porcelain veneers Archives - Susan M. Dennis, D.D.S

How To Get a Smile You’re Not Ashamed Of

Posted on October 23, 2026 by writeradmin.

I hate the way my smile looks. It’s discolored. My front teeth kind of overlap each other. I just feel like it makes me look absolutely ancient compared to everyone else. These days everyone seems to have straight white smiles. What can I do to get a smile I am not ashamed of?

Becky

Dear Becky,

You have a couple of paths you can take for this.

Path 1: Invisalign and Teeth Whitening

If the only thing you want to fix about these teeth are the color and the misalignment or if you’re on a tighter budget, then I recommend you get Invisalign. This uses clear aligners to straighten your teeth, so no one will even know that you are straightening your teeth. It works in about half the time as traditional braces.

The aligners can also double as teeth whitening trays which not only saves you money because you won’t needs separate whitening trays, but it will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time. You will get a straight, younger looking smile that is as white as you want it to be.

These are both simple procedures, so any dentist who offers these services should be able to do them equally well.

Path 2: Porcelain Veneers and Teeth Whitening

If you are wanting a total smile makeover, then porcelain veneers are the way to go. This is what celebrities use to get those Hollywood smiles. Veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneously. While it cannot straighten the misalignment, a skilled cosmetic dentist can make your teeth look straight.

You will still want to whiten your teeth because porcelain veneers are more expensive and most people don’t get them on the bottom arch which doesn’t show when you smile anyway. Instead, they get their teeth bleached so that any non-veneered teeth will blend in with the veneers.

Unlike path 1, this is an advanced cosmetic procedure. You do not want just any dentist doing your porcelain veneers even if they offer it. Make sure they have post-doctoral training and take a look at their smile gallery to see what type of results they get. If they don’t have a smile gallery (of work they personally did, not stock photos) then that is a red flag.

Either one of these paths will give you a smile you are proud to share.

This blog is brought to you by a top-rated dentist in Kalamazoo, Dr. Susan Dennis.
Click here to learn about KöR Teeth Whitening.

Fixing Protruded Teeth

Posted on September 4, 2026 by writeradmin.

I have protruded teeth and would like to get them fixed. I get that braces is an option, but I am hoping there are cosmetic dentistry options so that I do not have to have a mouth full of metal at my age. Can you give me all my options along with their costs?

MaryEllen

Dear MaryEllen,

You said your teeth were protruded, but didn’t say how protruded. That will make a difference in both treatment and cost. If they are extraordinarily protruded, then even braces would require extra interventions, such as surgery. If you are just talking about normal protruded teeth, then you have two good options.

Straightening Your Teeth Without Traditional Braces

Left: Braces / Right: Invisalign

If you want to actually straighten the protruded teeth, then my recommendation for you would be to see a dentist who offers Invisalign. Rather than using traditional metal wires and brackets, these use clear aligners. No one will know that you are straightening your teeth, even at a conversational distance. This is why some people call them invisible braces.

There are a couple of additional benefits to these. First, in most cases they work faster than braces so you will get a straight smile even faster. Second, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. Your dentist can provide you with professional strength teeth whitening gel that you can wear directly in your Invisalign aligners. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time, without the additional cost of needing to have teeth whitening trays made.

One word of caution, make sure if you are going to whiten at the same time that you get your teeth professional cleaned first. Otherwise your results will be splotchy because the gel didn’t have an even surface to work with.

Making Your Teeth Look Straight

Another option is to have porcelain veneers done. These won’t actually straighten your teeth, but it can make them look straight. This is what people, including those Hollywood celebrities, go to for a complete smile makeover. Veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. While you can go to any dentist who does Invisalign and get the same results, this is not true of porcelain veneers.

Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. This means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of whether or not they’ve invested in post-doctoral training to do the work well. Think of it like a painting. You can have two artists paint the same portrait, but the results are going to be different based on the skill, training, and artistry of the painter. Because of that, you will want an advanced cosmetic dentist with significant training and experience.

As for cost, Invisalign is typically around the $5,000 mark. Veneers will have vastly different prices depending on the dentist, the area you live in, and the number of veneers you get. It will definitely be more than Invisalign, though.

This blog is brought to you by a gentle dentist in Kalamazoo, Dr. Susan Dennis.

Can Snap-on Veneers Help a Bulimic?

Posted on August 22, 2026 by writeradmin.

I’ve been bulimic for many years and I’m finally getting things under control. It will be no surprise to you that I’m dealing with issues on my teeth as a result. They are completely worn down and the result is a lot of sensitivity making it hard to eat. On top of that I have the problem of hating the way they look. I have a hard enough of a problem dealing with my appearance. I went to my dentist and he suggested porcelain veneers, but the price tag was $25,000. I can’t do that. I was looking at those snap on veneers. They’re much less expensive. Do you know if they’ll work? If not, do you know of other options for me?

Lucy

Dear Lucy,

First, I’m going to say right away that you are doing a wonderful thing tackling your bulimia head-on. I know that is such a hard thing to do. Be proud of yourself for that. Second, your dentist is giving you the wrong recommendation. Porcelain veneers cover the fronts of your teeth and will improve their appearance, but most of the damage done from bulimia goes to the back of the teeth, so veneers won’t do anything to help with the damage in the back.

Snap-on Smile, which some people call snap-on veneers have a similar problem, but they won’t even look as good because they’re made of acrylic instead of porcelain. Plus they’ll add to your sensitivity because they are snapping onto the teeth. What will protect your teeth and give you a beautiful appearance if done by the right dentist are porcelain crowns. They will still cost a lot, but dental insurance will often help with crowns if they are needed to protect a tooth, which yours are.

What I don’t want you to do is walk into a dentist’s office and say, “I’d like all-porcelain crowns.” You want the dentist to suggest the right treatment, unprompted, in order to at least give the first clue that they have an idea of what they’re doing. If they suggest all-porcelain crowns, check both their credentials to make sure they have post-doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry, and their smile gallery to make sure they create beautiful results.

This blog is brought to you by a top-rated dentist in Kalamazoo, Dr. Susan Dennis.

Fixing Protruded Teeth As an Adult

Posted on July 11, 2026 by writeradmin.

I have protruded front teeth. I’m looking for options for fixing them, including cosmetic options. My dentist said there’s not much that can be done unless I go to an orthodontist, but there have to be options. While I’ve been with my dentist for years, he doesn’t really keep up with the industry. He likes just to do your basic general dentistry and that is it.

Alina

Dear Alina,

It is fine if you are happy with just a bread and butter dentist for your regular care and then you can go to a more advanced dentist for other services. My only concern is to make sure that he isn’t still giving you the old silver fillings for your cavities. There are better filling alternatives that are better for your tooth structure and do not contain any mercury.

As for your options for fixing your protruded teeth, there are three good options for you.

Fixing Protruded Teeth by Straightening Them

Braces Vs. Invisalign

Your first option is obviously braces, but based on the fact you are asking for alternatives, I’m guessing that isn’t what you want to do. In that case, you can look into using Invisalign to straighten your teeth. These use clear aligners that you wear, with the exception of when you are eating or brushing and flossing your teeth. You will need to go to a dentist who is Invisalign certified, but there are many of them so that will not be a problem.

You will also find that they have a secret benefit. The clear aligners can also double as teeth whitening trays. Your dentist can provide you with professional strength teeth whitening gel, and you wear it in your aligners at your convenience. By the time you are done with your Invisalign treatment, you will have a mini smile makeover.

Fixing Protruded Teeth by Making Them Look Straight

Another option is to get porcelain veneers. These will not actually straighten your teeth, but they can make them look straight. Be aware that if your teeth are excessively protruded, you will have to remove a lot more tooth structure than you normally would for this procedure.

This option makes more sense if you are wanting to do more to your teeth than just make them look straight. This is what you’d use if you want a complete smile makeover. This gives celebrities that Hollywood smile. It can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

While you can get Invisalign from any dentist who offers it without much risk, you don’t want to go to any dentist who offers porcelain veneers. You want someone who has invested in post-doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry and smile makeovers. This is an advanced procedure that is not adequately taught in dental school.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by a top-rated dentist in Kalamazoo, Dr. Susan Dennis.

Why Did the Dentist Put a Stain on My Lumineers?

Posted on June 10, 2026 by writeradmin.

I am quite frustrated. I went to my dentist to get a smile makeover. He suggested Lumineers and said they don’t need to grind my teeth down. I liked that idea. I told him I wanted very white teeth. When he put them on, I didn’t get to see them until they were bonded on. They were darker than I expected. When I asked him about that, he told me that he put what he called a “Naturalizing stain” on them so they wouldn’t look too white, which he said would make them look fake. Except, I wanted them white and had specifically told him that. He said if I gave it time, I would see that he was right and like them. I gave it a few weeks. These were miserable weeks. I went back in and told him I hated the stain. He said he’d get rid of it. But, he did that by drilling it off. While they are “whiter” they are now bumpy and uneven and look ridiculous. What do I do?

Esme

Dear Esme,

What a cosmetic dentistry horror story. Normally, if you don’t like the results of your cosmetic dentistry and they are functional the only way to get your money back is if you have an ethical dentist who cares about how you feel about the results. However, if they are as bad as your are saying, including the bumpiness, I think you could get another cosmetic dentist on your side who would help you put some pressure on this dentist to refund your money so you can get it done properly. Plus, he took off the glaze of your Lumineers which means they will quickly pick up stains, so you can even say goodbye to the whiteness you gained.

There are some clues here to me that your dentist has no idea what he’s doing with cosmetic dentistry. First, is the fact that he suggested Lumineers to begin with. These are highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. The second is that he stained them to make them “Look natural.” A true cosmetic dentist, who does a lot of cosmetic work, would know the whole point of a smile makeover is to give the patient the smile they want. Finally, drilling off the glaze ruins them.

Find an expert cosmetic dentist in your area. Look for someone with a smile gallery that shows they provide beautiful results. Check that they also have a beautiful smile guarantee. They can help you with this dentist and then provide you with a different brand of porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Kalamazoo Dr. Susan Dennis.

Tooth Moose Plus Teeth Whitening for White Spots

Posted on January 16, 2026 by writeradmin.

I have some white spot lesions on my teeth. My dentist has prescribed a two step process. First, I’m doing something called tooth mousse. Then, two months from that time, I’m supposed to have teeth whitening done. I just want to make sure this is going to work before I get my hopes up. If not, then is there a better option for me? I don’t have any reason to think this except a gut feeling, but I got the impression my dentist was just trying something, but wasn’t convinced it would work.

Nathan

Dear Nathan,

Your gut feeling is correct. I would say your dentist, however, is only halfway correct. Tooth mousse is helpful for remineralizing teeth. Decalcification is often the reason those spots show up to begin with. However, using teeth whitening will not help white spots. Teeth are whitened evenly, which will make the white spots more obvious.

Usually, tooth mousse is paired with microabrasion or dental bonding. Microabrasion uses an acid-pumice slurry which is rubbed onto the surface of the teeth, and many white spots then disappear. Dental bonding uses a composite bonding to cover the area after the white spots are gently shaved.

These solutions work best when there are just one or two small white spots. The picture above has too many white spots for either of these to really be effective.

When There are Too Many White Spots

In that case, I’d recommend porcelain veneers. These use small wafers of porcelain to cover the entire surface of your teeth. This is what celebrities use to get those Hollywood smile makeovers.

No matter what you do, you will need an expert cosmetic dentist to do the work. I could tell that your dentist is trying their best but, as I mentioned in the beginning, your gut feeling is right. They’re guessing and in over their head.

Teeth whitening is the easiest of the cosmetic procedures and your dentist did not understand the principles about how that works. The other procedures are all extremely advanced and would require post-doctoral training. I would look for someone who has that training. If you can’t tell what kind of training they have, be sure to check their smile gallery to get an idea of what type of results they get. If they don’t have a smile gallery, they do not do enough cosmetic dental work to treat your issue.

This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Kalamazoo Dr. Susan Dennis.

Using CEREC Veneers

Posted on November 25, 2025 by writeradmin.

I’m new in town and just started with a new dentist. I mentioned to him that I was interested in a smile makeover. He suggested CEREC veneers at 1.5 mm. I told him I’d think about it. My hesitation is that I thought CEREC was just for crowns. I don’t want crowns. I want veneers. So, should I tell him no and switch dentists?

Lori

**NOTE: Before providing the answer below, I asked Lori for the name and city of the dentist she is seeing.

Dear Lori,

Thank you for that information. When it comes to any type of smile makeover, it’s not the material that matters as much as the dentist working with those materials. Though, to be honest, it would take some tweaking to CEREC veneers to make them look natural because they are milled from a single block of porcelain. Otherwise, they will end up looking a bit matte in appearance.

Our teeth do not have the same opacity over the entire tooth’s surface, so to make the veneer to look natural, the dentist would need several different blocks of porcelain of varying opacities. When they use a single block, they’ll need a good understanding of color theory and stains to make them look like there is a variation. This is why most dentists who use CEREC will use it to do same day crowns on teeth that are not the two front teeth because of how exposed they are to light.

I did some research on your dentist. He has no website, not even a Facebook page. When I looked up his credentials, there was no record of him attending any post-doctoral institutions to learn how to do smile makeovers. I have serious doubts about his skills to pull this off.

My suggestion is you use porcelain veneers to have your smile makeover done. You’ll want to make sure the dentist has a website and a smile gallery containing before and after photos of makeover cases the dentist has done. If the results do not blow you away, look for another dentist to do your smile makeover. If they don’t have a smile gallery of their work, then they don’t do enough cosmetic work to be skilled on it.

This blog is brought to you by compassionate cosmetic dentist in Portage, MI Dr. Susan Dennis.

Front Teeth Are Too Large

Posted on November 15, 2025 by writeradmin.

I’ve been trying to find a way to make my teeth look better. My two front teeth are bigger and more forward than the rest of my teeth. I feel like I look a bit like a beaver. I’ve been given lots of advise from different people and none of them quite make enough sense. I’m about to just give up and have them removed and then replace them with dental implants. But, honestly, I’m hoping you have a better options for me.

Tanya

Dear Tanya,

Invisalign Aligners

Whatever you do, please do not remove your teeth and replace them with dental implants. You will not have to do anything so drastic. You do have a lot of options. You could have the teeth trimmed and then have them moved into place with Invisalign aligners. Another option is to have porcelain veneers placed on your teeth.

I have not examined your teeth, so it would be unethical of me to tell you which procedure is the right one for you. My best suggestion is that you find an expert cosmetic dentist, let them examine your bite, then let them determine what your best options are.

There are many factors that will determine the best treatment options. Even if it is the right procedure, the dentist needs a lot of training and experience in placing them. Occlusion of your teeth is important. If a procedure is not done well, it can throw off the way your teeth are meeting together.

This is where a dentist without the right training can cause you a lot of problems. You want to make sure that nothing will throw off your bite. If it does, you can end up with something like TMJ Disorder because a dentist without real training in cosmetic dental work did the procedure they like the best.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Gentle Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

My Two Front Teeth Are Whiter than the Rest

Posted on October 20, 2025 by writeradmin.

My two front teeth have always been whiter than the rest of my teeth. They have white spots that go about 3/4 of the way up. They do look good in pictures, but the rest of the time my smile looks off because of the differences in the colors. I asked my dentist about what it would take to get the rest of my teeth as white as those big white spots and he suggested teeth whitening. My question is how to match it exactly to the white spots?

Amelia

Dear Amelia,

I am glad you wrote. I am sure your dentist is well intentioned, but I do not think he understands teeth whitening very well. The big problem is that while teeth whitening does whiten teeth, it does it uniformly. That means that your white spots will whiten along with the rest of your teeth so there will still be a color discrepancy.

What you need to do instead is to have porcelain veneers done. These are tiny wafers of porcelain that will cover the entire surface of you tooth structure. Now, if they only thing wrong with your teeth is that you just want them the same color, you can get away with just doing the two front teeth. If there are other things you want to change about your teeth, then you’ll want to get more porcelain veneers. Enough to cover the aesthetic zone of your teeth, which just means all the teeth that are visible when you smile.

The thing to know about porcelain veneers is that they can change anything you want about your smile, including the shape, size, and color of your teeth. These are complete smile makeovers and the go-to for those celebrities who get those gorgeous smiles.

Either way, I would not use your current dentist. Teeth whitening is the easiest cosmetic dentistry procedure there is. He didn’t understand how that worked. Porcelain veneers are one of the more advanced procedures. There are countless cosmetic dentistry horror stories.

This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.

How Many Porcelain Veneers are Needed?

Posted on October 1, 2025 by writeradmin.

I want to get porcelain veneers in order to have a whiter smile. I’ve been to three dentists and they’ve all told me I needed a different number of veneers. How many are needed for the smile to look right?

Mara

Dear Mara,

I am very glad you wrote. First, I want to make sure of something. Porcelain veneers are typically used when you want a complete smile makeover. That would mean changing the shape, size, and color of your teeth or any combination of that.

If the only thing you want to do to your smile is get a whiter one, than it would be much less expensive for you to skip the veneers and simply have your teeth whitened. Plus, any dentist can do teeth whitening well. A smile makeover takes some post-doctoral training as well as artistry on the part of the dentist. Though, you have to be careful there. Any dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist even if they don’t have that training because it is not a recognized specialty. You would want to choose your dentist carefully.

So, if you weren’t just wanting to whiten your teeth and did have a complete smile makeover in mind, then the number of porcelain veneers you get would depend on your smile. There is an aesthetic zone, which is simply the teeth that are visible when you smile. For most people that is between eight and ten teeth, though there are exceptions.

There is a way around this if that means more veneers than you can afford. You will want to whiten your teeth before the veneers are done no matter how many veneers you get. This is because you want your bottom teeth to blend in with your new updated smile. That can also help some of the top teeth to blend in as well. Just be aware that the results are not equal to having all the visible teeth veneered.

What you choose, will depend on your goals for your smile.
This blog is brought to you by Kalamazoo Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Susan Dennis.