Cosmetic dentistry has a bit of an image problem. People hear it and picture Hollywood veneers or extreme makeovers, when in reality, most of what falls under “cosmetic” is a lot more modest — and a lot more useful — than that.
Why This Isn’t Just About Vanity
There’s a reason people feel different after fixing something about their smile they’ve been self-conscious about for years. It’s not superficial — it’s confidence in something you use constantly, in conversations, photos, and everyday interactions. Dr. Alan Howard and Dr. Yonatan Howard treat cosmetic work as a genuine part of overall care, not an upsell tacked onto a cleaning.
The Actual Menu of Options
Porcelain veneers are thin shells, made of porcelain or composite resin, placed over the visible part of your teeth to mask stains, chips, or crookedness — often solving several issues in a single fix. Dental bonding and contouring handles smaller, more isolated problems, like one chip or a minor gap, using composite resin applied directly to the tooth. A smile makeover combines multiple procedures into one custom plan when you’re dealing with more than one concern at once. And clear aligners, including Invisalign®, address alignment and bite issues without traditional braces.
How to Know Which One You Actually Need
This is where a lot of people get stuck — not because the options are complicated, but because it’s hard to self-diagnose which category your situation falls into. One chipped tooth is usually a bonding conversation. Multiple issues across several teeth start to look more like a veneers or smile makeover conversation. Crooked or gapped teeth without other cosmetic concerns is usually where clear aligners come in.
No Pressure Toward the Expensive Option
During a consultation, Dr. Howard and Dr. Howard walk through what’s realistic for your goals and your teeth specifically — not just what the priciest procedure on the list happens to be. Sometimes the honest answer is the simpler, cheaper fix, and that’s the answer you’ll get.
Curious What’s Possible?
If there’s something about your smile you’ve quietly wanted to change, a consultation costs you nothing but the conversation. Call 818-300-0333 or visit The Dental Office Encino at 17071 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 102, Encino, CA 91316.
