SmileConsultTrusted Credentials
Invisalign
Diamond Provider
RealSelf
Top Doctor 2024
AACD
Accredited Member
ADA
Member Since 2012
Board Certified
State of California
Healthgrades
5-Star Rating
Zocdoc
Top Cosmetic Dentist
4,200+
smile transformations since 2014
See your futuresmile today.
Porcelain veneers, composite bonding, and digital orthodontics — every case planned digitally before a handpiece ever touches enamel.
12 min
Avg. virtual consult
93%
Report improved confidence
4,200+
Transformations
Digital Smile Preview
Planned digitally · 8 porcelain veneers · 2-visit completion
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Proof Before Persuasion
The numbers that earn the right to educate.
of veneer patients report improved confidence
within the first two weeks post-treatment
Based on post-treatment surveys across 1,200+ patients
14 days
Avg. time to feel the shift
2 visits
Typical veneer completion
average virtual consultation
from booking to your personalized smile plan
Based on post-treatment surveys across 1,200+ patients
Same day
Smile preview delivered
Zero cost
Virtual consult, always
treatment acceptance rate
after reviewing the digital smile preview
Based on post-treatment surveys across 4,200+ patients
Digital
Preview before committing
No pressure
Plan at your own pace
patient satisfaction score
across 4,200+ completed cases since 2014
Based on post-treatment surveys across 4,200+ patients
10+ years
Avg. veneer lifespan
Lifetime
Tracking record kept
Understand Before You Decide
Three paths to a different smile.
Each procedure serves a specific purpose. Understanding the difference helps you arrive at your consultation already knowing which direction feels right.
VENEERS
Porcelain Veneers
Thin ceramic shells bonded to the front surface of teeth
Porcelain veneers are 0.5mm ceramic shells custom-fabricated to cover the visible surface of your teeth. Unlike crowns, they preserve most of your natural tooth structure. Each veneer is shade-matched to your desired brightness and shaped to correct proportion.
Deeper Understanding
Before any preparation, your smile is photographed and digitally mapped. You review a simulated result — the exact shade, shape, and length — and approve it. Nothing proceeds until you see your future smile and say yes.
A thin layer of enamel (0.3–0.7mm) is removed to create room for the veneer. This is done under local anesthetic and takes about 90 minutes. Temporary veneers protect your teeth while the permanent ones are crafted in the lab.
Your permanent veneers are tried in, adjusted for bite and shade, then permanently bonded using light-cured resin cement. You leave the office with a completely transformed smile. The process is irreversible — which is why the digital preview matters so much.
BONDING
Composite Bonding
Tooth-colored resin sculpted directly onto the tooth surface
Composite bonding uses a tooth-colored resin applied directly to the tooth and sculpted by hand. It requires no lab time and no removal of tooth structure. The result is natural-looking, immediately visible, and reversible.
Deeper Understanding
Unlike veneers, bonding is additive — the dentist builds up the tooth surface rather than replacing it. This makes it ideal for minor corrections: a small chip, a slight gap, a single discolored tooth that breaks the symmetry of your smile.
Resin is applied in thin layers, shaped with instruments while soft, then hardened with a curing light. The dentist works like a sculptor — each increment of resin is a deliberate choice about form and proportion. Most cases take 60–90 minutes.
Bonding lasts 5–8 years with proper care. It can stain from coffee and red wine more readily than porcelain. When it chips or wears, it can be repaired or replaced without affecting the underlying tooth — making it a lower-commitment entry point.
ORTHODONTICS
Guided Orthodontics
Digital alignment planning with clear aligner or bracket systems
Orthodontics corrects the position of the teeth themselves — not just their appearance. When the foundation is correct, cosmetic procedures perform better and last longer. We plan every orthodontic case digitally, showing you the projected final position before treatment begins.
Deeper Understanding
Misaligned teeth wear unevenly, create shadows in photographs, and make cosmetic work more prone to failure. Addressing alignment first means veneers or bonding applied afterward have a stable, well-distributed foundation — and the result looks more natural.
A 3D scan of your teeth is taken — no impressions, no gagging. The scan generates a digital model that we use to plan each stage of tooth movement. You can preview the final projected position on-screen before a single aligner is made.
Clear aligners are nearly invisible and removable — preferred by most adults. Fixed brackets move teeth more precisely for complex cases. We recommend the system based on your specific correction needs, not convenience. Both use the same digital planning process.
Real Patients · Real Results
The moment possibilitybecomes plan.
Every case shown here was planned digitally first. Patients approved their result before any procedure began.
Rachel T.
34 · 8 Porcelain Veneers
2 visits
to completion
“I spent 12 years hiding my smile in photos. In the Zoom era, it became impossible to ignore. The digital preview made it real before it was real.”
James K.
41 · Composite Bonding + Whitening
90 min
single session
“A chipped front tooth from college hockey. I lived with it for 20 years. Bonding fixed it in one appointment. I keep catching myself smiling.”
Priya M.
28 · Clear Aligners + 6 Veneers
6 months
full transformation
“I was a bride-to-be six months out. We started aligners immediately and finished with veneers three weeks before the wedding. The photos are everything.”
David L.
52 · 10 Porcelain Veneers
11 min
virtual consult
“Closed-lip photos since my 30s. My executive team had never seen my teeth. The consult took 11 minutes. I was in the chair two weeks later.”
Conditions We Address
Your Next Step
See what's possible.Free virtual consult.
12 minutes. No commitment. A dentist reviews your photo and sends you a personalized smile plan the same day.
Free Virtual Consultation
Avg. response: same business day
Free Download
The Complete Guide to Veneers vs. Bonding
18 pages. Written by Dr. Chen. Covers procedure differences, longevity, cost ranges, and which option fits which smile concern — with real patient case studies.
Why Patients Choose SmileConsult
Digital preview before any procedure
You approve the design. Nothing begins without your yes.
HIPAA-compliant photo handling
Your photos are encrypted, never shared, deleted on request.
Real dentist reviews every consult
No AI-generated responses. Dr. Chen personally reviews your case.
No-pressure timeline
Book in-person when you're ready. The plan stays on file.
“The virtual consult was so low pressure. I expected a sales call. Instead I got a dentist who actually explained my options.”
— Melissa R., 38 · Porcelain Veneers Patient
Questions & Answers
Everything you wanted to askbut didn't know how.
You upload a selfie with your smile visible and answer one question about what you'd like to change. Dr. Chen reviews your photo personally and sends you a written smile plan — including which procedures would address your specific concerns, estimated timeline, and cost range. The average review takes 12 minutes. You receive your plan the same business day.
Most adults with healthy underlying teeth and gums are candidates. Veneers work best when the concern is cosmetic: discoloration that doesn't respond to whitening, chips, cracks, minor gaps, or size asymmetry. If alignment issues are significant, we typically recommend clear aligners first to establish a stable foundation before veneers are placed.
Veneers are porcelain shells fabricated in a lab and permanently bonded to your teeth — they're more durable (10–20 years), more stain-resistant, and more transformative. Bonding uses tooth-colored resin applied directly in the office — it's faster (one visit), less expensive, and reversible, but typically lasts 5–8 years. The right choice depends on how many teeth are involved and how significant the correction needs to be.
Yes. Before any preparation begins, we create a digital smile design that shows your projected result — the exact shade, shape, and length of your planned veneers or bonding. You review and approve this preview. We also create temporary veneers that let you wear the new smile for a few days before the permanent ones are made. Nothing is irreversible until you've seen and approved the result in your own mirror.
With proper care — brushing, flossing, wearing a nightguard if you grind, avoiding biting hard objects — porcelain veneers typically last 10–20 years. Some of our patients from 2014 are still wearing their original veneers. When they do need replacement, the process is the same as the original placement: two visits, digital design, temporary period, permanent bonding.
The virtual consultation is completely free, always. Dr. Chen reviews every submission personally and provides a written smile plan at no charge. There is no obligation to book an in-person appointment, and no credit card is required.
Yes. Photos submitted through our consultation form are encrypted in transit and at rest, stored in a HIPAA-compliant system, and never shared with third parties. You can request deletion of your photo at any time by emailing our office directly.
Still have a question? Ask it in your consult request.
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