How to Choose a Cosmetic Dentist in Vancouver: What to Ask Before Veneers, Whitening or Invisalign
Updated: Oct 8
Choose a cosmetic dentist by what they will show you, how much of your tooth they will remove, and whether they will ever talk you out of treatment. A cosmetic dentist is a licensed dentist who does a lot of appearance work, and in Canada the title is not a recognized specialty, so it tells you nothing about training.
A search for the best cosmetic dentist in Vancouver turns up clinics that each say they are. Nobody can honestly rank them for you. What you can do is ask the same questions at each one and compare the answers.
Below are those questions, a checklist to take with you, and what a good answer and a poor one sound like. They apply to any clinic, ours included.
The short version
• A cosmetic dentist is a licensed dentist who does appearance work. Cosmetic dentistry is not one of Canada's recognized dental specialties, which include orthodontics and prosthodontics.
• Ask to see cases like yours, how much enamel will be removed, and whether you can preview the result before any enamel is removed.
• Get the plan, the materials and the cost in writing before treatment starts.
• A good dentist will sometimes suggest whitening, bonding or straightening first. Be wary of one who recommends veneers for every smile.
Written by Dr. Gloria Jung, DDS, BSc, at Lux Dental in downtown Vancouver. Reviewed on 2 October 2026 against the American Dental Association, the National Dental Examining Board of Canada and Lux Dental's own treatment pages, listed at the end of this post.
Is a cosmetic dentist a specialist in Canada?
No. Canada's recognized dental specialties include orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics and oral and maxillofacial surgery. Cosmetic dentistry is not one of them, as the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's list of specialties shows.
The title describes what a dentist chooses to do, not a qualification they hold. I am a general dentist, and cosmetic work is part of what I do.
Two things are worth checking. The first is that the dentist is licensed and in good standing, which you can look up on the public register kept by the BC College of Oral Health Professionals. The second is whether your case needs a specialist at all. Moving teeth is orthodontics, and rebuilding worn or missing teeth can be prosthodontics. An honest general dentist will tell you which you need and refer you.
What should you ask a cosmetic dentist?
Eight things, and the same eight at every clinic. The card is the short version. The table beneath it says what a good answer sounds like and what should make you pause.
The same eight questions are written out in the table below.
Ask | Good answer | Red flag |
Can I see cases like mine? | Yes, and they started like yours | "Our work speaks for itself." |
How much tooth will you remove? | A number and a reason | "Just a little." No number |
Who will do the work? | A name and their training | "The team will see to it." |
Can I preview it first? | A design I can change | "You will see it when done." |
Which material and lab? | Names, and why | "Only the best." No names |
Is the plan in writing? | Teeth, visits and cost | A price good today only |
What if it chips? | Repair terms and who pays | "That rarely happens." |
Will you check gums and bite? | Yes, before the shade | Only the shade comes up |
Take the table with you and write the answers down. A clinic that is comfortable being compared will not mind.
Can you see before-and-after photos of real cases?
Yes, and you should ask. Ask for cases that began where your teeth begin, because a gallery of ideal smiles shows what is possible and a similar case shows what to expect.
Two checks help. Make sure the photos are the work of the dentist you will see, because images supplied by a lab or a manufacturer show a product, not a dentist. And ask how long ago each case was finished. A result photographed on the day tells you less than one photographed years later, since the American Dental Association notes that a veneer may chip, crack, wear down or loosen over time.
Our MINISH page labels its before-and-after cases by type, so you can find the one closest to yours.
How much tooth will a cosmetic dentist remove?
It depends on the treatment, and it is the question I would ask first, because enamel does not grow back. The American Dental Association says veneer treatment is not reversible for that reason: enamel is removed to place a veneer.
The diagram runs from least removal to most. The table beneath it is the same information in words.
The same comparison is written out in the table below.
Treatment | Enamel removed |
Whitening | None. It lifts stain and does not thin the enamel |
Composite bonding | Little to none. The material is built onto the tooth |
Minimal-prep or no-prep veneer | Much less than a traditional veneer, often a light polish |
Traditional porcelain veneer | About 0.5 to 0.7 mm, usually under local anesthesia |
The 0.5 to 0.7 mm figure comes from our MINISH veneer page, which describes MINISH veneers as prepless to very subtle polishing. Figures for the same treatment vary by technique and by dentist, so treat that number as one clinic's, not a rule, and ask for the figure in your own case.
Less removal is not automatically better. A 2022 paper on no-prep veneers notes that protruding, shifted or severely crowded teeth may sometimes need orthodontic treatment as well. So the honest answer to how much tooth is the plan for your teeth, not a promise made before the exam.
Should it be veneers, whitening, bonding or Invisalign?
Whichever is smallest and still solves the problem you actually have. The right answer is often smaller than the one you came in asking for.
What bothers you | What I would look at first |
Stained or yellow teeth | Whitening, which removes no enamel |
A small chip or gap | Composite bonding, usually one appointment |
Crowded or crooked teeth | Straightening, such as Invisalign, before veneers |
Worn, short or uneven teeth | A bite and grinding check first |
Shape, size and colour together | Porcelain veneers, 2 to 3 appointments |
Whitening comes first when veneers or bonding are planned. Our whitening page explains why: restorations are colour-matched to your natural teeth and cannot be lightened afterwards. Zoom whitening takes about an hour, in one visit.
Straightening comes first when the real issue is position. The American Dental Association says veneers may not be a good choice if you clench or grind your teeth or have a deep overbite. If an overbite is the question, our post on whether Invisalign can fix an overbite explains what aligners can and cannot do, and our Invisalign page covers treatment here.
Bonding suits a small chip or gap and is usually finished in one appointment. Our comparison of porcelain veneers and composite bonding goes through the trade-offs, and our veneers page shows how the process runs.
"But Dr. Jung, I came in asking for veneers." Then I will tell you plainly whether they suit your teeth. If they do, we plan them. If a smaller step gets you what you want, you keep your enamel.
Want to go through this list with a dentist?
Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, at 1631 Davie Street.
What should a written treatment plan include?
Six things: the teeth being treated, the treatment and material, the number of visits, the total cost, what is not included, and what happens if the work needs repair. If one is missing, ask for it before you agree.
Ask how long it will take, too. On our pages, Zoom whitening is about an hour in one visit, composite bonding is usually one appointment, porcelain veneers take 2 to 3 appointments, and MINISH is usually two visits over 2 to 4 weeks.
A good answer on materials names them. On our MINISH page, for example, the restorations are digitally designed and milled in house from VITA ceramic made in Germany. A promise of the best porcelain is not an answer.
How much does cosmetic dentistry cost, and will insurance cover it?
It varies by treatment, by dentist and by lab, so a clinic that quotes one price before examining you is guessing. I will not give a figure here for the same reason.
BC dentists set their own fees. The BC Dental Association publishes a suggested fee guide that dentists may follow or not, as our fee guide page explains. The same page notes that lab-made work is not listed as a single professional fee, because lab costs vary with the case.
Insurance is a separate question. The American Dental Association notes that veneers are considered cosmetic, so a plan may not cover them unless the work is deemed medically necessary. Our veneers page says many plans pay part when veneers repair chips or cracks. Ask for the estimate in writing, then check it with your insurer before you book.
Compare our answers with anyone else's.
How do you read Google reviews for cosmetic work?
For the treatment, not the star rating. A 4.9 tells you patients felt looked after. It cannot tell you whether a veneer still looks right in a few years.
Google also lists the topics reviewers mention on a clinic's profile, and that list is the quicker read. At the time of writing, the topics on Lux Dental's profile were kind staff 22, welcoming atmosphere 15, knowledgeable dentist 12, clean clinic 8, Invisalign 5, veneers 2 and cost explanation 2.
Read that list for what it does and does not say. Patients mostly write about kind people and a calm room, which tells you about a visit more than about results. If cosmetic results are what you are buying, ask to see cases, and look for reviews that name the treatment you want. Do the same for any clinic you consider, ours included.
What are the red flags when choosing a cosmetic dentist?
Six, mostly about how you are spoken to:
You are asked to decide in the chair, or told a price is only good today.
Veneers are recommended to everyone, or before anything smaller has been discussed.
Nobody can say how much tooth will be removed.
There are no cases like yours, or the photos are not the dentist's own.
The plan and the cost are not offered in writing.
Your gums and bite are not mentioned. The American Dental Association says decay and gum disease should be treated first, because veneers over unhealthy teeth may worsen existing problems.
A second opinion is reasonable on any large plan. A clinic worth choosing will not mind you asking.
What happens if you bring this list to Lux Dental?
The lounge at Lux Dental, downtown Vancouver.
I will not call us the best cosmetic dentist in Vancouver, because nobody can honestly rank clinics for you. I would rather you checked us. This is what is on the record:
Who does the work. Our veneers page and our Invisalign page both name Dr. Young-hoon Sul and Dr. Rosemary Nguyen. MINISH is done by me. I am the only MINISH-authorized dentist at Lux, and I trained directly under Dr. Jung Ho Kang, MINISH's inventor, at MINISH Dental Hospital in Seoul. I graduated in dentistry from the University of Melbourne in 2016.
What we offer. Google lists whitening, veneers, implants, Invisalign and Botox among our services at the time of writing.
Previews and scans. Our Invisalign page says you see a preview of the result from a 3D model of your teeth before you start, and our MINISH page describes a digital 3D scan instead of moulds.
What happens if it chips. Call 604-670-1256 and we will tell you how it works here.
If something hurts or breaks. That is not a cosmetic question. Our emergency page says same-day appointments are offered where availability allows, so call first.
Hours and languages. We are open Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. I speak English, Korean and Mandarin, and our team also speaks Korean and Vietnamese.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose a good cosmetic dentist?
Judge the dentist, not the title. Ask to see cases that started like yours, how much enamel will be removed, whether you can preview the result before any enamel is removed, and who will do the work. Get the plan and the cost in writing, and check that the dentist is licensed. A good one will sometimes suggest whitening, bonding or straightening instead of veneers.
Is a cosmetic dentist a specialist in Canada?
No. Cosmetic dentistry is not on the National Dental Examining Board of Canada's list of recognized dental specialties. A cosmetic dentist is a licensed dentist who chooses to focus on appearance work. Orthodontists and prosthodontists are specialists, and some cosmetic cases are best referred to them.
What is the difference between a cosmetic dentist and a general dentist?
Often only the focus. Cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty in Canada, so a cosmetic dentist usually holds the same degree and licence as a general dentist and simply does more appearance work. What matters is whether they also look after your gums and bite, because veneers over decay or gum disease can worsen those problems, according to the American Dental Association.
What questions should I ask a cosmetic dentist?
Ask whether you can see cases like yours, how much tooth will be removed, who does the work and how they trained, and whether you can preview the result first. Ask which material and lab are used, what the written plan and cost are, what happens if it chips, and whether your gums and bite will be checked. Write the answers down and compare clinics.
Do veneers damage your teeth?
Porcelain veneers remove some enamel, and the American Dental Association says that makes the treatment not reversible. Lux Dental's own page puts traditional preparation at about 0.5 to 0.7 mm. Whitening and composite bonding remove little or none. Ask for the figure in your own case, and for the smaller options, before you agree.
Should I whiten my teeth before getting veneers?
Usually yes. Veneers and bonding are colour-matched to your natural teeth and cannot be lightened afterwards, so whitening comes first. Tell the dentist your timeline, such as a wedding date, so the order of treatment can be planned around it. Zoom whitening at Lux takes about an hour in one visit.
What are the red flags with a cosmetic dentist?
Pressure to decide in the chair, veneers recommended to everyone, no number for how much tooth will be removed, no cases like yours, and no written plan or cost. Be wary too if your gums, bite or grinding are never mentioned, or if you are discouraged from getting a second opinion on a large plan.
Book a cosmetic consultation in downtown Vancouver
Bring the list. A good cosmetic dentist is easy to spot: they will sometimes tell you to do less.
If you are weighing veneers, whitening or Invisalign, bring your questions to Lux Dental. We are rated 4.9 on Google from 179 reviews at the time of writing, and we are open Monday to Saturday.
Or call 604-670-1256. Lux Dental, 1631 Davie Street, Vancouver. Monday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm.
Sources: National Dental Examining Board of Canada, Entry-to-Practice: Dental Specialists (list of recognized dental specialties, read 2 October 2026); BC College of Oral Health Professionals, public register (oralhealthbc.ca/public-register, read 2 October 2026); American Dental Association, MouthHealthy, Veneers (read 2 October 2026); Smielak B, Armata O, Bojar W, A prospective comparative analysis of the survival rates of conventional vs no-prep/minimally invasive veneers over a mean period of 9 years, Clinical Oral Investigations 26(3), 2022. Lux Dental pages read 2 October 2026: MINISH veneers (lux-dental.ca/minish-dental-veneer-vancouver-downtown, preparation of about 0.5 to 0.7 mm), MINISH crown alternative, Philips Zoom whitening, Dental veneers, Invisalign, BCDA fee guide and Dr. Gloria Jung; Lux Dental blog, Which is Better: Porcelain Veneers or Composite Bonding? (9 December 2024). Google rating, review count, review topics and listed services from the Lux Dental Google Business Profile, checked 2 October 2026.
Dr. Gloria Jung, DDS, BSc, Lux Dental
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