The cosmetic services we offer
Smile makeover
A coordinated plan that may combine veneers, whitening, gum reshaping, and Invisalign to address several concerns at once. Designed digitally, previewed in your mouth as a mock-up before any irreversible work. More on smile makeovers →
Porcelain veneers
Thin, custom-shaped shells of porcelain bonded to the front of the teeth to change color, shape, length, or alignment. Done well, veneers look indistinguishable from natural enamel and can last 15–20 years. More on veneers →
Invisalign clear aligners
Adult orthodontics without metal brackets. Most cosmetic cases that involve crowding or spacing benefit from a short alignment phase before veneers. More on Invisalign →
Zoom in-office whitening
Professional whitening that brightens most teeth several shades in a single visit, with custom take-home trays for maintenance.
Composite bonding
The most conservative cosmetic option — layered tooth-colored resin to refine an edge, close a small gap, or repair a chip. Reversible and one-visit.
What makes a cosmetic dentist different
Most general dentists do not pursue formal post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. Dr. Desai is one of a small number of Bay Area dentists to have completed fellowship training at the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI), the cosmetic and neuromuscular institution most often cited by clinicians training other clinicians. The difference is not just aesthetic — it’s how the bite is engineered to last.
Veneers vs. Lumineers vs. bonding — at a glance
| Option | Best for | Lifespan | Reversibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porcelain veneers | Comprehensive smile change | 15–20 years | Minimal tooth prep, not fully reversible |
| Lumineers | Smaller corrections, intact teeth | 10–20 years | Often no tooth reduction |
| Composite bonding | Single tooth, small refinements | 5–8 years | Fully reversible |
What a cosmetic consultation looks like at Dublin Ranch Dental
- You arrive. We talk for as long as it takes for us both to understand what you want.
- We take an iTero digital scan — no putty, no impressions — and a few photographs.
- Dr. Desai walks you through a digital preview of your proposed smile, often on the same visit.
- Treatment coordinator follows up within 48 hours with a written plan, fees, and financing options.
- If you decide to proceed, we book the next step. If you decide not to, no follow-up calls, ever.
Frequently asked about cosmetic dentistry
How much does a cosmetic case cost?
Every cosmetic case is planned individually, so the honest answer is that pricing depends on what you actually want and what your teeth actually need. We’d rather have a real conversation with you than quote a number on a webpage. Come in for a complimentary consultation; Dr. Desai will walk you through a written plan with line-item fees, and our team is genuinely flexible about how to make the right plan fit your life.
Do veneers last forever?
Well-made porcelain veneers can last 15 to 20 years or longer with normal care. We back our cosmetic work with a written warranty (please ask).
Will veneers look fake?
Done well, no. The choice of porcelain, the prep design, the bite engineering, and the lab partnership are what separate a natural-looking veneer from one that doesn’t.
Will I need orthodontics first?
Sometimes a short Invisalign phase before veneers means we can place fewer veneers and preserve more of your natural tooth. We’ll tell you honestly.
Should I come in even if my smile already looks fine?
Yes. The cosmetic cases we’re proudest of started as quiet preventive visits where we caught wear, asymmetry, or a darkening front tooth early enough that a small intervention solved it. Big cosmetic work almost always traces back to small things ignored.