Step 1: Talking About Your Goals
Every great smile makeover starts with understanding what you want. Dr. Paul Connolly will ask what bothers you about your current smile and what you’d love it to look like. Common goals patients share include:
- Closing gaps between teeth
- Brightening teeth that don’t respond to whitening
- Fixing chips, cracks, or worn edges
- Reshaping teeth that look too small, uneven, or misshapen
- Creating a more uniform, balanced smile
There are no wrong answers here. Whether you want a subtle refinement or a dramatic transformation, your goals guide the entire design.
Step 2: A Smile Evaluation
Next, Dr. Connolly examines your teeth, gums, and bite to determine whether veneers are the right solution — and whether anything should be addressed first. Veneers require healthy teeth and gums as a foundation, so this step ensures your results will look beautiful and last.
In some cases, a different treatment may achieve your goals better. For example, professional teeth whitening alone may be enough if your only concern is color, or a dental crown may be more appropriate for a structurally damaged tooth. As a prosthodontic specialist, Dr. Connolly will give you an honest recommendation.
Step 3: Photos and Digital Scans
To design veneers that complement your unique features, Dr. Connolly captures detailed records of your smile — including photographs and digital scans. Using RayFace 3D facial scanning, he can evaluate how your teeth relate to your facial proportions, midline, and lip line.
This is what separates specialist-level veneer design from a one-size-fits-all approach. Your veneers are designed to harmonize with your whole face — not just fill space in your mouth.
Step 4: Previewing Your New Smile
One of the most exciting parts of the consultation is seeing what’s possible. Using digital design tools, Dr. Connolly can often show you a preview of your potential new smile before any treatment begins. This lets you:
- See the potential result before committing
- Give feedback on shape, size, and brightness
- Collaborate on the design until it feels right
- Move forward with confidence, knowing what to expect
This "try before you buy" approach takes the guesswork out of cosmetic dentistry and ensures the final result matches your vision.
Step 5: Your Personalized Plan
Before you leave, you’ll understand your recommended treatment, how many veneers would achieve your goals, the timeline (most veneer cases are completed in just a few weeks), and a transparent, itemized cost estimate. Our team will also review any financing options if you’d like to spread the investment over time.
Will Anything Happen to My Teeth at the Consultation?
No. The consultation is purely an evaluation and planning visit — no tooth preparation or veneer placement happens. It’s your opportunity to explore your options, see what’s possible, and decide whether veneers are right for you, with zero obligation. If you choose to proceed, treatment is scheduled for a future visit.
The Veneer Process After Your Consultation
If you decide to move forward, the veneer process is typically completed in a few weeks: a preparation visit (where a thin layer of enamel is gently removed and digital impressions are taken), a period wearing temporary veneers, and a final visit where your custom porcelain veneers are bonded in place. You can read more on our dental veneers page.
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