Cosmetic dentistry covers a wide range of treatments, and the right one depends on what is bothering you. Some patients want whiter teeth. Others want to close a gap, straighten a smile, or rebuild after years of wear. Below is what each option actually does, so you can work out where to start.

Whitening

The simplest place to begin, and often the only thing needed. Professional whitening lifts stains that toothpaste cannot reach, and Zoom whitening does it in a single visit rather than over weeks at home.

Worth knowing: whitening works on natural enamel but not on crowns, veneers or fillings. If you have visible restorations, we will usually whiten first and match any new work to the result.

Veneers

Veneers and laminates are thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth. They address several things at once — colour, small gaps, chips, and teeth that are slightly out of line.

They are the right answer when whitening alone will not fix the problem, and when the underlying teeth are healthy enough not to need more substantial work.

Straightening

If the issue is alignment rather than appearance, straightening is usually the better route. Invisalign and clear aligners move teeth gradually without fixed brackets, and clear braces are an option where aligners are not suitable.

Straightening takes longer than veneers but preserves the natural tooth. For younger patients especially, it is usually the option we would recommend first.

Full smile makeovers

A smile makeover combines treatments rather than relying on one. That might mean whitening, veneers and alignment together, planned as a single course of work.

Where teeth are heavily worn or missing, full mouth reconstruction rebuilds function as well as appearance. That crosses from cosmetic into restorative work, and we will tell you plainly which one you actually need.

A non-permanent option

Snap-On Smile is a removable appliance that fits over the existing teeth. It changes nothing underneath, which makes it useful if you want to see a result before committing to permanent work, or if permanent treatment is not currently an option.

Where to start

Most patients arrive knowing what they dislike rather than which treatment they need. That is the normal starting point. We look at what is actually causing it and tell you the simplest option that will work — which is often less than people expect.

Our office is on Queens Boulevard in Rego Park, on the Forest Hills border, a short walk from the 63rd Drive station. Most of our cosmetic patients come from Rego Park, Forest Hills and the surrounding parts of central Queens.

Call (718) 437-7777 or book a consultation and we will talk through the options.