There’s a particular kind of phone call we get at Burnaby South Dental every spring. Someone’s daughter is graduating in three weeks. There’s a wedding in Lynn Canyon in July. A milestone birthday is coming up, and there will be photos. The question is almost always the same: “Is there anything you can do to make my smile look better — quickly — before [insert big day]?”
The honest answer is yes, almost always. Cosmetic dentistry has come a long way, and many of the options we offer at our Highgate clinic on Kingsway can be done in one or two visits. The harder question is which option is right for you, because “cosmetic dentistry” is really a menu of very different treatments — different costs, different timelines, different results.
This guide breaks down what’s actually on that menu, what each option realistically does (and doesn’t do), how to think about cost and longevity, and how to fit a smile refresh into the summer of 2026.
What “cosmetic dentistry” actually means
Cosmetic dentistry is any treatment that improves the appearance of your smile — colour, shape, alignment, evenness. The most common reasons our South Burnaby patients ask about it:
- Teeth that have yellowed or darkened over the years
- A chipped front tooth from an old accident
- Small gaps that have always bothered you
- Worn-down edges from years of grinding
- Old fillings that have stained or no longer match the surrounding tooth
- A general sense of “I just don’t love my smile in photos anymore”
It’s worth saying upfront: cosmetic dentistry should never be the first conversation. Before we recommend a veneer or any aesthetic change, we want to know your gums are healthy, your bite is stable, and there are no underlying issues a routine general dentistry exam might surface. A beautiful smile sitting on top of an untreated cavity isn’t really a fix — it’s just expensive postponement.
The main cosmetic options, from least to most involved
1. Professional teeth whitening — the easiest win
If your teeth are reasonably straight and well-shaped but just dull or yellowed, in-office whitening is usually the single highest-impact, lowest-cost treatment we offer. It works on natural tooth enamel (it won’t whiten crowns, veneers, or fillings), and one professional session typically lifts shade noticeably in about an hour.
We covered the full whitening conversation — professional vs. drugstore strips vs. TikTok hacks — in our April post on teeth whitening in Burnaby. If you haven’t read it and you’re just looking to brighten your smile, start there. For most of our Highgate and Middlegate patients, professional whitening is all they actually need.
Best for: healthy smiles that have darkened with age, coffee, or red wine.
Typical timeline: one in-office visit (about an hour) or 2 weeks with custom take-home trays.
Lasts: 1–3 years with good maintenance.
2. Dental bonding — small fixes, same-day results
Bonding is the unsung hero of cosmetic dentistry. We apply a tooth-coloured composite resin directly to your tooth, shape it, and cure it with a light — the whole thing usually takes 30–60 minutes per tooth. It can close small gaps, repair chips, lengthen worn-down edges, and disguise discolouration that whitening can’t fix.
Bonding is conservative — almost no enamel is removed — and surprisingly affordable compared to veneers. The trade-off is that composite isn’t as stain-resistant or as durable as porcelain, so plan to refresh or repair it every 5–8 years.
Best for: chips, small gaps, minor shape adjustments on one or two teeth.
Typical timeline: 1 visit, no freezing needed for most cases.
Lasts: 5–8 years, depending on habits (it doesn’t love coffee or nail-biting).
3. Porcelain veneers — the full transformation
Veneers are thin, custom porcelain shells bonded to the front of your teeth. They change colour, shape, length, and proportion all at once, and well-designed veneers look indistinguishable from natural teeth. They’re the treatment most people picture when they think “Hollywood smile” — though in our experience, the patients who love their results most are the ones who chose a subtle refresh, not a bright-white reset.
Veneers usually take two appointments about 2–3 weeks apart: one to prepare the teeth and take impressions, and one to bond the final porcelain. Modern veneers are minimally invasive — we remove only a thin layer of enamel — but the change is permanent, so we always take time to plan the design with you, often using digital previews so you can see your new smile before we begin.
Best for: multiple front teeth with shape, colour, or alignment concerns you want corrected together.
Typical timeline: 2 visits over 2–3 weeks.
Lasts: 10–15+ years with good care.
You can read more about how we approach veneers and other aesthetic work on our cosmetic dentistry page.
4. Crowns, clear aligners, and gum contouring
For deeper bite issues, badly damaged teeth, or noticeably crooked smiles, the cosmetic conversation usually expands to include crowns, clear aligners, or — for “gummy” smiles — gentle gum reshaping. These take longer and cost more than bonding or whitening, but they solve problems the simpler treatments can’t. If we think one of these is the right path, we’ll explain why before recommending it.
How to choose: a simple framework
When patients sit in our consult chair and ask which option is right for them, we usually work through three questions:
1. What specifically bothers you?
Be honest with yourself. Is it the colour? The shape of one tooth? A gap? A worn edge? The more specific the concern, the more targeted (and affordable) the fix.
2. How much change do you actually want?
A subtle refresh and a full smile redesign are very different projects. A lot of our Highgate patients are surprised to learn that just whitening plus a tiny bit of bonding on one front tooth gets them 90% of the way there.
3. What’s your timeline and budget?
Whitening can happen this week. Bonding can happen in one visit. Veneers are a 2–3 week project. Crowns and aligners are months. We’ll always tell you the shortest, simplest path that meets your goal.
What about cost — and does CDCP cover any of this?
Cosmetic treatments are typically not covered by insurance, including the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), because they’re considered elective rather than medically necessary. However, many of the foundation steps — exams, X-rays, cleanings, and treating any underlying decay or gum disease before cosmetic work begins — are covered under most plans, including CDCP. That’s worth knowing, because it often means a much smaller out-of-pocket number than people expect.
We do direct billing to most major insurers and welcome CDCP patients. At your consultation, we’ll give you a clear written estimate before anything starts — never any guesswork or pressure.
Fitting a smile refresh into your summer of 2026
If you have a specific event in mind, here’s a rough planning calendar from your Burnaby cosmetic dentist:
- Event in 1 week: Professional whitening + a polish.
- Event in 2–3 weeks: Whitening, plus bonding on one or two front teeth if needed.
- Event in 4–8 weeks: Whitening plus veneers on the front teeth — the classic “smile makeover” timeline.
- Event in 6+ months: Clear aligners can be added if alignment is also a concern.
Either way, the first step is the same: a consultation. We’ll take a look, listen to what you want, take a couple of photos, and walk you through your real options — including the option to do nothing, which is sometimes the right call.
Why patients across South Burnaby choose our Highgate clinic
Burnaby South Dental sits right on Kingsway, a short walk from Highgate Village and just minutes from Middlegate, Edmonds Station, Royal Oak, and the rest of South Burnaby. Our team of four dentists — Dr. Asmerett Padernos, Dr. Rania Ataia, Dr. Grace Beloy, and Dr. Cesar Beloy — brings decades of combined experience in both general and cosmetic dentistry. You can meet the whole team here.
What our patients tell us they appreciate most:
- A calm, judgment-free environment — no upselling, no pressure
- Direct billing to most major insurers
- Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) patients warmly welcomed
- Evening and Saturday appointments
- Modern, gentle techniques and low-radiation digital imaging
Frequently asked questions
Will cosmetic dentistry look fake? Only if you ask for it to. Modern porcelain and composite materials can match the colour, translucency, and texture of natural enamel beautifully. Most of our patients want their result to look like them, on a great day — not like someone else. That’s the standard we design to.
How long do veneers last? With good care — regular cleanings, no chewing ice or pen lids, a night guard if you grind — porcelain veneers typically last 10–15 years and often longer. Bonding lasts 5–8 years on average.
Can I whiten my teeth if I have veneers or crowns? Whitening only works on natural enamel. If you’re planning veneers or crowns on your front teeth, we’ll whiten first, then match the new restorations to your brightened shade — never the other way around.
Does CDCP cover veneers or whitening? Generally no — these are considered elective cosmetic treatments. CDCP does typically cover the exam, X-rays, cleaning, and treatment of any underlying issues before cosmetic work begins. We’re happy to walk through your specific coverage at your first visit.
How do I know if I’m a candidate? Almost anyone with healthy teeth and gums is a candidate for some form of cosmetic dentistry. The right question isn’t whether you can have it — it’s which option gives you the result you actually want, for the budget and timeline you have. That’s what a consultation is for.
Ready to start your summer smile?
You don’t need a big event to want to feel better about your smile. But if you do have something on the calendar — a wedding, a graduation, a reunion, a vacation — the sooner you book a consult, the more relaxed the whole process feels.
📞 Call (604) 540-6000 📍 6975 Kingsway #2, Burnaby, BC V5E 1E5 🦷 Book a consult online — new patients always welcome.
This blog is for general information only and is not a substitute for an exam by a licensed dentist. Individual results, timelines, and costs vary based on your specific situation.
