Smile Makeovers in Jersey City

A smile makeover is not one treatment. It is a plan that combines whichever treatments your smile needs, such as whitening, bonding, veneers, crowns, straightening or replacing missing teeth, carried out in the right order so the result looks natural and lasts. This page explains how we plan one, what it can involve, and how to keep the cost manageable.

Call 201-425-8600 or request an appointment for a consultation. We are at 115 Christopher Columbus Drive, Suite 200, two minutes from the Grove Street PATH.

What bothers people most

• teeth that are yellow, stained or uneven in color
• chips, worn edges and teeth of uneven length
• gaps, crowding or crooked teeth
• old fillings or crowns that no longer match
• missing teeth

What a makeover can include

• Teeth whitening: lightens natural teeth, in the office or with custom trays at home. Often the first step.
• Bonding: tooth-colored composite added to repair chips, close small gaps and even out edges, usually in one visit and without removing healthy tooth.
• Porcelain veneers: thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth to change color, shape and length at once.
• Crowns: for teeth that are heavily filled, cracked or root-treated, where strength matters as much as looks.
• Invisalign or braces: to straighten teeth first, which often means less work on the teeth themselves afterwards.
• Implants, bridges or dentures: to replace missing teeth.
• Tooth-colored fillings: to replace dark silver or stained fillings that show when you smile.

How we plan it

1. A conversation first. What bothers you, what you would like, and what you do not want. Some people want a dramatic change; many want their own teeth, only better.
2. An examination. Decay and gum disease are treated before any cosmetic work, because building on an unhealthy base does not last.
3. Records. Photographs, x-rays and impressions, so we can study your smile and plan it properly.
4. Options, with costs. There is usually more than one way to get there, from the most conservative to the most complete. We will tell you honestly when something simpler, such as whitening or bonding, will give you most of what you want for a fraction of the cost.

Doing things in the right order

1. Treat any decay and gum disease.
2. Straighten teeth, if needed. Moving teeth first often means veneers or crowns can be thinner, or avoided altogether.
3. Whiten.
4. Match bonding, fillings, veneers and crowns to the new shade.

Doing it the other way round, for example making crowns before whitening, locks in a shade that the rest of your teeth will no longer match. More on this in can you whiten fillings?

How long it takes

A whitening-and-bonding makeover can be finished in a few weeks. Veneers usually take two or three visits over a few weeks. A plan that includes straightening or implants takes longer, from several months to two years, although the cosmetic steps can often be spread across that time.

What it costs

The cost depends entirely on what your plan includes, so we give you the cost of each option before you decide. Cosmetic treatments such as whitening, bonding for appearance and veneers are rarely covered by insurance. Parts of a plan that restore health, such as replacing failing fillings or crowning a cracked tooth, often are. Many people phase the work, starting with what matters most to them, and CareCredit can spread the cost.

Keeping the result

Bonding and veneers can chip, and composite picks up stain over the years, so regular cleanings, a night guard if you grind, and occasional polishing keep a makeover looking its best. Whitening fades gradually and can be topped up.

Dr. Meetu Singal earned her Doctorate in Dental Surgery at the New York University College of Dentistry and treats her own patients, so the dentist who checks your teeth is the one who knows your history. More about the practice.

We see patients from across downtown Jersey City, including Grove Street, Exchange Place and Paulus Hook.