Cosmetic dentistry that starts with what you want to see.

What cosmetic dentistry can change

Most people come in with one specific thing that bothers them, and it's usually on this list. Some have two or three. Either way, the first job is naming it clearly, because the fix for a dark tooth is very different from the fix for a crooked one.

• Color: teeth that have gone yellow or gray with coffee, tea, red wine or time
• Chips and worn edges, often on the front teeth
• Small gaps, especially between the top front teeth
• Teeth that look too short, too long, pointed or uneven
• Crowding, or one tooth that sits out of line
• Old silver fillings or dark crowns that show when you laugh

Your options, from simplest to biggest

No single treatment fixes everything. Most smiles come together with one or two of these, in the right order, and we always start the conversation with the least invasive option that can get you where you want to go.

• Teeth whitening: in the chair with ZOOM in about an hour, or at home with custom trays
• Cosmetic bonding: tooth-colored resin sculpted onto a tooth, usually in one visit
• Porcelain veneers: thin porcelain shells that change color, shape and length at once
• Metal-free crowns: full porcelain or zirconia coverage when a tooth also needs strength
• Invisalign: clear aligners when the real fix is moving teeth, not covering them

Teeth whitening: often the easiest first step

If your teeth are healthy and the problem is color, whitening may be all you need. ZOOM is our in-office system: we protect your gums, apply a professional-strength gel and use the ZOOM light in short rounds, about an hour start to finish. Take-home whitening uses trays made from a digital scan of your teeth, so the gel stays on your teeth and off your gums.

Whitening only changes natural enamel. Crowns, veneers, bonding and tooth-colored fillings keep the shade they were made in. That's why whitening usually comes before anything else in a makeover: we set your new color first, then match everything to it.

Bonding or veneers: which one do you need?

Bonding is the quick fix. We prepare the surface, sculpt tooth-colored resin into shape, harden it with a curing light and polish it to blend in. There's little or no drilling, it's usually finished in one visit, and it costs less than porcelain. The trade-off is that resin can pick up stains and chip over the years, so it may need a touch-up or a redo down the road.

Porcelain veneers take two main visits, and a thin layer of enamel has to be removed, which can't be undone. In return, porcelain resists stains, keeps its shine and can last well over a decade with good care. For one small chip, bonding is often the smart call. For several teeth, or for changing color, shape and length together, veneers usually make more sense.

When a crown is the better tool

A veneer covers the front of a tooth. A crown covers the whole tooth. If a front tooth has a large old filling, a crack, or has had a root canal, it often needs the strength of a crown more than the cosmetic touch of a veneer.

We offer several tooth-colored crowns with no metal at all, including porcelain and zirconia. That means no dark line showing at the gum over time, and a shade matched to the teeth around it. Because crowns usually fix a real problem too, they're also where dental insurance is more likely to help.

When straightening should come first

If your teeth are crowded or overlapping, veneers alone would mean removing more tooth just to make things look straight. Moving the teeth first with Invisalign can mean fewer veneers, thinner veneers, or none at all. For some people, straightening plus whitening is the whole makeover.

Soleil is an Invisalign Gold Plus provider for 2025, and both doctors offer Invisalign and Straight-Wire braces, so we can talk honestly about aligners versus braces for your bite.

How we plan a smile makeover

A smile makeover is just a cosmetic plan with more than one step. A good one is mostly about order. Here's how we build yours with you:

• Listen: what you'd change, what you like as it is, and photos of smiles you love
• Look: intraoral photos and a digital scan, reviewed on screen together
• Health first: cavities, gum inflammation or grinding get handled before cosmetic work, so it lasts
• Sequence: whitening before bonding or porcelain, straightening before veneers
• Preview: with veneers, you try the planned shape in provisionals before the final porcelain
• Cost in writing: every phase priced before you commit to anything

How long does a smile makeover take?

It depends on the tools in your plan, and a plan with several steps adds up. Rough timelines for most people:

• In-office ZOOM whitening: one visit, about an hour
• Take-home whitening: often about two weeks of daily wear
• Cosmetic bonding: usually one visit
• Porcelain veneers: two main visits, a couple of weeks apart while the lab works
• Crowns: usually two visits, about two weeks apart
• Invisalign: months, not weeks; many cases take roughly 12 to 18 months

Planning around a wedding or a big event

If you have a date on the calendar, tell us at your first visit and we'll work backward from it. For veneers or a multi-step plan, start at least a few months out so there's room for the lab, a test drive in provisionals and any adjustments. If straightening is part of the plan, the earlier the better.

Finish whitening a week or two before the event, not the night before, so any sensitivity has time to settle. If bonding or porcelain is being matched to your new shade, we usually wait a couple of weeks after whitening so the color can stabilize first. The week of the event is for enjoying it, not for trying something new.

How much does cosmetic dentistry cost?

We price cosmetic work after we've seen your teeth, because two plans that sound alike can be very different. These are the things that move the number:

• How many teeth are involved
• The material: resin bonding, porcelain or zirconia
• Any health work needed first, like a filling or a deep cleaning
• Whether a treatment also repairs damage, which can bring insurance into play
• Whether straightening is part of the plan

Making your results last

Cosmetic work lasts longest in a healthy mouth. Keep your cleanings and checkups, brush and floss every day, and don't use your front teeth to open packages. If you grind or clench, a custom nightguard protects porcelain and bonding while you sleep. Coffee and red wine fans can keep whitening fresh with occasional take-home touch-ups, and we'll tell you how often makes sense for you.