Cosmetic Dentistry in Ladson, SC
Changing how a smile looks without making it look done. The best cosmetic work is the kind nobody identifies as work.
Where to start
The right treatment depends on the actual problem
Cosmetic dentistry is a category, not a procedure. Discoloured teeth, a chipped edge, gaps, crowding and worn-down front teeth all look like the same complaint from the outside, but they need very different treatments and cost very different amounts.
The most common mistake is starting with the most dramatic option. If your teeth are straight and healthy but stained, whitening solves it for a fraction of the cost of veneers. If a single edge is chipped, bonding fixes it in one visit. Veneers are the answer when the shape, colour and alignment all need changing together.
Dr. Mathew will tell you the least invasive option that achieves what you want. Preserving natural tooth structure matters, because once enamel is removed it does not come back.
Options
What we offer, from least to most involved
Teeth Whitening
Professional whitening for staining and discolouration. No tooth structure removed.
Learn moreZOOM! Whitening
In-office whitening that delivers results in a single appointment.
Learn moreTooth Bonding
Composite resin shaped directly onto the tooth to fix chips, gaps and small defects.
Learn moreTooth-Colored Fillings
Replacing dark amalgam fillings with composite that matches the tooth.
Learn moreInvisalign
Straightening teeth without brackets, when alignment is the real issue.
Learn morePorcelain Veneers
Thin porcelain shells that change shape, colour and alignment together.
Learn moreResults
Cases treated at our Ladson office
Sequencing
The order treatments happen in matters
Cosmetic work done in the wrong order costs money twice. The sequence is not arbitrary.
Health first. Active decay and gum disease are treated before anything cosmetic. Bonding onto a tooth with decay underneath, or fitting veneers to teeth in inflamed gum, produces a result that fails and looks worse for having been done. Alignment next. If teeth are crowded or rotated, Invisalign moves them into position. Doing this before restorative work means veneers or crowns can be a normal thickness rather than being used to disguise position, which requires removing more tooth. Whitening after that. Porcelain and composite do not change colour once placed. Whitening must be completed and allowed to stabilise for a couple of weeks first, so the final restorations are matched to the shade you are keeping. Restorative last. Veneers, bonding and crowns are matched to the finished, stabilised shade.Doing less where less will do
The most common mistake is starting with the most dramatic option. Straight, healthy teeth that are simply stained need whitening, not veneers, at a fraction of the cost and with no enamel removed. One chipped edge needs bonding, not a set of eight. Veneers earn their place when shape, colour and apparent alignment all need changing together.
Common questions
Questions we hear most
Where should I start if I do not know what I need?
With a consultation. Bring a photo of a smile you like, which communicates far more than adjectives. Dr. Mathew will examine what you have, tell you what is achievable, and lay out the options with costs so you can weigh them.
Will cosmetic work look obviously fake?
Not if it is planned properly. Fake-looking results usually come from teeth that are too white for the face, too uniform in shape, or too long for the lip line. Natural teeth vary slightly in shade and shape, and good cosmetic work reproduces that variation rather than eliminating it.
Does insurance cover cosmetic dentistry?
Generally no, when the purpose is purely appearance. Where a treatment also restores function or repairs damage, such as a crown on a fractured tooth, there may be partial coverage. We will tell you honestly which category your treatment falls into. See financing and insurance.
How long does cosmetic treatment take?
It ranges widely. Bonding is a single visit. Whitening is one visit in-office or about two weeks at home. Veneers usually take two to three visits over a few weeks. Invisalign runs months. We will give you a timeline at consultation.
Should I whiten before other cosmetic work?
Usually yes. Porcelain and composite do not change colour once placed, so any whitening should be completed first and allowed to stabilise. Otherwise you end up with restorations that no longer match your newly whitened natural teeth.
Can I see what it will look like beforehand?
For more involved cases we can discuss what is achievable using photographs and, where appropriate, a preview of the proposed shape. Being clear about the end point before treatment begins avoids disappointment.
Ready when you are
Book a cosmetic consultation
Bring a photo of a smile you like. It tells us more than a description ever does.