New York City's Top Cosmetic Dentist on How to Get a Gorgeous Smile

Everyone wants a gorgeous smile. And why wouldn’t you? One of New York’s top cosmetic dentists and Haute Living Ambassador shares secrets to perfecting your teeth at any age. RealSelf Contributor Dr. Victoria Veytsman has over a decade of experience working on all kinds of smiles—from celebrities to Manhattan’s elite. Here, she explains what you can do at the dentist’s office and at home to give your smile a makeover.

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Culture Trip: What constitutes aesthetic or cosmetic dentistry?
Dr. Victoria Veytsman: Cosmetic dentistry is any type of dentistry that improves the appearance of the smile. This could be the overall appearance including color size shape and broadness of the smile. The most common methods to do this include veneers and Invisalign. Facial harmony and symmetry are key—everything is done to accentuate the facial features. Aesthetic dentistry can also be applied to general dentistry procedures like crowns and fillings—using tooth colored materials like porcelain.
CT: What are some of the most common procedures you perform on your New York clients?
VV: Smile makeovers with porcelain veneers are super common. We can do so much with them. It’s all a part of anti-aging dentistry too. We see patients coming in in older age brackets now trying to turn back the clock, and this is one of the things that can be done without major surgery. Invisalign and whitening are super common and non-invasive too.
CT: If I’m considering getting invisible aligners, what should I keep in mind?
VV: They are an amazing option for many cases. These aren’t the metal brackets and wires from back in the day. They are clear and highly aesthetic. Compliance with this though is important. Because they are removable you really do need to be good about wearing them. Also once the treatment is complete (most cases are six to 18 months) wearing a retainer is key. The most common post orthodontic issue we see is a patient who had completed treatment and then then forgot to wear the retainer, and the teeth shifted again—resulting in having to extend treatment.
CT: Are there any natural remedies to teeth whitening?
VV: Hydrogen and carbamide peroxide are really the two active bleaching agents to whiten teeth. These are present in in-office and at home whitening treatments. For maintenance natural remedies can be good. A lot of my patients like coconut oil pulling, although there is little scientific evidence to support it. A good DIY at home remedy could be mixing a small amount of hydrogen peroxide with water and baking soda. Using this mix occasionally can help. Diet plays a big role too—crunchy healthy things like apples can help remove stains.
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CT: Does teeth whitening degrade the quality of the tooth?
VV: No. I’ve done literally hundreds of whitenings and have never seen this happen. Whitening products literally just oxidize stains off of the enamel. They don’t compromise the integrity of the enamel.
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CT: When do you recommend veneers?
VV: I recommend veneers for someone that really wants an improvement in their smile and isn’t happy with the color, size, width, shape or the teeth and the overall appearance of their smile. So much is possible. We can literally redesign a smile from start to finish and patients can see exactly what their smile will look like before we even start—this planning phase is so important. This way patients can literally test drive their smile before we start. We use this a lot as an anti-aging technique and an overall boost to the appearance. It’s amazing what a difference it can make for the whole face and is an amazing confidence booster.
CT: What types of treatments do celebrities get?
VV: They get everything. A lot of whitenings, especially before red carpets and awards shows. Veneers are very popular too and we try to keep them as natural as possible. The best smile makeover is one that doesn’t look like one but still makes a dramatic improvement. Some of our celebs do try the Invisalign treatment to straighten teeth, but it seems to be the more difficult one to keep up with because of their super busy schedules and appearances.
CT: What’s the one dental habit that can improve everybody’s smile?
VV: Good health is the foundation of all beauty. So basic good hygiene goes a very long way. Brush twice daily with a good electric toothbrush, use mouthwash and floss, floss, floss. Stay hydrated and rinse your mouth out after acidic or staining foods. Visit your dentist twice a year.
CT: What are your favorite products for a gorgeous smile?
VV: Crest 3DWhite Whitestrips are a safe and easy way to keep your smile white and stain free until you head back into the dentist’s office. It’s smile maintenance at its best. A great way to keep your smile bright between whitenings especially if you’re a coffee and tea lover.
Philips Sonicare Diamond Clean toothbrush is hands down, the best whitening electric toothbrush. It has five modes and comes with two brush heads, a glass charger and USB travel charger. It’s elegant and comes in different colors, including pink. What more could you ask for? My patients that use Sonicare products always report a cleaner feeling mouth and we always see this at their cleaning appointments. It can improve gum health in about two weeks. The best results arise when technology and health merge.
CT: What’s your favorite lipstick color to enhance a smile?
VV: Christian Louboutin Red Lipstick has an amazing non-drying formula that lasts up to four hours and is the perfect shade of red, which makes your teeth look brighter and whiter. Pick red with blue undertones, not orange or yellow. Blue will always cancel out the yellow stains on your teeth, making them look brighter.
Visit Victoria Veytsman, DDS at New York Dentist:
509 Madison Ave., 1704
New York, New York 10022 US, (646) 846-1682