Cosmetic Dentistry

What cosmetic dentistry can change

Cosmetic dentistry is about how your teeth look: their color, shape, size, spacing and alignment. Most people come in with one thing in mind, such as stains, a chipped front tooth, a gap or crowding. Sometimes one treatment is enough. When several things need to change, we plan them together so the result fits your face and your bite.

Cosmetic treatments at ToothDocs

• Teeth whitening. Dentist-supervised whitening reaches deeper stains than a drugstore kit and safely lifts your smile by several shades. Choose an in-office treatment for immediate results, or custom take-home trays to brighten on your own schedule.
• Porcelain veneers. Slim, custom-made porcelain shells bonded to the front of your teeth to repair chips, close gaps, mask deep discoloration and refine shape at once. Porcelain is highly resistant to staining, and with good care veneers commonly last 10 to 15 years or more.
• Lumineers. A branded ultra-thin veneer that can usually be placed with minimal or even zero reduction of your natural enamel, and frequently without anesthetic. That conservative approach keeps the treatment often reversible.
• Invisalign and clear aligners. A sequence of custom clear trays moves your teeth gradually into position, with no brackets or wires. Aligners come out for meals and brushing, and most cases finish in 6 to 18 months.
• Crowns. When a tooth is cracked, worn or weakened, a custom crown covers and protects it while restoring its shape, shade-matched to the teeth around it.
• Smile makeover. One plan that may combine whitening, veneers, bonding, clear aligners or implants to address color, shape, spacing and alignment together, coordinated by one lead dentist.

Whitening, veneers or Lumineers?

Whitening changes the color of natural teeth. It does not change their shape, and it does not lighten crowns, fillings or veneers.

Veneers change color and shape together, so they suit teeth that are chipped, uneven or stained in a way whitening cannot reach. Traditional porcelain veneers involve removing a thin layer of enamel, so they are considered permanent. Lumineers often need little or no removal of tooth structure, which makes them the more conservative choice.

If your teeth are crowded or crooked, clear aligners can straighten them first, with whitening or veneers to follow as part of one plan. At your consultation, your dentist will explain the options that suit your teeth before you decide.

How a cosmetic plan works

Every plan starts with an exam. We look at your teeth, gums, bone and bite as well as the color and shape you want, because cosmetic work is planned for function as well as appearance.

For a smile makeover, a digital smile preview shows the result before treatment begins, and the whole plan is coordinated by one lead dentist. Dr. Steven Kauftheil, our founder, completed advanced training in prosthodontics at UCLA, and he plans smile makeovers and porcelain veneers at both offices. If your plan also needs gum treatment, a root canal or an implant, he coordinates our periodontists and endodontists so every step runs as one plan.

Cost, insurance and financing

The cost depends on the treatments you choose and how many teeth are involved, so ask about the cost of each option at your consultation. Dental plans often pay less toward treatment done for appearance alone than toward repairing a damaged tooth. Many major PPO plans are welcome at ToothDocs, and we will verify your specific benefits before your visit.

For a larger plan, you can apply with one of our financing partners for low- and no-interest monthly payments, or join our in-house membership plan. See insurance and financing for details.

Book a cosmetic consultation

Book online and choose the office that suits you, or call New York at (212) 969-9490 or Roslyn at (516) 625-0088.