Cosmetic Dentistry in Pasadena, CA

Natural-looking results that keep as much of your own tooth as possible.

Transform Your Smile With Personalized, Advanced Cosmetic Dental Care

4.9 on Google · 98% recommend on Facebook · Dr. Stephanie P. Lee, DDS

Dr. Stephanie P. Lee going over cosmetic treatment options with a patient at the chairside monitor

Science of Smiles is a cosmetic and biomimetic dental practice in Pasadena, CA, led by Dr. Stephanie P. Lee, DDS. We offer porcelain and no-prep veneers, dental bonding, professional teeth whitening, Invisalign clear aligners, internal bleaching, resin infiltration, black triangle closure and gum contouring, all at our office at 200 S. El Molino Ave., Suite 6.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice. Our cosmetic dentistry procedures address discoloration, chipped teeth, uneven spacing, misalignment and other common concerns, from a single dark tooth to a full smile makeover. Every plan starts with the most conservative option that will reach your goal, so healthy enamel is kept whenever possible.

We see patients from Pasadena, Altadena, San Marino, South Pasadena, Arcadia and the surrounding San Gabriel Valley.

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is dental care focused on improving the appearance of your teeth, gums and smile: their color, shape, size, alignment and symmetry. General dentistry treats problems such as cavities, infection and gum disease. Cosmetic treatment changes how teeth look, and the best cosmetic work also keeps them healthy and functioning well.

Depending on your goals, cosmetic treatment can:

Brighten stained or discolored teeth. Remove or reduce discoloration from aging, coffee, tea, wine, tobacco or medication.
Repair chipped or worn teeth. Rebuild the natural shape of teeth affected by minor damage.
Correct uneven or misshapen teeth. Improve tooth proportions, edges and smile symmetry.
Close gaps. Reduce spaces between teeth, including dark “black triangles” near the gumline.
Straighten crooked or crowded teeth. Improve alignment and bite with clear aligners.
Balance the gumline. Reshape gums that cover too much of the teeth or sit unevenly.
Replace dark or visible restorations. Swap old silver fillings for tooth-colored materials.

Our Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures

Science of Smiles offers a full range of cosmetic treatments, from quick single-visit fixes to complete smile transformations. Each procedure below has its own page with more detail.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding uses tooth-colored composite resin to repair small chips, cracks, gaps, discoloration and uneven tooth lengths. The resin is applied, shaped, hardened with a curing light and polished to match your enamel. Bonding is usually completed in one visit and needs little or no removal of healthy tooth structure.

Porcelain, Minimal-Prep and No-Prep Veneers

Dental veneers are thin, custom shells bonded to the front of your teeth to correct color, shape, chips and small gaps at the same time. We offer traditional porcelain veneers, minimal-prep veneers that need very little enamel removal, and Lumineers® by Cerinate®, which are about as thin as a contact lens and can often be placed without removing any enamel. With in-office CEREC milling, a veneer can be designed and made in about one to one and a half hours per tooth instead of waiting one to two weeks for a lab.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening at Science of Smiles uses the Opalescence system. In-office Opalescence Boost is chemically activated, so there is no UV light or heat, and teeth are often several shades lighter after one visit of about an hour. Custom take-home trays are also available for gradual whitening or touch-ups. Whitening lightens natural enamel only; it does not change the color of crowns, veneers or fillings.

Internal Bleaching for a Single Dark Tooth

A front tooth that has turned gray or dark after an injury or a root canal often does not respond to regular whitening, because the stain is inside the tooth. Internal bleaching places whitening material inside the tooth to lighten it from within, usually avoiding a crown or veneer. Our case gallery includes a tooth photographed two years after internal bleaching. See stained teeth for other causes of discoloration.

Resin Infiltration for White Spots

Chalky white spots, often left by early enamel weakening or after braces, can be treated with resin infiltration. A clear resin fills the porous enamel so the spot blends in with the rest of the tooth, with no drilling and no anesthetic.

Black Triangle Closure

Black triangles are the small dark gaps that can appear near the gumline between teeth, often after gum recession or orthodontic treatment. They can be filled in with tooth-colored material shaped to the natural contour of the teeth, which also removes a spot where food collects.

Gum Contouring and Cosmetic Contouring

Cosmetic contouring refines the shape of teeth by smoothing small amounts of enamel or adding tooth-colored material, usually in less than half an hour. Gum contouring (gingival recontouring or esthetic crown lengthening) reshapes gum tissue for a “gummy” or uneven smile. See excessive or uneven gums for more on gum-related concerns.

Cosmetic Fillings

Cosmetic fillings repair cavities and damage with resin or porcelain color-matched to your teeth. Science of Smiles no longer places silver amalgam fillings. Tooth-colored fillings bond to the tooth, which strengthens it and means less healthy structure has to be removed.

Invisalign Clear Aligners

Invisalign straightens crooked or crowded teeth, closes gaps and improves certain bite problems with a series of removable clear aligners. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks, with check-ins every 4 to 8 weeks. Treatment typically takes 9 to 15 months, and some cases finish in as little as 7. Straightening first can also mean less tooth needs to be changed later for veneers or bonding.

Comparing Cosmetic Treatments

Treatment	Best for	Typical visits	Enamel removed	How long results last
Teeth whitening	Overall yellowing and surface stains	1 in-office visit (about an hour), or take-home trays	None	6 months to 2 years, with touch-ups
Internal bleaching	One tooth darkened after injury or a root canal	A few short visits	None from the outside	Years; our case is shown at 2 years
Resin infiltration	Chalky white spots	1	None	Long-lasting
Dental bonding	Small chips, gaps, uneven edges	1	Little or none	Many years; may need touch-ups
Cosmetic contouring	Slightly uneven or pointed teeth	1 (under 30 minutes)	A very small amount	Permanent
Veneers	Several concerns at once: color, shape, chips, gaps	1 per tooth with in-office milling	None to minimal, depending on type	Many years with good care
Invisalign	Crooked or crowded teeth, gaps, some bite problems	Check-ins every 4 to 8 weeks	None	Permanent with retainer wear
Gum contouring	Gummy or uneven gumline	1	None (gum tissue only)	Long-lasting

Times and longevity vary by case. Dr. Lee will give you specifics for your teeth at your consultation.

Which Cosmetic Treatment Is Right for You?

The right treatment depends on what bothers you about your smile:

Teeth are yellow or dull overall: start with professional whitening.
One front tooth is darker than the rest: internal bleaching, or a veneer if bleaching is not enough.
White spots: resin infiltration.
A small chip or uneven edge: bonding or contouring. For larger breaks, see chipped or cracked tooth repair.
Small gaps or black triangles: bonding or black triangle closure. Larger gaps may need Invisalign.
Crooked or crowded teeth: Invisalign, sometimes followed by bonding or veneers.
Several issues at once: veneers, often combined with whitening the teeth around them first.
Too much gum showing: gum contouring.
A badly damaged or root-canal-treated tooth: a crown may protect it better than a veneer.

A Conservative, Biomimetic Approach to Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Lee practices biomimetic dentistry, which aims to keep natural tooth structure and rebuild teeth with bonded materials rather than cutting them down. In cosmetic treatment, that means:

The least invasive option first. Whitening, bonding or aligners are considered before veneers, and no-prep or minimal-prep veneers before traditional ones.
Healthy foundations. Cavities, cracks and gum disease are treated before cosmetic work, so the results last.
Bonded, metal-free materials. Composite and ceramic restorations bond to the tooth and strengthen it, and the practice no longer uses silver amalgam.
Planning before treatment. 3D scans, photos and digital design let you see the plan for your new smile before any tooth is changed.

What to Expect During Cosmetic Treatment

Consultation and exam
We talk about what you would like to change, check the health of your teeth and gums, and record your current tooth shade. Any problems that need treatment first are explained at this visit.
3D scans, photos and digital design
A 3D scan of your teeth and photos of your smile let us design the result to fit the proportions of your face. You see the plan and can ask for changes before treatment starts.
Treatment
Most single procedures, such as whitening, bonding, contouring or a CEREC veneer, are completed in one visit. Invisalign and internal bleaching take place over several visits.
Review and care
We check the result with you, adjust the shape or bite if needed, and explain how to care for your new smile. Regular cleanings help keep whitening, bonding and veneers looking their best.

Why Choose Science of Smiles for Cosmetic Dentistry in Pasadena?

Advanced Dental Technology

Our office uses 3D digital scanners, 3D CBCT imaging, dental lasers, air abrasion and in-office CEREC milling. These tools support precise planning, same-day crowns and veneers, and stronger bonding for biomimetic restorations.

Evidence-Based Materials and Techniques

We choose dental materials backed by research and long clinical use, including high-strength ceramics, modern composites and bonding agents, for restorations that look natural and hold up to daily chewing.

Real Results From Our Pasadena Office

The before and after cases on this page are patients treated at Science of Smiles: veneers, internal bleaching, gum contouring, black triangle closure and resin infiltration. Patients also describe their care in their own words in our patient reviews.

Compassionate, Personalized Care

Cosmetic treatment is a personal decision. We take time to understand your goals, explain each option and its trade-offs, and give you a clear treatment plan and estimate before you begin.

Contact Us Today to Book an Appointment

Ready to see what modern cosmetic dentistry can do for your smile? Whether you are interested in teeth whitening, Invisalign, porcelain veneers, dental bonding or another cosmetic procedure, Dr. Lee and our team will help you compare your options and choose the one that fits your goals.

Call Science of Smiles at (626) 795-0221 or book an appointment online. We are open Monday to Thursday, 8AM to 5PM, at 200 S. El Molino Ave., Suite 6, Pasadena, CA 91101.

Book online Call (626) 795-0221

FAQs

How much does cosmetic dentistry cost?

The cost depends on the procedure, the number of teeth, the materials and how complex your case is. Whitening and bonding cost the least; veneers and Invisalign are larger investments. After your consultation, we give you a written treatment plan with the cost of each option before any work begins.

Does dental insurance cover cosmetic dentistry?

Most dental plans do not cover treatment done only to change how teeth look, such as whitening or veneers on healthy teeth. When treatment also repairs damage or decay, such as bonding a broken tooth or replacing a worn filling, part of the cost may be covered. Our front desk can help you check your benefits before you start.

What are the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures?

Professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, dental bonding and Invisalign clear aligners are the most requested. At Science of Smiles, internal bleaching, gum contouring and black triangle closure are also common, because they solve specific problems without changing the whole smile.

Do cosmetic dentistry results look natural?

Yes, when they are planned well. Dr. Lee matches tooth color, translucency, shape and proportion to your other teeth and your face, and you see the design before treatment. The cases in our before and after gallery show the kind of results to expect.

How long do cosmetic dentistry results last?

It depends on the treatment and how you care for it. Whitening typically lasts 6 months to 2 years, with touch-ups. Bonding lasts many years but can stain or chip and may need touch-ups. Porcelain veneers can last many years with good care. Contouring is permanent, and Invisalign results last as long as you wear your retainer.

Is cosmetic dentistry painful?

Most cosmetic procedures involve little or no discomfort. Contouring and bonding often need no anesthetic, because enamel has no nerves. Whitening can cause mild, temporary sensitivity that usually fades within a few days. When anesthetic is needed, for example with some veneers or gum contouring, the area is numbed first.

Should I choose bonding or veneers?

Bonding suits small chips, gaps and uneven edges on one or a few teeth. It is done in one visit, costs less and needs little or no enamel removal, but composite can stain or chip over time. Veneers suit several concerns at once, resist stains and last longer. Many patients start with bonding and move to veneers later if needed.

Should I whiten my teeth before getting veneers or bonding?

Usually, yes. Whitening only works on natural teeth, and veneers and bonding are color-matched to the teeth around them. Whitening first sets the shade we match, so your whole smile ends up the same color.

Am I a good candidate for cosmetic dentistry?

Most adults with healthy teeth and gums are good candidates. If you have cavities, cracked teeth or gum disease, those are treated first so the cosmetic work lasts. Dr. Lee will tell you at your consultation which options suit your teeth and goals.