Digital Smile Design in Solana Beach
Choosing to change your smile is a big decision, and most people hesitate for the same reason: they can't picture the result. Digital Smile Design takes the guesswork out of that decision. Instead of describing what veneers or aligners might look like, we show you — on screen, using photos and video of your own face — before any treatment begins. For our Solana Beach patients, that means walking into a plan you've already seen, approved, and helped shape.
Digital Smile Design is a planning process, not a single procedure. We start with detailed photographs and video of your face at rest, while speaking, and while smiling, along with digital scans and records of your teeth. Those images become the working canvas. We map proportions, midlines, tooth length and width, gum lines, and how your smile sits within the frame of your face, then design a proposed result you can actually look at and react to.
That last part matters more than anything. A smile that looks correct on a plaster model can still look wrong on a living face, because faces move. By designing around your natural expressions rather than isolated teeth, we can plan work that suits your features instead of overpowering them. This reflects the reason we built our practice the way we did — cosmetic dentistry and facial aesthetics coordinated under one roof, with one plan, rather than separate providers each solving one piece in isolation.
The design becomes the blueprint for whatever treatment follows. That might be porcelain veneers, composite veneers, clear aligners, teeth whitening, a full smile makeover, or implant-supported restorations such as All-on-4 or All-on-6. Some plans combine several of these in sequence. Because the endpoint is decided first, each step is working toward a defined result instead of being improvised along the way.
We can also plan facial aesthetics alongside the dental work when that's appropriate. With Sarah Garces, NP-C handling facial balancing and Darian Anderson, DDS leading cosmetic dentistry, neurotoxins, dermal fillers, or microneedling can be considered as part of the same conversation rather than an afterthought at a different office. Monica Kieu, D.O., FACS serves as our Medical Director.
Who It's For and What You Gain
Digital Smile Design suits a wide range of situations. People come to us wanting to close spaces, even out worn or chipped edges, brighten discolored teeth, correct crowding, or replace older dental work that no longer matches. Others are considering full-arch implant treatment and want to understand tooth shape and position before anything is finalized. If you're weighing a significant cosmetic investment and want clarity first, you're a reasonable candidate.
- See before you commit — review a proposed result on your own face rather than imagining it
- Give real input — ask for longer, shorter, brighter, or more natural and see the change
- Fewer surprises — the design is agreed on before treatment begins
- Whole-face planning — teeth designed in relation to lips, proportions, and expression
- A clear roadmap — you know which treatments are involved and in what order
Not everyone is ready to proceed immediately, and that's fine. Existing decay, gum health concerns, or bite issues may need attention first, and bone grafting is sometimes part of preparing for implant treatment. We'll tell you plainly what has to come first.
The Process and What Follows
Your first visit is a complimentary consultation. We talk through what bothers you, what you like about your smile already, and what you want from treatment. We gather photos, video, and scans, then design and present your proposed smile. You review it with us, ask for adjustments, and we revise until it genuinely reflects what you want. Only then do we outline the treatment steps, sequence, and timeline.
Aftercare depends on the treatments chosen. Veneers and restorations benefit from consistent brushing and flossing, regular cleanings, and care with habits like nail biting or chewing ice; a nightguard may be recommended if you grind. Aligners require wearing them as directed and using retainers afterward to hold the result. Whitening results last longer with touch-ups and attention to staining foods and drinks. We'll give you instructions specific to your plan and stay available for follow-up.
Getting Started from Solana Beach
We're a fee-for-service, out-of-network practice and don't bill insurance, which keeps our recommendations based on your goals rather than plan restrictions. We accept self-pay and cash patients, and we offer financing through Cherry so larger treatment plans can be spread over time. We'll review costs in full before you commit to anything.
Solana Beach patients often come to us after piecing together care across several offices. Consolidating that into one coordinated plan saves trips and produces a more cohesive result. Reach out to schedule your complimentary consultation and see your smile designed before treatment begins.