Most patients calling from West Palm Beach about cosmetic dentistry have one of three things going on. They have been thinking about a specific procedure for a long time and want to understand what it actually involves before booking anything. Or they had cosmetic work done somewhere else and something about the result never sat right with them. Or a tooth broke, or a crown from years ago finally needs to come out, and they have decided to address the appearance at the same time.
We see patients from West Palm Beach and throughout Palm Beach County at our Delray Beach office, and our full range of cosmetic dentistry services is also outlined for patients specifically searching from West Palm Beach. Dr. Nicholas Goetz is a maxillofacial prosthodontist with fellowship training from UCLA, a specialty that takes three additional years after dental school focused specifically on restoration. That foundation informs every cosmetic case, from how the tooth gets prepped to how the shade is matched to the teeth beside it.
The Whitening Question
When a patient asks about whitening, the first question we ask is what caused the discoloration. Surface staining from coffee, wine, or tobacco responds well to in-office whitening. The gel concentration we use is higher than pharmacy products, and the application is controlled, which means a more even result. But staining that came from antibiotics taken as a child, or from a tooth that darkened after a root canal, is a different situation. Whitening has limits in those cases, and veneers usually give a better outcome.
What Patients Usually Ask About Veneers
How Much Tooth Structure Changes
The most common misconception we clear up at veneer consultations is how much tooth structure gets removed. It varies based on what is being corrected. For some cases the prep is minimal. For others, where the tooth’s existing shape or position requires more adjustment, the preparation is more involved. What we are trying to build is a ceramic facing that looks like a tooth, with the same light response as the enamel next to it and the same proportion. A veneer that reads as placed is a failure. A good one disappears.
What the ADA Says About Veneers
According to the American Dental Association, veneer treatment is not reversible, which is exactly why the planning conversation before treatment matters as much as the procedure itself. Patients who have already done research usually have a picture in their head of what they want. The consultation is about whether that outcome is achievable given their specific teeth, and what the path to get there looks like.
When Bonding Makes More Sense
For a small chip on a front tooth, or a gap a patient wants closed, composite resin bonding is often the better call. No tooth structure comes off. We build the resin directly onto the tooth and shape it to blend with what is around it. Most of the time it is a single appointment. When the correction needed is more significant, or a patient wants something that holds up for fifteen years, we talk through veneers instead.
Crowns and the Aesthetic Side
Not every crown case starts as a cosmetic one. But when a visible tooth needs full coverage, the result has to look right. We use porcelain on visible teeth and match the shade and shape to what is around it as precisely as the case allows. For patients replacing a missing tooth with an implant, the crown over the implant involves the same decisions, since how it looks affects how the patient lives with it for years.
Gum Tissue Matters Too
Some patients come in wanting cosmetic work on their teeth and do not realize the gum line is part of what is affecting the result. A gum line that is uneven, a tooth where the gum sits too high or too low relative to its neighbors, or recession that has pulled the tissue back and exposed root surface can all change how the smile reads. Gum therapy is part of the picture when the soft tissue is contributing to the appearance.
What a Smile Makeover Combines
Patients dealing with more than one concern at once, such as discoloration alongside a chipped tooth or an uneven gum line, are often better served by planning the whole case together rather than treating one issue at a time. We refer to that combined approach as a smile makeover, and it lets us sequence whitening, bonding, veneers, or gum therapy so that each step supports the next instead of competing with it. Cosmetic treatment is elective in most cases, so it typically falls outside standard dental insurance coverage. We go over the treatment plan and the associated cost in detail during your consultation, before any work begins, so there are no surprises partway through.
What the Consultation Looks Like
We start by looking at the full picture: the tooth the patient is focused on, how it relates to what is beside it, and how it fits into the bite. We take photos, look at shade and proportion, and talk through what we find. Dr. Goetz also uses digital imaging and treatment planning software during consultations, which lets you see a preview of the proposed outcome before any preparation begins. If there is a treatment plan, we walk through it step by step so you understand each stage before it starts.
Dr. Katie Gavalas sees patients alongside Dr. Goetz with the same thorough approach. We see one patient at a time, so the appointment is not shared with anyone else’s schedule.
Cosmetic Dentistry Backed by Advanced Training
Dr. Nicholas Goetz is one of a small number of dentists nationally with fellowship-level training in maxillofacial prosthodontics, a background built around complex restorative cases and full-mouth reconstruction. That training carries over directly into cosmetic work, where matching shade, shape, and bite all have to hold up together, not just look right in the chair. You can review examples of completed cases in our smile gallery before your consultation.
If you are in West Palm Beach and have been thinking about cosmetic work, contact us to schedule a consultation at our Delray Beach office.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmetic Dentistry
How long does teeth whitening or a veneer treatment plan take?
In-office whitening is usually completed in a single visit. Veneers take longer since they involve a consultation, a preparation appointment, a temporary phase while the permanent veneers are fabricated, and a final placement visit. A smile makeover combining several treatments takes longer still, since each step is sequenced around the others rather than done all at once.
Is cosmetic dentistry covered by dental insurance?
Most cosmetic procedures are considered elective and fall outside standard dental insurance coverage. There are exceptions when a treatment also restores function, such as a crown or veneer placed over a damaged tooth, which may be partially covered. We review your specific plan and estimated cost during your consultation so you know what to expect before committing to treatment.
What is the difference between bonding and veneers?
Bonding uses composite resin applied directly to the tooth, requires little to no removal of existing tooth structure, and is typically completed in one appointment. Veneers are custom ceramic facings that require some tooth preparation and lab fabrication, but they tend to hold up longer and resist staining better than bonding. Which option makes sense depends on how much correction the tooth needs.
Will whitening work on my crowns or veneers?
No. Whitening changes the shade of natural tooth enamel, but it has no effect on porcelain crowns, veneers, or bonded restorations. If you are planning both whitening and a restoration, we typically complete whitening first and then match the restoration to your new, brighter shade so everything blends together.
Can I see what my results might look like before committing to treatment?
Yes. During your consultation, we use digital imaging and treatment planning software to show a preview of the proposed outcome based on your own teeth and facial proportions. This helps you understand what a procedure can realistically achieve before any preparation begins, and it gives you a chance to ask questions about the plan before moving forward.
