Digital Smile Design in Woodland Hills
For many people, the hardest part of changing a smile is not the treatment itself. It is the uncertainty of committing to veneers, whitening, or reshaping without knowing how the result will look on their own face. Digital Smile Design addresses that uncertainty. It uses photographs, imaging, and careful planning to map out changes before any tooth is touched, so you can see the direction of your new smile and help shape it. At 805 Dentistry, we welcome patients from Woodland Hills who want that kind of clarity and collaboration before starting cosmetic or restorative care.
Digital Smile Design is a planning approach, not a single procedure. We start by studying your face, lips, gums, and teeth together, because a smile that looks balanced depends on more than the teeth alone. With digital images of your smile and face, we can evaluate tooth proportions, gumline symmetry, and how your teeth show when you speak and smile. From there, we create a visual plan of the proposed changes.
That plan then guides the treatments that actually create your result. Depending on your goals, it might involve porcelain veneers, composite bonding, in-office or take-home teeth whitening, tooth recontouring, crowns, or gum contouring. For more complex cases, it can become the blueprint for a full smile makeover or full mouth rehabilitation. The digital plan keeps every step pointed toward the same agreed-upon goal.
Many Woodland Hills patients come to us with very different concerns. Some have chipped or worn front teeth. Others have small gaps, uneven edges, discoloration that whitening alone has not solved, or a "gummy" smile where the gumline looks uneven. Patients planning dental implants or crowns on visible teeth also benefit, because those restorations need to blend naturally with the rest of the smile.
Because we provide general, family, and cosmetic care under one roof, we can coordinate a smile design that involves several types of treatment. Our practice includes a board-certified periodontist for gum contouring and crown lengthening, orthodontic options such as clear aligners and Invisalign when teeth need to move first, and an on-site dental lab. This lets Woodland Hills patients pursue a complete plan without being sent to several different offices.
What happens at my first Digital Smile Design visit?
Your first visit is a conversation and an evaluation. We begin by asking what you would like to change and what you already like about your smile, then we complete a dental exam to make sure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for cosmetic work. If we find decay or gum disease, we address it first so your new smile rests on a stable foundation.
Next, we capture the records needed for planning. Here is what you can generally expect:
- A discussion of your goals, concerns, and any past dental work
- A thorough exam of your teeth, gums, and bite
- Photographs of your face and smile from several angles
- Dental imaging as needed, including 2D and 3D options available in our practice
- A review of which treatments may fit your goals
How do you turn the design into my actual smile?
Once you approve the plan, we carry it out using the specific treatments it calls for. The design acts as a reference throughout, so the shape, length, and color of your teeth follow the plan we developed with you rather than being decided chair-side.
The timeline depends entirely on what your plan includes. A case focused on whitening and bonding may need only a few visits, while one that combines orthodontic alignment, gum contouring, and veneers will take longer and follow a specific order. For patients who feel anxious about dental work, we offer sedation options, including nitrous oxide, oral sedation, and IV sedation, through our board-certified dental anesthesiologist.
How do I care for my new smile afterward?
Caring for your new smile mostly comes down to consistent daily habits and regular checkups. Brushing, flossing, and routine dental cleanings help protect both your natural teeth and any veneers, bonding, or crowns that are part of your result.
We will give you guidance specific to the treatments you received. If you clench or grind your teeth, we may recommend a night mouth guard to help protect your restorations, and our focus on TMJ care means we pay close attention to how your bite functions, not just how it looks. Regular visits let us monitor your smile over time and handle small issues early.
How can I pay for Digital Smile Design?
We accept all major PPO insurance plans, welcome self-pay patients, and offer financing. Because Digital Smile Design guides a combination of treatments, your costs depend on the specific procedures in your plan, and coverage varies from one insurance policy to another.
During your consultation, we will explain each recommended step so you understand what your plan involves before you commit. Our team can review your insurance benefits and walk you through financing if you would like to spread out payments. Our goal is to give Woodland Hills patients a clear picture of both their future smile and the path to get there, with no surprises along the way.