Your smile affects more than your appearance. It shapes your confidence and your long-term oral health.
In Nashville, the aesthetic standard runs high—but so does the expectation for authenticity. You need a dental team who knows the difference between “perfect” and “fake.”
At Nations Dental Studio in West Nashville, cosmetic dentistry blends clinical precision with artistic design. Whether you need subtle refinement or a complete transformation, your smile should look like you, only better.
This guide breaks down the top cosmetic solutions at our West Nashville practice, how they work, and how to choose the right path for your goals.
Understanding Cosmetic Dentistry: Natural Results Matter
Patients tell us: “I want to fix my teeth, but I don’t want them to look fake.” We agree.
Our approach creates results that look like your best natural smile—not someone else’s. We use advanced ceramics that reflect light like natural teeth, and we design shapes that complement your facial features, lip line, and gum symmetry. The goal: a smile that looks like it was always meant to be yours.
Porcelain Veneers: The Total Transformation
Best for: Patients seeking a permanent, comprehensive solution for chipped, deeply stained, or misshapen teeth.
Porcelain veneers remain the gold standard in cosmetic dentistry. They offer the most control over your final result, letting us redesign the shape, size, color, and alignment of your smile in one treatment.
What Porcelain Veneers Can Do
Porcelain veneers address multiple concerns in one treatment:
- Shape correction: Reshape teeth that are too short, too long, or misshapen
- Color transformation: Cover deep stains that whitening can’t remove
- Alignment improvement: Create the appearance of straighter teeth
- Gap closure: Close spaces between teeth
- Chip repair: Restore damaged or worn teeth
The Expertise Behind the Smile
Veneers are custom work, not a commodity. Our team specializes in high-esthetic cases, often using “minimal prep” or “no-prep” techniques (like DuraThin) to preserve your natural tooth structure.
The Veneer Process: From Design to Reveal
Our process lets you approve your new smile before we create the permanent restorations:
1. Digital Design We scan your teeth and create a digital blueprint of your new smile.
2. Trial Smile You wear a temporary version. We adjust length and shape based on your feedback before creating the permanent ceramic.
3. Final Bonding Once you approve the design, we bond the final porcelain to your teeth.
Patients from Sylvan Park, West End, and across Davidson County choose veneers for their durability. With proper care, they last 15-20 years and resist staining.
Invisalign: The Invisible Alignment
Best for: Adults who want straight teeth without the “metal mouth” look, or professionals who need lifestyle flexibility.
If your teeth are healthy but crooked, crowded, or spaced, Invisalign offers a modern approach to orthodontics. Dr. Diana D’Aoust and our team are certified Invisalign providers who focus on more than straight teeth—we align your bite for long-term health.
What Invisalign Can Fix
Invisalign treats a range of alignment issues:
- Crowding: Teeth that overlap or are too close together
- Spacing: Gaps between teeth
- Overbite/Underbite: Jaw alignment issues
- Crossbite: Upper and lower teeth that don’t align properly
- Relapse: Teeth that have shifted after previous orthodontic treatment
Why Not “Mail-Order” Aligners?
You may have seen ads for DIY aligners shipped to your door. The difference: safety and supervision. Without a dentist monitoring your roots and bone levels, DIY aligners can cause permanent damage or bite problems. With in-office Invisalign, a trained professional checks your progress and adjusts treatment for safe, effective results.
Advanced Technology: No More Goop
Digital Scanning No more gag-inducing putty impressions. We use the iTero Element 5D Scanner to create a 3D map of your teeth in minutes.
See Your Future Smile Our simulator shows you a preview of your straight smile before treatment starts.
Precision Fit Digital scanning produces aligners that fit better and move teeth more accurately.
Teeth Whitening & Bonding: The Quick Polish
Best for: High-impact results on a tighter timeline or budget. Perfect for upcoming weddings, photoshoots, or reunions.
Sometimes you don’t need a major overhaul. A “mini-makeover” using professional teeth whitening and dental bonding can refresh your look in a single visit.
When Whitening and Bonding Work Best
This combination is ideal for patients who need:
- Surface-level improvements: Stains, minor chips, or small gaps
- Quick results: Same-day transformation
- Budget-conscious options: Lower investment than veneers or Invisalign
- Event preparation: Upcoming special occasions or professional photos
Professional Whitening vs. Store-Bought Options
Professional Whitening Benefits:
- Deeper penetration: Professional-grade systems reach below the enamel surface to lift stains from coffee, wine, and aging
- Safer application: Custom trays protect your gums from irritation
- Customizable strength: We adjust the formula to manage sensitivity while maximizing results
- Faster results: Professional systems work in days, not weeks
Store-Bought Limitations:
- Only treat surface stains
- One-size-fits-all trays may not fit properly
- Can cause gum irritation or uneven whitening
- Results fade faster without professional maintenance
Artistic Bonding
For small chips, gaps, or jagged edges, dental bonding works well. Using composite resin matched to your tooth shade, Dr. Raffoul or Dr. D’Aoust hand-sculpts the restoration onto your tooth. Non-invasive, usually no numbing required, and completed in one appointment.
Meet Your Cosmetic Dentistry Team
You’re not just choosing a procedure—you’re choosing a team. Our doctors invest hundreds of hours annually in continuing education to stay current with cosmetic technology.
Dr. Diana D’Aoust, DMD
A member of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics (AAFE), Dr. D’Aoust considers how your smile supports your facial muscles and overall appearance. Her expertise in facial esthetics ensures cosmetic work enhances your entire face, not just your teeth.
Dr. Hannah Raffoul, DDS
Known for her gentle touch and residency training in complex care, Dr. Raffoul puts anxious patients at ease during cosmetic procedures. Her calm, patient approach helps people feel comfortable throughout treatment.
Comparing Your Cosmetic Dentistry Options
To help you decide, here’s a breakdown of our most popular cosmetic pathways:
Porcelain Veneers
Primary Goal: Complete shape and color redesign
Timeline: 2-3 visits (3-4 weeks)
Longevity: 10-15+ years with proper care
Best For: Patients with deep stains, chips, worn teeth, or multiple cosmetic concerns who want a comprehensive, permanent solution with maximum control over their final result.
Invisalign
Primary Goal: Straightening and alignment
Timeline: 6-18 months
Longevity: Permanent results (with proper retention)
Best For: Patients with crowding, spacing, relapse after previous orthodontics, or bite issues who want to straighten their smile without visible braces.
Whitening & Bonding
Primary Goal: Brightness and minor repairs
Timeline: 1 visit (same-day results)
Longevity: 3-7 years
Best For: Patients with dull color, minor chips, small gaps, or surface-level concerns seeking fast, affordable improvements or preparing for a special event.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cosmetic Dentistry
Does cosmetic dentistry hurt?
Modern cosmetic dentistry prioritizes comfort. Bonding and whitening often need no anesthesia. For veneers, we use local anesthetic to keep you numb, and we offer sedation options for anxious patients.
Most patients report minimal discomfort.
How long does a smile makeover take?
It depends on the path you choose:
- Bonding and whitening: One afternoon
- Veneers: 3-4 weeks from start to finish
- Invisalign: 6-12 months, with your smile improving throughout
During your consultation, we’ll provide a timeline based on your treatment plan.
Do you offer financing?
Yes. We work with financing partners like CareCredit to offer monthly payment plans that fit your budget.
How do I know which option is right for me?
That’s what a consultation is for. During your visit, we’ll:
- Examine your teeth and oral health
- Discuss your goals and concerns
- Walk you through options that fit your situation
- Provide honest recommendations
No pressure—just guidance to help you decide.
Ready to Visualize Your New Smile?
Nashville has plenty of options for cosmetic dental care. The difference is in the details. From our digital workflow to our comfort amenities (yes, you can watch Netflix during your visit), we’ve designed Nations Dental Studio to be a dental office you look forward to visiting.
Your Next Steps
You don’t have to commit today. The best first step is a cosmetic consultation. We’ll discuss your goals and design a smile that’s authentically you.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule your consultation today or call us at (615) 238-2878. We’re conveniently located in West Nashville, serving patients from The Nations, Sylvan Park, Belle Meade, West End, and throughout the greater Nashville area.
Want to learn more about specific treatments?
- Porcelain Veneers - Complete smile redesign
- Invisalign - Invisible teeth straightening
- Teeth Whitening - Professional brightening
- Dental Bonding - Quick cosmetic repairs
- Smile Makeover - Comprehensive transformation
Your new smile is waiting.