Lina is a TV presenter, a fashion lover, and a woman with a truly original spirit. Her image is part of her everyday life—but beyond what she shows on camera, what she values most is feeling like herself in every detail.
She came to Sonrisa Italiana from Miami, USA, with a smile that had already been treated in the past. Her previous design, done with composite resin, had once achieved its goal. But with time, Lina began to feel that her smile no longer reflected her identity.
“I love to smile,” she told us, “but I don’t like that it looks like I’ve had something done.”
That simple phrase set the tone for her entire treatment.
At first glance, the resin appeared white and well-contoured—but Lina felt it looked artificial. “People can tell,” she said, “as soon as I walk into a room.” For someone with her visual sensibility and love for detail, that was reason enough to seek a different path.
Her case was evaluated by Dr. Paola Zabaleta and Dr. Daniel Zabaleta, who worked closely with her to redesign the smile from scratch. The goal was clear: to achieve a result that was esthetic and functional—but most of all, true to her personality and style.
One of the first decisions was to change the material. While composite resin is an excellent tool for many clinical situations, it has a limited lifespan (typically 5 to 7 years) and is more prone to staining and loss of shine over time. Lina wanted something longer-lasting, more refined, and with optical properties closer to natural enamel.
The chosen material was lithium disilicate ceramic—a glass-based ceramic that allows for exceptional naturalness thanks to its translucency, fine texture, and lifelike light response. It doesn’t just imitate the tooth—it elevates it while staying subtle. A smile that doesn’t say “veneers,” but simply looks beautifully real.
After removing her previous restorations, Lina’s gums showed slight irritation—a normal and temporary response due to the mechanical process of removal, even when performed with maximum care. While the removal was highly conservative and precise, the gingival tissue is very sensitive, and may respond momentarily to manipulation. Fortunately, the gums are incredibly resilient, and in Lina’s case, they began to recover quickly and without pain.
To ensure a healthy and stable esthetic outcome, the case was reviewed by Dr. Alicia Correa, our team periodontist, who confirmed that everything was in excellent condition to move forward.
A key part of the process was the mock-up stage—a collaborative session where Lina was able to preview her future smile and participate actively in its design. She gave valuable feedback on the shape, size, shade, and overall feel of the teeth. Her interaction helped us fine-tune the details to reflect not just what she wanted to see, but how she wanted to feel.
In the final stage, 10 lithium disilicate veneers were placed on her upper front teeth, and tabletops were added to her molars to regain vertical dimension. This allowed a subtle elongation of the anterior teeth without compromising speech or function.
The result was more than just a new smile. It was a reconnection with the person she had always been—but wanted to see again. A smile that is light, elegant, and fully in tune with her authenticity.
Today, Lina smiles freely—not because of the design, but because she sees herself again. And that’s our true goal at Sonrisa Italiana: results that look beautiful… but feel even better.
Watch her whole smile journey here:
Case review written by Dr. Laura Bula, expert in dental and facial aesthetics