Cosmetic dentistry at Smiles By Design in Carmel Mountain Ranch improves the colour, shape and alignment of your teeth with veneers, whitening, Invisalign and tooth-coloured repairs. Every plan starts with a free consultation and a preview of the result. This page will walk you through each treatment, what it costs and how a smile makeover is planned.
What cosmetic dentistry can fix
Cosmetic dentistry changes how your teeth look, and often how they work too. These are the problems we treat most, with the usual fix for each:
- Stained or yellowed teeth: professional whitening, or porcelain veneers for deep stains that whitening cannot reach.
- Chipped, cracked or worn teeth: veneers, crowns, inlays and onlays, or tooth-coloured fillings, depending on how much tooth is lost.
- Old silver or stained fillings: replacement with tooth-coloured composite fillings.
- Gaps, crowding or crooked teeth: Invisalign clear aligners, or veneers for small gaps when the bite is healthy.
- Teeth that look small, short or uneven: porcelain veneers.
- Missing teeth: dental implants, bridges or dentures.
Cosmetic treatments we offer
Each treatment has its own page with the full process, recovery and aftercare.
Porcelain veneers
A porcelain veneer is a thin shell of porcelain, typically less than a millimetre thick, bonded to the front of a tooth to change its colour, shape or length. Treatment takes two to three visits, and veneers typically last 10 to 15 years. A small amount of enamel is removed, so the change is permanent. Veneers cost $1,200 to $2,500 per tooth in 2026; see porcelain veneers for the full process.
Teeth whitening
Professional whitening lifts stains from coffee, tea, wine, tobacco and age using whitening gel applied under a dentist's supervision. It costs $300 to $900. Whitening does not change the colour of existing crowns, veneers or fillings, which matters if you have them on front teeth. Our page on teeth whitening covers the in-office visit, how long results last and how to manage sensitivity.
Invisalign
Invisalign straightens teeth with a series of clear, removable aligners. Treatment starts with an iTero 3D scan and a preview of how your teeth will move, both free at the consultation. Treatment costs $3,000 to $8,000, depending on how much movement is needed. See Invisalign for how treatment works and what insurance pays.
Tooth-coloured fillings
Composite fillings match the shade of your teeth, so a repaired tooth looks untouched. Old silver fillings can be replaced with composite as part of a wider cosmetic plan. Our white fillings page explains when a filling is enough.
Crowns, inlays and onlays
A crown covers the whole visible tooth and restores one that is cracked, heavily filled or weakened after a root canal; it costs $1,000 to $2,500 per tooth. An inlay or onlay repairs part of the biting surface and keeps more natural tooth. See dental crowns for materials and lifespan.
Dental implants
A dental implant replaces a missing tooth with a titanium post in the jaw and a custom crown on top. A single implant with its crown costs $3,000 to $6,000. Our page on dental implants covers the process and timeline.
Planning a smile makeover
A smile makeover combines two or more treatments in one plan. The order matters. Teeth are usually straightened first, so veneers or crowns need less reshaping. Whitening comes next, because porcelain does not whiten once it is bonded and new veneers or crowns are matched to the shade of the teeth around them.
Before your consultation, think about these questions:
- What do you like and dislike about the shape, size, colour or spacing of your teeth?
- Do you want your teeth to look noticeably white, or a natural shade?
- Are you happy with how straight your teeth are?
- How much of your teeth shows when your lips are relaxed, and when you smile?
- Would you like your gums to show less when you smile?
- Would you like sedation for longer appointments?
- How would you like to pay, and do you want to spread the cost?
Bring photos of smiles you like, or an old photo of your own smile. They help the dentist see the result you have in mind.
What cosmetic dentistry costs and what insurance pays
The 2026 price ranges at our practice:
- Teeth whitening: $300 to $900
- Porcelain veneers: $1,200 to $2,500 per tooth; six veneers $7,200 to $15,000
- Dental crowns: $1,000 to $2,500 per tooth
- Invisalign: $3,000 to $8,000
- Dental implants: $3,000 to $6,000 per tooth
You get a written estimate after the consultation, before any treatment starts.
Insurance treats cosmetic and restorative work differently. Covered California's 2026 family dental plans state that veneers, implants, teeth whitening and adult orthodontics are excluded for adults in all plans. A crown or filling that repairs a broken or decayed tooth is a covered service on the same plans. Employer plans vary, and we check your benefits before treatment.
Pre-tax money follows the same line. IRS Publication 502 excludes teeth whitening and cosmetic procedures from medical expenses, but counts braces, artificial teeth and the treatment of dental disease. That means HSA or FSA money can usually pay for Invisalign, implants and restorative crowns, but not whitening. Monthly payment plans through CareCredit and Cherry are also available.
Your cosmetic consultation
The cosmetic consultation is free. It covers:
- An exam to check for decay or gum disease, which must be treated before cosmetic work. The ADA's guide to veneers makes the same point: placing veneers over unhealthy teeth can make problems worse.
- Photos, and X-rays if they are needed.
- A 3D scan of your teeth.
- A preview of the planned result, either a digital design or a mock-up on your own teeth.
- A written plan with the treatment order, the timeline and the cost.
Why patients choose Smiles By Design
Every cosmetic case is planned directly by Dr. Javaheri or Dr. Cohen. Dr. Dan Javaheri, DDS, who founded the practice, is a graduate of the NYU College of Dentistry with more than 17 years in general, cosmetic and implant dentistry and thousands of hours of continuing education in Invisalign. Dr. Cody Cohen, DDS, earned his dental degree at the University of Texas in Houston. Our approach is conservative: we remove as little natural tooth as the result allows, and we will tell you when whitening or Invisalign alone will do.
Patients rate the practice 5.0 on Google from 217 reviews, as of October 2026.
Cosmetic dentistry near Carmel Mountain Ranch
Smiles By Design is at 15373 Innovation Dr, Suite 110, San Diego, CA 92128, in Carmel Mountain Ranch, just off I-15. We see cosmetic patients from Carmel Mountain Ranch, Rancho Bernardo, Poway, 4S Ranch, Del Sur and across North County San Diego. The office is open Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday 7:30 am to 2:00 pm. For everything else we offer locally, see our dentist in Carmel Mountain Ranch page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a cosmetic dentist do?
A cosmetic dentist improves how your teeth look: their colour, shape, size, alignment and the gaps between them. At Smiles By Design that means porcelain veneers, professional whitening, Invisalign, tooth-coloured fillings, crowns and implants. Many of these also restore function, such as a crown on a cracked tooth.
Is cosmetic dentistry covered by insurance?
Purely cosmetic dentistry is rarely covered. Covered California's 2026 family dental plans exclude veneers, implants, teeth whitening and adult orthodontics for adults. Treatment that repairs a broken or decayed tooth, such as a crown or filling, is usually covered. We check your plan before treatment starts.
How much does a smile makeover cost?
A smile makeover costs anything from a few thousand dollars for whitening and a couple of veneers to tens of thousands for veneers on every visible tooth or implants. In 2026, six veneers cost $7,200 to $15,000 at our practice and whitening $300 to $900. You get a written estimate after the free consultation.
Should I whiten my teeth before getting veneers?
Whiten first if you want your other teeth lighter. Porcelain veneers do not change colour after they are bonded, and whitening does not lighten them, so the veneers are matched to the shade of your natural teeth. Whitening first lets us match the veneers to your brighter shade.
Are veneers or Invisalign better for crooked teeth?
Invisalign is better when teeth are crooked or crowded, because it moves the teeth rather than covering them. Veneers can disguise small gaps or slightly uneven teeth when the bite is healthy. Many patients straighten with Invisalign first, which means less enamel has to be removed if they choose veneers later.
Is the cosmetic consultation free?
Yes. The cosmetic consultation at Smiles By Design is free. It includes an exam, a 3D scan, a preview of the planned result and a written estimate, so you know the treatment order, timeline and cost before you decide. Call (858) 485-5552 or book online.
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