Cosmetic dentist in Miami
for a smile you actually love.

Cosmetic treatments compared

Each cosmetic treatment solves a different problem, and many smiles need only one of them. Use this table as a starting point. The right mix for you depends on your teeth, gums, bite and what actually bothers you when you look in the mirror.

Prices that say "quoted after your exam" depend on how many teeth are involved and what each one needs. Whatever the treatment, you get the price in writing first.

Your smile preview: what it can and can't show

At your free first visit, Dr. Rana does an exam and a 3D scan, then builds a digital smile preview from it. The preview is a design tool. It puts a proposed tooth shape, length and shade onto an image of your own smile, so you can react to something concrete instead of trying to describe what you want in words.

It's a realistic guide, not an exact promise. Porcelain, composite and natural enamel each reflect light a little differently, and the finished result also depends on your gums, your bite and how your teeth respond to treatment. For veneers, many plans add a trial version worn in the mouth before anything permanent is made, so you can test the shape while talking and smiling.

Bring photos of smiles you like, and photos of your own smile from years ago if you preferred it then. Both are useful. More in our post on digital smile design.

Planning a combined smile makeover

Plenty of people end up needing two or three treatments rather than one. The sequence matters, because some steps change what the next step has to match. A typical order looks like this:

• Health first. Cavities, gum inflammation and tartar are dealt with before cosmetic work, starting with a cleaning and exam. Advanced gum disease is referred to a periodontist.
• Move teeth next. If crowding is part of the issue, aligners come before veneers or bonding, and they can reduce how much enamel needs shaping later.
• Whiten before matching. Lighten the natural teeth, let the shade settle for a couple of weeks, then match new work to it.
• Restore last. Veneers, crowns and bonding are designed for the final tooth positions and the final shade.
• Protect the result. A night guard if you grind, regular cleanings, and a quick visit whenever a restoration feels different.

Not every step has to happen at once. Some people finish the health and whitening steps now and come back for veneers later, which also spreads the cost. Your written plan shows the order and the price of each stage. For help with scope, see how many veneers a makeover needs and signs a bigger rebuild may be needed.

Realistic expectations

Good cosmetic dentistry usually looks like you on a good day, not like someone else. A few honest points help set expectations:

• Natural teeth aren't perfectly white or perfectly even, so shade and shape are often designed with slight variation to read as natural.
• Whitening results vary. Yellowish stain often responds well, while gray or deep internal stain often doesn't.
• Porcelain and composite can't decay, but the teeth and gums around them still can.
• Most cosmetic work needs upkeep: polishing, touch-ups and, eventually, replacement of veneers, bonding and crowns.
• Cosmetic work can't correct a bite problem that comes from the jaws. Those cases are referred to an orthodontist or an oral surgeon.
• Some steps can't be reversed, such as removing enamel for veneers or crowns. You'll always be told when a step is permanent before you agree to it.

What drives the cost of cosmetic dentistry

The total for a cosmetic plan comes down to a handful of things:

• Which treatments you choose, and how many teeth each one covers
• The material, since porcelain generally costs more than composite
• Health treatment needed first, such as cleanings, fillings or gum care
• Planning records like X-rays, when your plan calls for them
• Whether you add oral sedation for longer appointments
• Whether you treat everything at once or in stages

When you shop around, request itemized quotes from each office, so the numbers line up line by line. Our guide on spotting a fair dental quote shows what to look for.

Insurance and financing for cosmetic work

Most dental plans treat purely cosmetic work, such as whitening and veneers, as elective, so they usually don't pay for it. Care with a health reason behind it is a different story. Repairing a cracked tooth with a crown, filling a cavity or replacing a missing tooth may count under basic or major benefits, subject to deductibles, waiting periods and annual maximums. Some plans also carry orthodontic benefits. Most major dental insurance is accepted, and we check your benefits for you.

Any balance your plan leaves can go on 0% financing from CareCredit, Cherry or LendingClub, on approved credit. See financing or 0% financing explained.

Every cosmetic page in one place

Treatments, comparisons and neighborhood guides, if you'd like to read further before your visit:

• Treatments: porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, dental bonding, Invisalign, crowns and dental implants.
• Comparisons: bonding vs veneers, veneers vs whitening, veneers vs crowns, professional vs store-bought whitening and Invisalign vs braces.
• Costs and care: veneer costs explained, how long veneers last and how long whitening lasts.
• Veneers by neighborhood: Edgewater, Midtown, Wynwood, Design District, Downtown, Little Havana, Brickell and Miami Beach.
• En español: carillas dentales.

Visits happen in Suite 703 at 3050 Biscayne Blvd, Edgewater, where you can use building parking or street parking. Hours are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm.

About the dentist

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS

Dr. Aakash Rana, DDS is a general dentist trained at NYU College of Dentistry, with more than $100,000 in continuing education. He plans and treats each case at Prana Dental himself, works with our in-house lab, and refers to a specialist when a case needs one.

Questions, answered

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