DENTIST DR TIM BRADSTOCK SMITH SAYS: Alyson had what we call a full smile makeover — alignment and veneers, which is a more long-term, healthier approach. Veneers involve removing a thin layer from the front of the tooth and replacing it with porcelain.

She needed one front tooth removing, a bone graft and a gum lift. Then she had veneers and crowns — 13 on top and 13 on the bottom — with a couple of her own teeth untouched.

When it comes to the colour of the teeth, we do computer imaging with the patient’s own face, so we can get a good idea of what sort of thing they are expecting.

In all, it took eight months from when Alyson first came to us to finish.