Cosmetic Dentistry in Mississauga

Whitening, bonding and veneers, and the differences between them matter more than the names. Whitening removes nothing. Bonding is largely reversible. A veneer removes enamel, and enamel does not grow back. If you plan to whiten, whiten first and match anything else to the result.

Front view of four upper front teeth set in gum, shown as a neutral anatomical study, with the outline, the front surface, the contact point between two teeth and the gum line each marked. Labelled: tooth shape, tooth colour, tooth position and gum margin.

Start with the smallest thing that works

This page puts the least invasive option first on purpose.

Cosmetic dentistry is also called aesthetic dentistry, and a course of it is also called a smile makeover. The name changes nothing. What decides the treatment is how much of your own tooth the result costs you.

A common mistake in cosmetic dentistry is having more treatment than the situation calls for. Enamel removed does not come back and a tooth prepared for a veneer needs coverage for the rest of its life.

So the useful question is not "what is the best treatment". It is "what is the least treatment that gets me what I want".

The three options in order

Whitening changes colour onlyIt lightens the natural colour of tooth structure and removes nothing.Teeth whitening Bonding changes shape with little or no enamel removedTooth-coloured composite is applied directly, shaped by hand and set hard with a light. Where bonding suits the tooth, a small repair is done in a single visit and you may not need numbing at all.Dental bonding Veneers change shape and colour for goodVeneers are thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth. They change shape, colour and surface in one step.Dental veneers

Which option fits which concern

Your concern	Where to start
Teeth are darker than you would like	Whitening. Removes nothing
A small chip or worn edge	Bonding. A single visit, minimal removal
A small gap between front teeth	Bonding, or orthodontics for a larger gap
Shape and colour both wrong	Veneers
Discolouration whitening will not shift	Veneers, after assessment
Teeth noticeably out of line	Orthodontics. Moving the tooth beats disguising it
One dark tooth	Assessment first. It can be the nerve and not staining
A heavily broken-down tooth	A crown. That is restorative, not cosmetic

Read about orthodontics, Invisalign and dental crowns.

Not sure where to start? Book a consultation or call (905) 821-8632.

When the concern is the gum, not the tooth

Some people are unhappy with how much gum shows, not with the teeth themselves. That is a different assessment and a different procedure.

Gum contouring reshapes the gum margin, and it is done here. It is worth saying plainly that not every gummy smile is a gum problem: the cause can be the length of the tooth, the position of the jaw or how far the lip lifts, and reshaping the gum does nothing for any of those. The assessment is what tells the two apart. Learn more about gum contouring.

What we tell you before you decide

If a less invasive option would give you what you want, we will say so. That can mean recommending bonding over veneers or whitening over both. Now and then it means saying nothing needs doing.

Whiten before you match anything. Crowns, veneers, bonding and fillings do not respond to whitening. If you plan to whiten, do it first and match the restoration to the result. Doing it the other way round means remaking the restoration if it no longer matches.

Health comes before appearance. Active decay, gum disease, a cracked tooth or a failing filling are treated first. Bonding porcelain to an unhealthy tooth does not make it healthy and the result will not last.

Grinding has to be part of the plan. Veneers and bonding can both chip under grinding forces. Fitting them without dealing with the habit is planning for a repeat.

Read about dental exams and check-ups, gum disease treatment and night guards.

What happens at a cosmetic consultation

What you want changed, in your words. Bring photographs if you have something specific in mind.
An exam of your teeth, gums and bite.
A talk through the options in order of how much they remove.
An honest conversation about limits, including what will not change.
A plan and a written estimate before anything is agreed.

Deciding later is a normal way for this appointment to end.

Choosing a cosmetic dentist in Mississauga comes down to who will tell you no. Ask what the treatment removes, ask what it will look like in ten years, and ask what happens if you do nothing.

Cost and coverage

We do not publish prices. The cost depends on the treatment, how many teeth are involved and whether anything needs treating first. You get a written estimate before treatment begins.

CDCP does not cover cosmetic treatment and private plans set their own rules. Whitening and veneers are cosmetic. Bonding may be treated differently where it repairs damage or restores a decayed tooth and we will tell you which applies before you commit. Learn more about CDCP coverage at our practice.

Dentistry on Britannia is a general dental practice. Our dentists are general dentists, not specialists in any RCDSO-recognised specialty.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the least invasive way to improve how my teeth look?

Whitening removes nothing and bonding removes little or no enamel. Veneers remove enamel for good, so they are worth considering once the simpler options will not get you what you want.

Will whitening work on my crowns or fillings?

No. Whitening changes natural tooth structure only and restorations stay exactly the colour they are.

Should I whiten before or after other cosmetic work?

Before. Whiten first and then match crowns, veneers or bonding to the result. The other order means remaking them if they no longer match.

Do veneers ruin your teeth?

Preparing a tooth for a conventional veneer removes enamel for good, so the tooth will need a veneer or something similar afterwards. That is the trade to understand before you start.

Bonding or veneers for a small chip?

If the exam finds a small chip and nothing more, bonding is the sensible first step. It costs less, removes little or no enamel and leaves a veneer open for later. You cannot go the other way.

Why is one of my teeth darker than the others?

The nerve inside it needs checking before anyone assumes it is staining, and whitening does not treat the nerve.

Can cosmetic treatment fix crooked teeth?

Veneers can disguise minor irregularity. For teeth noticeably out of line, orthodontics moves the actual tooth. Masking a big misalignment means removing more enamel than is wise.