Custom veneers designed by a board-certified prosthodontist, with periodontal precision from a board-certified periodontist — two specialists, one office, one seamless result.
Veneers are a permanent change to your teeth. Once enamel is removed and porcelain is bonded, there is no going back. That decision deserves a specialist who has devoted years of advanced training to getting restorations right the first time. At The Loft Dental Studio in Costa Mesa, your veneers are designed by Dr. Elaine Lu, a board-certified prosthodontist.
Prosthodontists complete three additional years of residency training beyond dental school — training focused entirely on the restoration and replacement of teeth. Dr. Lu earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery from UCLA and served as Chief Resident at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, where she managed complex full-mouth rehabilitation cases involving implants, crowns, bridges, and veneers. She holds board certification from the American Board of Prosthodontics, a credential earned by a small fraction of practicing prosthodontists nationwide.
What does this mean for your veneers? It means Dr. Lu brings expertise in dental materials science, bite mechanics, and facial aesthetics that general dentists simply do not receive in their training. She understands how different porcelain types interact with light, how tooth proportions relate to lip line and facial symmetry, and how your bite forces will affect veneer longevity over the next 15 to 20 years. Every shade, contour, and margin placement is informed by thousands of hours of specialized clinical training. The difference between veneers placed by a general dentist and veneers designed by a board-certified prosthodontist is the difference between acceptable and exceptional — and when veneers are permanent, exceptional is the only standard worth accepting.
As part of your complete cosmetic dentistry treatment, Dr. Lu coordinates every detail from initial smile analysis through final bonding, ensuring results that look natural and last.
Most dental practices have one doctor who handles everything. At The Loft Dental Studio, your cosmetic case benefits from two board-certified specialists working together under one roof. This combination is rare — and it produces results that single-provider practices cannot match.
Here is why it matters for veneers: many patients who want veneers also need gum tissue correction. An uneven gum line, excess gum tissue covering the teeth, or gum recession at the veneer margins can undermine even the finest porcelain work. Board-certified periodontist Dr. Chanook David Ahn evaluates and reshapes the gum line through crown lengthening or gum contouring before Dr. Lu designs a single veneer. Dr. Ahn completed his periodontal residency at Yale, where he served as Chief Resident, and teaches at UCLA — his surgical precision ensures the tissue framework is symmetrical, healthy, and stable.
Once the gum foundation is perfected, Dr. Lu designs veneers that sit on ideal tissue architecture. No referrals to outside offices. No miscommunication between providers. Two specialists collaborate in the same operatory, reviewing your case together, and delivering a result where teeth and tissue are in complete harmony. This is the cosmetic dentistry advantage that defines The Loft Dental Studio.
The process typically takes two to four weeks from preparation to final bonding. Cases that require preliminary gum contouring or crown lengthening by Dr. Ahn may add several weeks for tissue healing, but this foundational step is what makes your results last.
The gold standard for comprehensive smile transformations. Traditional porcelain veneers are fabricated from high-strength dental ceramic in a specialized lab. They provide the most lifelike translucency and color depth, resist staining better than natural enamel, and last 15 to 20 years or longer with proper care. A thin layer of enamel is removed to accommodate the veneer, producing a flush, seamless profile. Traditional porcelain is the best option for patients who want the most durable and most natural-looking result.
For patients with minor cosmetic concerns, minimal-prep veneers offer a more conservative approach. These ultra-thin shells require significantly less enamel removal — and in select cases, none at all. They work well for small chips, slight gaps, or subtle shade improvements. While not appropriate for every case, minimal-prep veneers preserve more natural tooth structure. Dr. Lu evaluates whether your teeth and goals are suited to this approach during your consultation.
A same-day, reversible alternative to porcelain. Composite bonding uses tooth-colored resin applied directly to the tooth surface and sculpted by hand. It requires no enamel removal, can be completed in a single visit, and is fully reversible. Composite bonding is ideal for a single chipped tooth, a small gap, or a minor shape correction. It typically lasts 5 to 7 years and costs less than porcelain, making it an excellent option for patients exploring cosmetic dentistry for the first time or working within a tighter budget.
| Veneer Type | Cost Per Tooth |
|---|---|
| Traditional porcelain veneers | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Minimal-prep veneers | $1,200–$2,500 |
| Composite bonding | $300–$800 |
Most patients choose six to ten veneers for a full smile makeover, covering the teeth visible when you smile. Your actual cost depends on the number of teeth treated, case complexity, and whether preliminary periodontal work is needed. Most cosmetic dentistry is not covered by dental insurance, but we accept most PPO dental insurance for any associated periodontal procedures. Flexible financing and payment plans are available. Call (714) 549-7030 for a personalized estimate.
See what your new smile could look like. Dr. Lu provides a digital smile preview, Dr. Ahn evaluates your gum health, and you receive a clear treatment plan from two board-certified specialists — all in one visit.
Call (714) 549-7030A prosthodontist completes three additional years of residency training beyond dental school, focused entirely on the restoration and replacement of teeth. This includes advanced study in dental materials science, bite mechanics, facial aesthetics, and complex smile design. General dentists can place veneers, but a prosthodontist brings specialized expertise in porcelain shade matching, translucency layering, and proportional tooth design that produces the most natural-looking, longest-lasting results. At The Loft Dental Studio, board-certified prosthodontist Dr. Elaine Lu designs every veneer case.
Many veneer patients benefit from gum contouring or crown lengthening before veneer placement. If your gum line is uneven, too low, or covers too much of your teeth, even perfectly crafted veneers will look asymmetrical. At The Loft Dental Studio, board-certified periodontist Dr. Ahn evaluates your gum tissue and bone architecture before any cosmetic work begins. If reshaping is needed, he performs the procedure and allows full healing so Dr. Lu can design veneers on an ideal tissue foundation.
Porcelain veneers typically last 15 to 20 years with proper care, and many patients keep theirs even longer. Longevity depends on oral hygiene habits, whether you grind or clench your teeth, and the health of the underlying gum tissue. Dr. Lu uses premium porcelain from top dental laboratories. Dr. Ahn ensures the surrounding gum tissue remains healthy, which is critical for preventing veneer margin exposure over time. We recommend a custom night guard for patients who clench or grind.