Cosmetic Dentistry · North Plainfield, NJ
A smile you feel good about showing.
Se habla español — hablamos su idioma en cada cita.
Whitening, veneers, bonding and natural-looking crowns at Saint Vincent's Dental Center on Watchung Ave. We start with an honest conversation about what bothers you, then show you the options — including the simple ones.
★ Serving North Plainfield, Plainfield, Green Brook & Watchung🕑 Mon–Fri 9–6, Sat 9–1
Cosmetic treatments we offer
Every smile is different, so we price and plan each case individually. Here is where most patients start.
Professional teeth whitening
In-office and take-home whitening that lifts coffee, tea and tobacco staining several shades — safely, and without the sensitivity most drugstore kits cause.
Porcelain veneers
Thin custom shells bonded to the front of your teeth to correct chips, gaps, worn edges and stubborn discoloration that whitening cannot reach.
Cosmetic bonding
Tooth-colored composite sculpted directly onto the tooth — usually one visit, no lab work, and the most affordable way to close a small gap or repair a chip.
Tooth-colored fillings
Replace dark metal fillings with composite that matches your enamel, so old dental work stops being the first thing people notice.
Crowns and bridges
Full-coverage restorations for teeth that are cracked, heavily filled or badly worn — shaped and shaded to sit naturally beside your other teeth.
Implants and orthodontics
When a tooth is missing or crowding is the real issue, cosmetic dentistry alone will not fix it. We also place implants and straighten teeth in-house.
How a cosmetic visit works here
Tell us what you would change
Bring a photo if it helps. We listen first — then examine the teeth, gums and bite that have to support any cosmetic work.
See the options and the price
You get a written plan with alternatives at different price points, not a single take-it-or-leave-it quote. We will tell you if the cheaper option is the better one.
Treat at your own pace
Some patients do everything in two visits; others space treatment over a year. Health-first work comes first, cosmetic work follows.
Keep the result
Cleanings, a night guard if you grind, and touch-up whitening trays — the maintenance that keeps veneers and bonding looking new.
Insurance and payment
Cosmetic treatment is usually not covered by dental insurance, though restorative work such as crowns and fillings often is — and we will check your benefits before you commit to anything.
- We accept most major dental insurance plans and will submit claims for you.
- We do not accept Medicaid at this time.
- Ask about payment options if you are planning a larger smile makeover.
- Estimates are given in writing before treatment starts — no surprise balances.
Common questions
How much do veneers or whitening cost in North Plainfield?
It depends on how many teeth are involved and the condition they are in, so we give you a written estimate at your consultation. Whitening is the least expensive option, bonding sits in the middle, and porcelain veneers are the largest investment because each one is custom made.
Veneers or bonding — which is better for me?
Bonding is faster and cheaper and is ideal for a single chip or small gap, but it stains over time and typically lasts five to seven years. Veneers cost more and require removing a thin layer of enamel, but they resist staining and commonly last ten to fifteen years or more. For one small flaw we usually recommend bonding first.
Will whitening work on my crowns and fillings?
No. Whitening only lightens natural enamel, so existing crowns, veneers and tooth-colored fillings stay the shade they were made. If you plan to do both, we whiten first and then match the new restorations to your brighter shade.
Do you speak Spanish?
Yes. Our team is bilingual and you can be seen, treated and have your treatment plan explained entirely in Spanish. Se habla español.
Do I need to fix my cavities before cosmetic work?
Yes — decay, gum disease and an unstable bite have to be treated first, or cosmetic work will not last. This usually adds only a visit or two, and part of it is often covered by insurance.
Porcelain veneers in North Plainfield
Veneers are the option people usually have in mind when they say they want to fix their smile — thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of the teeth that show when you talk.
What they correct
Chips, worn edges, gaps between front teeth, slightly crooked teeth, and deep discoloration that whitening will not lift — often all at once, in the same set.
How many you need
Most cases involve the six to eight teeth that show when you smile, not a full mouth. We will tell you the smallest number that gets the result you are after.
What it involves
A consultation and shade match, a preparation visit where a thin layer of enamel is removed, temporaries while the lab works, then bonding the finals. Roughly two to three weeks.
- Veneers are permanent — the enamel removed does not grow back, so we make sure it is the right call before starting.
- They resist staining better than natural enamel, but they are not indestructible: grinding, biting nails and opening packaging with your teeth will chip them.
- A night guard is included in the plan if you clench, because that is the single biggest cause of veneer failure.
- Cosmetic work is rarely covered by insurance. You will have the full cost in writing before anything is prepared.
Orthodontics and clear aligners
If the teeth themselves are fine and the problem is where they sit, straightening them is usually a better answer than covering them. We handle orthodontic treatment in-house.
Crowding and gaps
Crowded teeth trap plaque where a brush cannot reach, which is why crooked teeth tend to become decayed teeth. Straightening is a health fix as much as a cosmetic one.
Bite problems
Overbite, underbite and crossbite wear enamel unevenly and strain the jaw. Correcting the bite protects the teeth you already have.
Adults welcome
Teeth move at any age. Plenty of our orthodontic patients are adults who were told as teenagers that it was too late, or never got the chance.
- Treatment starts with x-rays and a bite assessment — not everyone needs the same appliance, and we will say if aligners are not enough for your case.
- Timelines usually run six months to two years depending on how far the teeth have to travel.
- Retainers are part of the plan, not an upsell. Teeth drift back without them.
- Many dental plans include a separate lifetime orthodontic benefit — we will check yours before you commit.
Crowns and bridges in North Plainfield
A crown covers a tooth that is cracked, worn or too broken down to hold a filling. A bridge fills a gap where a tooth is already gone. Both are shaded to match the teeth beside them, and both are done here at our Watchung Ave office. Se habla español — coronas y puentes explicados en su idioma.
A cracked tooth
A crack spreads every time you chew. A crown holds the tooth together and usually stops the problem before it reaches the nerve and turns into a root canal.
A large old filling
When a filling is wider than the tooth structure around it, the remaining walls flex and eventually fracture. A crown replaces the wall instead of patching it.
After a root canal
A treated back tooth is brittle and needs full coverage to survive normal chewing. Skipping the crown is the most common reason a root canal fails later.
A missing tooth
A bridge spans the gap using the teeth on either side as anchors. It is fixed in place — nothing comes out at night.
Worn-down teeth
Years of grinding can shorten teeth enough to change your bite and your face. Crowns restore the height, usually alongside a night guard so it does not happen again.
A tooth that looks wrong
A badly discolored or misshapen tooth that cannot be fixed with bonding can be crowned and shaded to match the rest of your smile.
Exam and options
We check whether the tooth can be saved with a filling first. A crown is not the automatic answer, and we will say so if it is not needed yet.
Preparation and impression
The tooth is numbed and shaped, then we take an impression. You leave with a temporary crown that looks and functions like the real one.
The lab builds it
Your crown or bridge is made to the shade and shape we specify. This usually takes about two weeks, and the temporary carries you through.
Fitting and cementing
We check the fit, the color and your bite before anything is cemented. If it is not right, it goes back — you do not get talked into living with it.
- Crowns and bridges are major restorative work and are covered by most dental plans, typically at a percentage rather than in full.
- We accept most major dental insurance plans and will check your remaining annual benefit before scheduling. We do not accept Medicaid at this time.
- You get the full cost in writing, including the lab fee, before the tooth is prepared.
- If you are near your annual maximum, we can often stage treatment across two benefit years.
How long do crowns and bridges last?
Ten to fifteen years is typical, and many last far longer. What decides it is the health of the tooth and gum underneath — which is why cleanings matter more after crown work, not less.
Will it look like a real tooth?
Porcelain crowns are shaded to your neighboring teeth and most people cannot tell which tooth is crowned. Back teeth can also be made in stronger materials where the bite force is highest.
Does getting a crown hurt?
The tooth is numbed for the preparation appointment and the fitting appointment is usually painless. Some sensitivity while the temporary is on is normal and settles once the final crown is cemented.
Bridge or implant?
A bridge is faster and cheaper up front but requires shaping the two healthy teeth beside the gap. An implant costs more and takes months but leaves those teeth untouched. We will explain both and let you choose.
My temporary crown came off. Is that an emergency?
Call us. It is not dangerous, but the prepared tooth is sensitive and can shift if it is left uncovered, so we want to re-cement it quickly.
Visit our North Plainfield office
116 Watchung Ave
North Plainfield, NJ 07060
Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM · Sat 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Take a look inside
Our North Plainfield office on Watchung Ave — and the team you will meet when you come in.
Ready to talk about your smile?
Book a cosmetic consultation and leave knowing exactly what it would take — and what it would cost.