Dr. Wes Prepchuk handles the cosmetic work at Midpark Dental. He has completed thousands of crowns and fillings and more than 200 clear aligner cases over the past decade, is certified in laser dentistry, and plans cases using the iTero scanner we have on site, so you can see the proposed result before anything is prepared.

Cosmetic treatment starts with an examination, not a shade chart. Work placed over untreated decay or active gum disease fails, so we assess what is underneath first. You leave with a written plan priced against the Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide.

Cosmetic dentistry changes the colour, shape, size, and apparent alignment of your teeth. Most plans combine two or three treatments, because what patients dislike about their smile is rarely one tooth.

Realistic outcomes:

• Teeth several shades lighter
• Chips, worn edges, and small gaps closed
• Uneven or misshapen teeth reshaped
• Discoloured single teeth brought back into line with the rest
• A smile line that looks even when you smile fully

What it does not do: cosmetic treatment does not fix gum disease, decay, or a bite problem. It also does not move teeth. If your teeth are genuinely crooked, clear aligners move them and remove no enamel, which is almost always the better answer than covering them up.

Every plan starts with an examination and X-rays, for two reasons that both save you money.

First, veneers, crowns, and bonding placed over decay or active gum disease fail. The restoration loosens, the margin leaks, or the gum recedes and exposes the edge. Correcting that costs more than treating the underlying problem would have.

Second, some of what patients want changed is not a cosmetic problem. Worn front edges are usually a grinding problem, and a night guard is part of the answer. Teeth that look too long are often gum recession. Treating the cause produces a result that lasts.

Zoom is an in-office system that uses a stronger peroxide gel than anything sold over the counter, activated by a light, in a single appointment. It lifts staining from coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco that strips and toothpastes cannot reach.

We also offer Beam take-home trays, and the Beam gel is peroxide-free, which suits patients whose teeth are sensitive.

One thing to know before booking: whitening only works on natural enamel. Existing crowns, veneers, and white fillings keep their original shade, so if you have visible restorations on your front teeth they may need replacing afterwards to match. We will tell you at the consultation whether that applies to you.

Tooth-coloured composite resin is shaped directly onto the tooth and hardened with a curing light, repairing chips and closing small gaps in a single visit. Bonding removes little or no healthy enamel, which makes it the most conservative cosmetic option available. It stains and chips more readily than porcelain, so it suits smaller corrections.

Porcelain veneers are thin shells bonded to the front of the teeth to change shape, colour, and alignment. Placing them usually means removing a thin layer of enamel first, and enamel does not grow back, so a veneer commits that tooth to being veneered permanently. For the right case that is a reasonable trade. For the wrong one it is an expensive, irreversible answer to something bonding or whitening would have solved.

A crown caps a tooth that has lost too much structure to hold a filling, restoring both appearance and full chewing strength. All-ceramic crowns give the best appearance on front teeth; porcelain-fused-to-metal is used where durability matters most. We will usually talk you out of crowning a healthy tooth for appearance alone, because a crown reduces the whole tooth while a veneer or bonding achieves the same look with far less removed.

Where the problem is position rather than shape or colour, Invisalign moves the teeth rather than disguising them. Dr. Prepchuk is a certified Invisalign provider with more than 200 aligner cases. Straightening first often means fewer veneers afterwards, or none at all.

Alberta has the highest dental fees in Canada, and most clinics will not quote a cosmetic case until you are in the chair. We follow the Alberta Dental Association Fee Guide, a public schedule setting a standard price for every procedure in the province, so every part of your plan is priced against something you can check.

Cosmetic treatment is rarely covered by insurance, so you will usually be paying out of pocket. You get a written plan with the full cost before any work starts, and payment plans are available for larger cases.

How long does teeth whitening last?

In-office whitening typically holds for one to three years. Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking shorten it considerably. Take-home trays extend it.

Do veneers ruin your teeth?

Veneers do not damage a healthy tooth, but placing porcelain veneers removes a thin layer of enamel permanently. That tooth will need a veneer or crown from then on. It is a commitment rather than a risk, and it is why we discuss bonding, whitening, and aligners first.

Is cosmetic dentistry covered by insurance?

Usually not. Most Alberta plans exclude purely cosmetic treatment, though work that also restores function, such as a crown on a broken tooth, is often partly covered. We submit a predetermination so you know before you commit.

Veneers or Invisalign?

If the problem is the position of your teeth, Invisalign is the better answer because it moves them and removes no enamel. If the problem is shape, colour, or wear, veneers address what aligners cannot. Some plans do both: straighten first, then veneer fewer teeth.

Can I whiten teeth that have crowns or fillings?

Whitening only affects natural enamel. Crowns, veneers, and composite fillings keep their original shade, so visible restorations may need replacing afterwards to match.

How long does a smile makeover take?

Whitening is one appointment. Bonding and Componeers are usually one. Porcelain veneers and crowns take two to three appointments over a few weeks. Aligners run 12 to 18 months. A combined plan is sequenced so the slowest treatment starts first.

I do not know what I want changed. Is that a problem?

No, and it is normal. Most people can say what they dislike without knowing the fix. Dr. Prepchuk will tell you what is achievable, what it costs, and what he would not bother doing.

Book a cosmetic consultation at Midpark Dental by calling (403) 201-7999 or booking online. We are at 201-239 Midpark Way SE, open from 7:00 am until 8:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 8:00 am to 3:00 pm Friday. New patients are welcome, no referral is needed, and parking is free.