Cosmetic Dentistry
Stains, chips, gaps, and worn edges can make a healthy smile look older or less even than you would like. Cosmetic dentistry improves the color, shape, and alignment of your teeth, and the best results look like your own teeth rather than dental work. Dr. Marilyn Gaylor personally examines, designs, and performs every cosmetic case in her Atlanta practice, and she confirms that your teeth, gums, and bite are healthy before any cosmetic treatment begins.
Dr. Gaylor earned Accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in 2009, and one of her accreditation cases was published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dentistry. She completed the Louisiana State University Cosmetic Dentistry Continuum and more than a decade of restorative study at the LD Pankey Institute, and she is former Visiting Faculty at the Spear Institute for Advanced Dental Education.
Charles M.“I was one of the first patients that Dr Gaylor had in the beginning of her practice. It has been 20 years now, and she is exactly where I knew she would be. The best cosmetic dentist in the USA. If you are an actor, politician, or the president, she can give you the confidence to be a sure win. Do you need cosmetic dental work? She is what you have been looking for. I’m so glad I found her, she changed my life.”
Our Smile Enhancement Services
You can view completed cases in the smile gallery, including veneers, bonding, and gum lifts. Individual results vary.
Conservative Treatment and Natural-Looking Results
Dr. Gaylor considers the least invasive option first, such as whitening, bonding, no prep veneers, or clear aligners, and recommends more involved treatment only when it will serve you better. Photographs and smile design imaging help you preview planned changes, and every case is designed around your facial features, lip line, and bite so the result looks natural and holds up over time.
Virtual Smile Design: See Your Future Smile
When planning cosmetic treatment, Dr. Gaylor wants her patients to feel fully confident and excited about their proposed transformation. That’s why she regularly utilizes virtual smile design to reflect the positive changes of certain treatments–such as teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, or Invisalign–on a photo first.
You’ll be able to essentially see your smile’s bright future and even share it with friends and family, making adjustments as needed with our team’s expert guidance before any actual treatment begins. This innovative technology eliminates uncertainty and ensures that you love your results before committing to treatment.
Comprehensive Cosmetic Solutions
Dr. Gaylor offers the full spectrum of cosmetic dental services, from subtle enhancements to complete smile makeovers:
- Porcelain Veneers: Highly customized, thin pieces of strong dental porcelain bonded directly to tooth surfaces to hide countless flaws behind a seamlessly natural-looking appearance. Dr. Gaylor determines the perfect shade, shape, translucency, and thickness for your unique smile, paying special attention to even the smallest details.
- No Prep Veneers: An innovative style of veneer that requires absolutely no removal of natural tooth structure, created through precise, artistic layers and colors that mimic the appearance of original enamel. Often ideal for patients with overly small teeth due to genetics or advanced wear.
- Dental Bonding: Durable tooth-colored material applied directly to tooth structure and sculpted with a detail-oriented touch for natural-looking repairs of chips, gaps, stains, and minor imperfections. Most treatments are completed in just one convenient appointment.
- Professional Teeth Whitening: Professional-strength Opalescence® whitening products that create far more dramatic results than any over-the-counter solution. In-office whitening improves enamel color by several shades in just one hour, while take-home products offer flexible scheduling with the same beautiful results.
- Invisalign Clear Aligners: An outstanding alternative to traditional orthodontics featuring a series of clear, custom-designed aligners that gradually shift teeth toward their desired alignment. Removable for eating and oral hygiene, and virtually invisible when worn.
The AACD Accreditation Advantage
Dr. Gaylor’s AACD Accreditation distinguishes her as a master of cosmetic dental artistry. This prestigious credential is not awarded through simple coursework or examination–it requires submitting extensive case documentation demonstrating advanced skills in five different procedures. Each case is meticulously reviewed by expert examiners who evaluate technique, aesthetics, and outcomes according to the strictest standards in the profession.
Achieving this level of recognition required Dr. Gaylor to demonstrate exceptional proficiency in:
- Smile design and treatment planning
- Complex restorative procedures
- Aesthetic tooth preparations
- Shade selection and color matching
- Functional integration with bite harmony
- Long-term stability and patient satisfaction
This credential represents thousands of hours of advanced education, clinical refinement, and an unwavering commitment to delivering results that exceed expectations.
Why Cosmetic Excellence Matters
Choosing a qualified cosmetic dentist isn’t just about achieving a prettier smile–it’s about ensuring that aesthetic improvements support your oral health, function properly, and last for decades. Poorly executed cosmetic work can compromise tooth structure, create bite problems, or require premature replacement.
Dr. Gaylor’s approach integrates beauty with function, considering how your teeth work together, how restorations will age, and how to preserve your natural tooth structure whenever possible. Her extensive training in occlusion and bite harmony from the Dawson Academy ensures that cosmetic enhancements never compromise jaw function or long-term oral health.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmetic Dentistry
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No, though every cosmetic case begins with a thorough exam. Dr. Gaylor confirms that your teeth, gums, and bite are healthy before recommending any cosmetic work, since treatment placed on an unhealthy foundation is more likely to fail.
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It depends on your goals and on what Dr. Gaylor finds during your exam. She considers the most conservative options first, such as whitening, bonding, or Invisalign, before recommending veneers or crowns.
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Dr. Gaylor designs each case around your facial features, lip line, and natural tooth shade so the result looks like your own teeth. You can see examples in the smile makeover gallery.
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Traditional porcelain veneers usually require removing a thin layer of enamel, while no prep veneers require little or no removal of tooth structure. Not every patient is a candidate for no prep veneers, and Dr. Gaylor explains which option suits your teeth.
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In many cases, yes. Photographs and smile design imaging help you see planned changes, such as whitening, veneers, or alignment, before treatment begins.
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Longevity depends on the treatment, your home care, and habits such as grinding. Porcelain restorations can last many years with good care, while whitening and bonding typically need touch-ups over time.
Why Choose Dr. Gaylor for Cosmetic Dentistry
- AACD Accredited Dentist: Accreditation involves written and oral examinations and clinical cases reviewed by examiners.
- Your Dentist at Every Visit: Dr. Gaylor personally examines, designs, and performs every cosmetic case.
- Health Before Cosmetics: Gum health and bite stability are confirmed before cosmetic treatment begins.
- Conservative Care: Options that preserve healthy tooth structure are always considered first.
- Advanced Cosmetic Training: Study through the LSU Cosmetic Dentistry Continuum and the LD Pankey Institute informs every case.
- Natural-Looking Results: Shade, shape, and proportion are planned to suit your face and last over time.
Begin Your Smile Transformation in Atlanta
Dr. Gaylor welcomes patients from Atlanta, Buckhead, and Vinings to her office at 3280 Howell Mill Road NW, Suite 335. To explore your options, schedule a consultation and cosmetic examination with Dr. Gaylor.
Medically reviewed by Marilyn S. Gaylor, D.D.S. on
