Choosing the Best Cosmetic Dentist for Digital Smile Design: Key Factors to Consider

Find out how to choose the best cosmetic dentist for Digital Smile Design, ensuring a personalized, precise, and natural-looking smile transformation.

In a June 2024 article, Dentistry IQ cited data from a survey showing that 56% of polled American social media users hid their smiles in photos. Over half also admitted to comparing their teeth to others on social media. 

If you've done the same because something about your smile makes you feel less confident, know that the best cosmetic dentist specializing in Digital Smile Design (DSD) can help. Through DSD, they can give you a preview of your perfect smile without performing any procedure yet. You'll have a sneak peek of the marvelous transformation beforehand, allowing you to make a more informed choice regarding your smile makeover plan. 



However, not all dentists offer DSD, so it pays to know more about the best cosmetic dentist criteria. Our team at SoHo Dental Group, our dental office serving New York, has shared insights in this cosmetic dentist selection guide, so please read on.

Location of the Cosmetic Dentist Specializing in DSD

A highly skilled cosmetic dentist can complete multiple procedures to achieve the results shown in your DSD within just one day, such as: 

• Teeth whitening
• Dental bonding
• Veneers

However, if you also need and want a straighter smile, you'd need to undergo teeth alignment, such as through the Invisalign system. Yes, Invisalign requires fewer visits to your cosmetic dentist than traditional braces. However, you still need to go for checkups every six to eight weeks. 



So, consider location when choosing a Smile Design dentist. Pick one near your home, work, or office, as their proximity can help you adhere to your cosmetic dentistry treatment plan. 

To create your Digital Smile Design, a cosmetic dentist will request a digital copy of your current smile. You can send this online without going to the clinic in person. 

The dentist will invite you for a consultation after creating a digital representation of your future perfect smile. During the consultation, you should: 

• See your Digital Smile Design in person
• Learn about the treatments needed to achieve the DSD's intended transformation
• Get a comprehensive oral examination 
• Undergo X-rays 



All those steps would usually cost money, but if you research your options well, you should be able to find a highly skilled cosmetic dentist who will perform them for free.

Treatments the Dentist Specializes In

From stained teeth to gapped smiles and crooked pearly whites, there are one or more cosmetic dentistry services that can help address these problems. However, not every cosmetic dentist offers or specializes in all of them, which could be an issue if you need multiple treatments to achieve the projected outcome of your Digital Smile Design.

Ideally, you want everything done under one roof; otherwise, you'll have to keep switching between dental offices, which could be a hassle.

The exact treatments you'd need depends on your smile makeover goals, but at the very least, you should choose a dentist offering the following.

Teeth Whitening

Caffeinated drinks, some of the popular beverages in the U.S., are also leading causes of tooth stains. As the Sleep Foundation points out, almost all polled American adults(94%) drink:

• Coffee
• Soda
• Tea

Over time, those drinks can stain teeth yellow, even brown. They're also stubborn stains that brushing alone won't remove.

However, your cosmetic dentist can quickly eliminate them through professional treatments such as KöR teeth whitening.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is a quick and affordable way to correct minor gaps between teeth. In this case, your dentist will bond tooth-colored resin materials to bridge the minor but noticeable spaces, giving you a fuller, more dazzling smile. 

Dental bonding can also help with minor cases of: 

• Tooth chips, cracks, or fractures 
• Irregular-shaped teeth
• Tooth lengthening for teeth shorter than the rest
• Exposed tooth roots

Dental Veneers 

Do you have a chipped or cracked tooth that dental bonding cannot sufficiently fix? If so, you can opt for dental veneers.

Veneers are thin, shell-like structures dentists use to cover the visible surfaces of teeth. They can also help camouflage stubborn, more extensive stains that professional tooth whitening cannot remove. 

Gum Contouring 

According to the NIH MedlinePlus, almost half of American adults 30 and older have some degree of periodontal (gum) disease.

Gum recession is one of the most telltale symptoms and complications of periodontal disease. It occurs when the gums pull away or downward from the teeth.

If you have active gum disease, your dentist must first treat it with periodontal treatment. Then, they can proceed with gum contouring. 

Gum contouring can help: 

• Restore gums that have receded
• Remove excess gum tissue 
• Create a more uniform gum line

Teeth Straightening or Bite Alignment 

Teeth crookedness and bite misalignment (e.g., when your upper teeth don't meet your lower teeth when you bite down) fall under "dental malocclusions." They're more than just a cosmetic issue; they can cause or contribute to many complications, such as:

• Tooth erosion
• Gum injury
• Gum recession
• Difficulty chewing
• Possible malnutrition
• Jaw pain

The good news is that you can have straighter teeth and a healthier bite through Invisalign treatment. It involves wearing removable clear aligners, which, like traditional braces, can help correct teeth placement and jaw misalignment. As a result, it can also help minimize your risks of developing the above complications.

Invisalign can also bridge more extensive gaps between teeth. While dental bonding can yield the same results, it's best for minor spaces between the front teeth. On the other hand, Invisalign closes gaps by moving the teeth to more ideal locations.



Your cosmetic dentist may also recommend Invisalign for crowded teeth.

Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist at SoHo Dental Group

To find the best cosmetic dentist for your Digital Smile Design, search for one near you who offers free comprehensive consultation and specializes in all the treatments needed to achieve your future perfect smile. Consider these factors for cosmetic dentist selection, and you'll be closer to achieving a healthier, more beautiful smile.

If you're in New York, the SoHo Dental Group can help! Our compassionate dentists and professional staff have decades of combined experience helping our patients enjoy healthy, beautiful smiles through our preventative, general, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry services.



We encourage you to call us today regarding your DSD concerns. We'll happily provide a free consultation to discuss how we can help you reach your treatment goals.