Smile Design & Smile Makeovers in Hillsboro

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Smile Design & Smile Makeovers in Hillsboro

A smile makeover at East Wind Dental Care is not one procedure. It’s a sequenced plan: photographs, a digital wax-up preview on the iTero scanner, and then a coordinated combination of whitening, Invisalign, veneers, bonding, or gum recontouring with the Waterlase laser. The work is sequenced so each step protects the next. To talk through what your smile actually needs, call (503) 614-0198.

In our 19 years on Shaleen Street, the most common comment from new smile-design patients is some version of “I want it to look like I just have nice teeth — not like I had work done.” That’s the goal of every plan we build: proportions, shade, and gum line that fit your face, not a template.

How the Smile Design Process Works at Our Office

Most smile-design plans start with a 60-minute consultation. Dr. Ostovar takes a series of photographs (full face at rest, full smile, profile, retracted close-ups), runs an iTero 3D scan of your existing teeth, and walks you through what’s possible with each treatment combination. You leave with a written plan and cost estimate before any tooth is prepped.

For Intel and Nike WHQ patients commuting from Ronler Acres, Jones Farm, or the Cornell Road campus, we usually book the consultation in a Tuesday 7am or Thursday lunch slot — those tend to be the easiest to schedule around standup meetings.

What Happens at the Consultation

Three things get done at the consultation appointment:

1. Clinical exam — we check for active decay, gum disease, bite issues, and existing restorations. Smile design on top of unresolved disease produces unstable results, so any of those get treated first.
2. Digital scan and photo series — the iTero 3D scan plus standardized photography form the basis of the digital smile design preview.
3. Goals conversation — Dr. Ostovar asks what specifically bothers you (color, gap, chip, length, gum line, crowding) and what your ideal looks like. Patients who bring reference photos help this go faster.

What Digital Smile Design Actually Shows You

Digital Smile Design (DSD) is a software workflow that overlays a proposed restoration onto your photographs and 3D scan. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recommends this for any multi-tooth cosmetic case because it locks down decisions about tooth length, midline, gum line, and shade before a single tooth is prepped.

Practically, this means you’ll see a side-by-side: current smile photo, projected smile photo, and a 3D animation showing how the bite changes. For veneer cases, we also fabricate a try-in mock-up in temporary material — you wear the proposed shape for a few days, give feedback, and we refine before the lab cuts the porcelain. That’s the part that keeps “I don’t love it” from happening at the bonding visit.

Treatments We Combine in a Smile Design

Most smile designs blend two to four of these. Single-treatment plans (whitening only, one bonded chip) we don’t usually call “smile design” — they’re just that one treatment.

1. Professional whitening — ZOOM in-office whitening lamp for one-visit lift, or take-home Opalescence trays for gradual change. We almost always whiten first so veneer and bonding shades match the brighter natural teeth, not the original.
2. Porcelain veneers — IPS e.max or layered porcelain veneers for the upper front 4–10 teeth. Most full smile designs use 6 or 8 (the “social six” or full upper arch). $1,100–$2,500 per veneer as of 2026.
3. Invisalign — when teeth are crowded or rotated, we usually do Invisalign first. Veneers can mask mild crowding, but moving teeth into proper position produces a more durable result than masking it.
4. Composite bonding — for chips, small gaps, or single-tooth color correction. $250–$600 per tooth, single visit. Often used as a budget alternative to one or two veneers.
5. Gum contouring with Waterlase — diode laser reshaping for uneven gum heights or a gummy smile. Local anesthesia, 30–60 minutes, immediate result. The gum line frames every tooth, so this often makes the difference between “OK” and “great.”
6. Crowns — when an anchor tooth has been root-canaled, has a large old filling, or is structurally compromised, a crown is more durable than a veneer for that one tooth.

For missing teeth in the smile zone, dental implants usually need to happen before any cosmetic veneer work — the implant placement and integration timeline (4–6 months) doesn’t compress.

What Patients Tell Us About the Experience

Most patients tell us the part that surprised them was the time spent on planning. The first appointment is mostly conversation, photos, and looking at the digital preview together. The actual prep visit is the second appointment. By the time we’re prepping teeth, every decision about shape, color, and proportion is already made.

Sedation options are available for patients who get anxious about long appointments — nitrous oxide for mild anxiety, oral conscious sedation for veneer prep visits if you’d rather sleep through them.

What Makes a Smile Look Natural vs. “Done”

Four design decisions separate work that disappears into the face from work that announces itself.

Tooth Proportion

Upper central incisors should be about 75–80% as wide as they are long. Lateral incisors are slightly narrower than centrals. Canines roughly match laterals in width. When these proportions get ignored — most often by making every tooth the same length and shape — the smile reads as a row of tiles. Dr. Ostovar maps tooth-to-tooth proportions for every veneer case before the lab cuts a single restoration.

Internal Color Variation

Real enamel isn’t one flat shade. It’s slightly more opaque near the gum line, more translucent at the biting edge, with subtle internal color shifts. Cheap restorations that come back from a budget lab as one solid bright white stand out against the rest of the face at conversation distance. We use a ceramist who hand-layers porcelain — costs more per veneer, but the result actually looks like a tooth.

Gum Architecture

The gum line frames every tooth. Uneven gum heights or excess gum display undercut even excellent veneer work. We evaluate gum symmetry as part of every smile design, and recontour with the Waterlase laser when needed.

Bite Function

Cosmetic restorations that look great but interfere with the bite chip, crack, or trigger jaw pain over a few years. Every smile design here includes occlusion verification with articulating paper, lateral excursion checks, and a custom night guard when grinding history or muscle tension suggests it.

What’s Used in Our Office

CEREC mill in-house for same-day single-tooth restorations, iTero scanner for digital impressions and Invisalign planning, Waterlase diode laser for gum recontouring, and a long-term lab partnership for hand-layered porcelain veneers. The CEREC works for single-tooth fixes; multi-tooth smile designs we still send to the lab because hand-layered porcelain produces a more lifelike result across a full arch.

How to Maintain a Smile Design

The investment lasts longer with a few habits. Brush twice daily, floss once daily, and book a cleaning every 6 months — we check veneer margins each visit. Wear the night guard if we made you one. Avoid using your front teeth as tools (opening packages, biting nails, ice chewing) — those are the most common cause of veneer fracture in the first 5 years. Heavy coffee or red wine doesn’t stain the porcelain itself, but the bonding cement at the margin can darken over time, so rinse with water after dark drinks.

Veneers and bonding both have a finite lifespan. Veneers typically last 10–20 years; bonding 5–10. We replace individual restorations as needed without redoing the whole smile.

Real Patient Results

The clearest way to evaluate smile design work is to see actual patient before-and-afters. Our Smile Gallery features cases from East Wind Dental Care patients — veneers, full smile makeovers, Invisalign-then-veneers combinations, and bonding-only cases. Patients are welcome to bring gallery photos to the consultation and say “I want something like this.” That’s exactly what the gallery is for.

Why Patients Choose Our Office for Smile Design

Three reasons we hear repeatedly:

1. Design before drilling. Most patients tell us they were surprised how much time we spent on planning before any tooth was prepped. That’s intentional — every decision about shape, length, and color is locked in before the bonding visit.
2. Honest tradeoffs. Veneers are irreversible — once we prep the tooth there’s no going back to bonding. For minor changes, we usually recommend bonding first. For severe crowding, Invisalign before veneers. We won’t sell veneers to a patient who’d be better served by something else.
3. One office, all phases. Whitening, Invisalign, gum contouring, veneers, crowns — all done in our Hillsboro office at 7546 NE Shaleen St. No referrals out for the cosmetic work itself, except for endodontics or periodontal surgery when those are needed first.

What Does Smile Design Cost in Hillsboro?

Smile design is a customized process, and pricing varies significantly based on which procedures are included in your treatment plan. During your consultation at our Hillsboro office, we provide a detailed written estimate before any work begins. Here’s what patients typically invest:

Common smile design procedure costs:

• Professional teeth whitening (Zoom or take-home): $400–$700
• Porcelain veneer (per tooth): $1,200–$1,800 — most smile designs involve 6–10 upper front teeth
• Composite bonding (per tooth): $350–$600 — often used for minor repairs or as a lower-cost alternative to veneers
• Invisalign (full treatment): $4,500–$6,500 — often combined with whitening for a complete transformation
• Gum contouring (laser reshaping): $200–$600 per area
• Dental crown (for broken or discolored anchor teeth): $1,200–$1,800 per tooth
• Full smile design (8 veneers + whitening): $10,000–$16,000 — the most common full-arch combination plan

Insurance and financing:
Most cosmetic smile design procedures are considered elective and are not covered by dental insurance. However, if underlying dental problems (decay, fractures, gum disease) are corrected as part of the treatment, those components may qualify for coverage.

Our VIP Membership Plan ($299/year adults) includes your consultation, X-rays, and 15% off all smile design treatment. CareCredit and Cherry financing offer 0% interest for 12–24 months on approved credit, which puts a full smile design in the $400–$1,200 per month range with no interest.

Patients from the Orenco Station, Intel campus, and Nike WHQ areas often tell us they waited years to pursue smile design because they assumed it was unaffordable. A consultation at (503) 614-0198 will clarify exactly what your options cost — and most patients are pleasantly surprised.

Am I a Good Candidate for Smile Design?

Smile design is appropriate for a wide range of patients, but the best candidates share some common characteristics. During your consultation, we evaluate whether now is the right time to proceed or whether preparatory treatment should come first.

Ideal smile design candidates typically:

• Have completed major restorative work (cavities filled, gum disease treated, damaged teeth addressed)
• Have stable oral health — no active infection or significant bone loss
• Have realistic expectations — smile design improves appearance dramatically but works within natural dental anatomy
• Are non-smokers, or committed to quitting before and after treatment (smoking stains veneers and compromises gum healing)
• Understand that veneers and bonding require some maintenance and replacement over time (typically 10–20 years)

Common concerns we address before or during smile design:

• Teeth grinding (bruxism): A nightguard protects veneer and bonding investments; we often recommend one alongside any smile design
• Gum recession: Exposed root surfaces change color differently than enamel; addressing recession before veneers ensures a consistent result
• Active orthodontic treatment: Smile design works best after teeth are in their final positions
• Severe misalignment: For significant bite issues, orthodontics before veneers produces more predictable long-term results

Timeline expectations:

• Teeth whitening only: 1–2 appointments over 2–4 weeks
• Composite bonding: Usually completed in 1–2 appointments
• Porcelain veneers: Typically 3 appointments over 3–4 weeks (consultation, preparation and temporaries, final placement)
• Full smile design with Invisalign: 12–18 months for orthodontic phase, followed by veneer or whitening procedures

The most important first step is a conversation. Many patients come in thinking they need an extensive treatment plan and leave with a much simpler solution — and vice versa. Call (503) 614-0198 or visit our office at 7546 NE Shaleen St, Hillsboro, OR 97124 to explore your options with Dr. Ostovar.

Related Services at East Wind Dental Care

• Cosmetic Dentistry — Cosmetic services available at East Wind
• Porcelain Veneers — Porcelain veneers for dramatic smile change
• Teeth Whitening — Whitening as part of a smile redesign
• Invisalign — Clear aligners to align teeth before cosmetic work
• Cosmetic Bonding — Bonding for minor smile improvements
• Gummy Smile Treatment — Gum reshaping for symmetry

Areas We Serve

East Wind Dental Care welcomes patients from across Washington County and the west Portland metro area: Hillsboro, Orenco Station, Tanasbourne, Aloha, Beaverton, South Hillsboro, Rock Creek, AmberGlen, Cornelius, Forest Grove, North Plains, and Banks.

Smile Design in Hillsboro — Quick Reference Facts

• Cost: Full smile design with 8 veneers ranges $10,000–$16,000 (2026); smaller plans: whitening only $350–$700, bonding $250–$600/tooth, Invisalign $4,500–$6,500; gum contouring $300–$1,500
• Insurance: Dental insurance rarely covers cosmetic procedures; restorative components (crowns for structurally compromised teeth) may qualify for partial coverage
• Duration: Whitening: 1–3 appointments (2–4 weeks); bonding: 1–2 appointments; veneers: 3 appointments over 3–4 weeks; Invisalign + veneers: 12–18 month orthodontic phase plus 3–4 week veneer phase
• Candidacy: Best for patients with completed restorative work, stable oral health, realistic expectations, and commitment to maintaining results; grinding patients require custom night guard
• Technology: iTero 3D scanner for digital impressions, Digital Smile Design (DSD) software for photo-overlay previews, CEREC mill for same-day single restorations, Waterlase diode laser for gum contouring
• What to Expect: 60-minute consultation includes photos, digital scan, and 3D preview; try-in mock-up for veneer cases so you approve shape and color before lab fabrication; written cost estimate before any tooth prep
• Recovery: Whitening: 24–48 hours sensitivity; bonding: no downtime, immediate function; veneers: 1–2 days mild sensitivity after prep, immediate function after final bonding appointment
• Reversibility: Whitening and bonding are reversible; Invisalign reverses without retainer wear; traditional veneers (0.5mm enamel removal) are NOT reversible — tooth will always need a veneer or crown afterward
• Financing: CareCredit and Cherry offer 0% interest for 12–24 months on approved credit; VIP Membership ($299/year adults) includes 15% off all treatment; Sunbit instant approval for patients who need smaller monthly payments
• Provider: Dr. Merat Ostovar, DMD, FAGD — Fellowship in Academy of General Dentistry (held by fewer than 7% of general dentists in the U.S.); 19 years serving Hillsboro since 2006; designs each case around facial proportions, not templates
• Location: 7546 NE Shaleen St, Hillsboro, OR 97124 — early morning (Tue 7am) and Thursday lunch slots available for Intel Ronler Acres, Jones Farm, and Nike WHQ professionals
• Digital Preview: DSD software overlays proposed restoration onto your photos before any tooth prep — locks down decisions on length, midline, gum line, and shade first
• Maintenance: Non-abrasive toothpaste, floss daily, 6-month cleanings, night guard if prescribed; veneers last 10–20 years, bonding 5–10 years with proper care
• Phone: (503) 614-0198 — 7546 NE Shaleen St, Hillsboro, OR 97124

Frequently Asked Questions — Smile Design in Hillsboro

How much does a smile makeover cost in Hillsboro?

A typical 8-veneer smile design runs $10,000 to $16,000 as of 2026. Smaller plans cost less: whitening only $350–$700, composite bonding $250–$600 per tooth, Invisalign $4,500–$6,500, gum contouring $300–$1,500. Most full makeovers combine 2–4 of those. VIP Membership ($299/year adults) gives 15% off, and CareCredit and Cherry financing offer 0% interest for 12–24 months on approved credit.

What does a digital smile design preview look like?

Three things: a side-by-side of your current smile photo and the projected smile photo, a 3D animation of the bite changes, and for veneer cases a try-in mock-up in temporary material that you wear for a few days. The mock-up is the most useful piece — you give feedback on shape and length before we send the case to the lab.

Is a smile makeover the same as full mouth reconstruction?

No. A smile makeover is cosmetic — improving the appearance of teeth that are already functional. Full mouth reconstruction rebuilds bite function in patients with severe wear, missing teeth, TMJ dysfunction, or collapsed vertical dimension. The two overlap, but if your bite works and your teeth are healthy, you don’t need full reconstruction.

How long does a complete smile design take from start to finish?

Whitening-only plans wrap in 2–4 weeks. Composite bonding is usually 1–2 appointments. Porcelain veneers typically run 3 appointments over 3–4 weeks. When Invisalign is part of the plan, the orthodontic phase adds 12–18 months before any veneer or whitening work begins.

Can financing cover a full smile makeover in Oregon?

Yes. CareCredit and Cherry both offer 0% interest options for 12–24 months on approved credit, which lands a $10,000–$16,000 veneer plan at $400–$1,200 per month with no interest. Dental insurance generally won’t cover purely cosmetic work, but we flag any components (a crown on a structurally compromised tooth, for example) that may qualify for partial restorative coverage.

What treatments are typically combined in a smile design?

Most smile designs combine 2–4 of these: ZOOM whitening or take-home Opalescence trays, IPS e.max porcelain veneers (usually 6–8 upper teeth), Invisalign, composite bonding for chips and small gaps, Waterlase laser gum contouring for uneven gum heights, and crowns for structurally compromised anchor teeth.

Are smile design results reversible?

Whitening and bonding are reversible (no enamel removed). Invisalign reverses if you stop wearing retainers, though teeth drift back. Traditional porcelain veneers are not reversible — about 0.5mm of enamel is removed during prep, so the tooth will always need a veneer or crown afterward. No-prep veneers are theoretically reversible.

Do I need to be a candidate for veneers to get a smile design?

No. Plenty of smile designs use whitening, bonding, Invisalign, and gum contouring without veneers. Veneers are one option — for deep stains, irregular shape, or short worn edges, they’re often the right call. For minor concerns we usually recommend bonding first because it’s reversible. The consultation determines what fits.

Ready for your consultation?

Call our Hillsboro office at (503) 614-0198 or schedule online.

Schedule Your Consultation

From Our Dental Library

• Veneers vs. Dental Bonding: Which Is Right for Your Smile? — How to choose between porcelain veneers and composite bonding for your smile transformation in Hillsboro.
• How Long Do Veneers Last? — What Hillsboro patients can expect from porcelain veneers over time, including maintenance tips.
• Comparing Porcelain Veneers and Lumineers: Which Is the Better Fit? — A practical guide to the key differences between traditional porcelain veneers and no-prep Lumineers, with guidance on which suits different smile goals.

Reviewed by Dr. Merat Ostovar, DMD, FAGD | East Wind Dental Care, Hillsboro, OR | Last medically reviewed: 2026-05-05 | Book a consultation

> Dr. Ostovar leads East Wind Dental Care in Hillsboro, which has served the community since 2006. He holds Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD), a credential held by fewer than 7% of general dentists in the U.S.

Written by Dr. Merat Ostovar, DMD

Doctor of Dental Medicine | 15+ Years Experience

Last updated: May 14, 2026