Complete Guide to Cosmetic Dentistry in Markham: Treatments, Costs & Results

A confident smile is one of the most immediate and lasting improvements you can make to your appearance and cosmetic dentistry in Markham has never been more accessible, more natural-looking, or more varied in its options.

Whether you are bothered by persistent discolouration, a chip that has always annoyed you, gaps you have hidden for years, or simply want a complete smile refresh, there is likely a cosmetic dental treatment suited to your specific situation, timeline, and budget.

This guide covers every major cosmetic dentistry treatment available to Markham and Unionville patients what each involves, what results to expect, what it realistically costs, and how to decide which combination of treatments is right for you.

What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is the branch of dental practice focused on improving the appearance of the teeth, gums, and smile rather than treating disease or restoring damaged function. Unlike restorative dentistry, which addresses medical necessities like cavities or missing teeth, cosmetic procedures are typically elective. DOT Dental

In practice, the line between cosmetic and restorative dentistry is not always perfectly clear. A dental crown restores a damaged tooth (restorative) but also improves its appearance (cosmetic). Orthodontic treatment straightens teeth (cosmetic) but also corrects the bite (functional). Many treatments serve both purposes simultaneously which has important implications for insurance coverage, as we cover later in this guide.

Common cosmetic dental treatments available in Markham include:

• Professional teeth whitening

• Dental veneers (porcelain and composite)

• Dental bonding

• Clear aligner orthodontics (Invisalign)

• Gum contouring

• Dental crowns with aesthetic focus

• Smile makeovers (combinations of multiple treatments)

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Covered by Insurance in Ontario?

This is the most practical question patients have before beginning cosmetic treatment and the honest answer requires nuance rather than a blanket yes or no.

Most purely cosmetic dental procedures are not covered by dental insurance in Ontario. Treatments classified as elective aesthetic improvements professional whitening, composite veneers purely for appearance, bonding for cosmetic gaps, and gum contouring are typically excluded from standard extended health benefit plans.

However, the picture is more complex when treatments serve a dual cosmetic and restorative purpose:

• Dental crowns when placed to restore a structurally damaged tooth, crowns are typically classified as restorative and covered in part by most plans (usually 50–80% after the deductible). A crown placed purely for cosmetic improvement on a healthy tooth may not be covered.

• Composite bonding when used to repair a chipped or fractured tooth, bonding may be covered as a restorative procedure. When placed purely to close a cosmetic gap, it is less likely to be covered.

• Orthodontics most Ontario insurance plans provide a lifetime orthodontic benefit of $1,500–$3,000 per insured person, applicable to both braces and Invisalign when provided by a licensed provider.

• Dental implants typically classified as restorative. Coverage varies significantly by plan; many plans cover implants partially, some exclude them entirely.

The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) does not cover elective cosmetic dental procedures. The CDCP is designed for preventive, restorative, and medically necessary care for eligible patients purely cosmetic treatments fall outside its scope regardless of eligibility.

Practical steps: Before beginning any cosmetic treatment, ask your Markham dentist for a pre-determination a formal estimate submitted to your insurance provider before treatment begins. This tells you exactly what your plan will and will not cover for each specific procedure. It takes a few days and is entirely standard practice.

Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments Available in Markham

1. Professional Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is the most popular entry point into cosmetic dentistry the fastest, least invasive, and most affordable way to meaningfully improve a smile's appearance.

What it involves: A bleaching agent (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) penetrates the enamel and oxidises the pigment molecules that cause discolouration. Professional treatments use significantly higher concentrations than OTC products, delivering faster and more thorough results.

Options available:

• In-office professional whitening a single appointment of 60–90 minutes, achieving 5–8 shades of improvement

• Dentist take-home custom trays custom-fitted trays with professional-grade gel, worn at home over 1–2 weeks, achieving 3–6 shades of improvement

Cost in Markham:

• In-office whitening: $300–$800

• Take-home custom trays: $200–$500

• Annual touch-up gel refill: $75–$100

Results: In-office results last 1–3 years depending on diet and habits. Take-home tray results last 6 months–2 years with periodic maintenance.

Insurance coverage: Generally not covered classified as cosmetic.

For a full comparison of every whitening option, see our complete teeth whitening guide for Markham patients.

2. Dental Veneers

Veneers are ultra-thin shells custom-fabricated from porcelain or composite resin, bonded to the front surface of the teeth to mask imperfections including discolouration, chips, gaps, and minor misalignment.

What it involves:

• Porcelain veneers 2–3 appointments over several weeks; thin enamel layer removed, impressions sent to a lab, temporary veneers placed, permanent veneers bonded at final appointment

• Composite veneers typically 1 appointment; composite resin applied and shaped directly onto the tooth

Cost in Markham:

• Porcelain veneers: $800–$2,500 per tooth

• Composite veneers: $250–$600 per tooth

• Full smile (6–10 teeth): $5,000–$25,000 depending on material and number

Results: Porcelain veneers last 10–20 years. Composite veneers last 5–7 years. Porcelain is more stain-resistant and natural-looking; composite is more affordable and repairable.

Important note: Porcelain veneer placement involves permanent enamel removal the tooth will require a veneer or restoration indefinitely going forward.

Insurance coverage: Typically not covered as a purely cosmetic procedure. May be partially covered if used to restore a structurally compromised tooth confirm with a pre-determination.

For everything you need to know before committing, read our complete veneers guide for Markham patients.

3. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding uses the same tooth-coloured composite resin material as composite veneers, applied directly to the tooth to repair chips, fill gaps, reshape uneven teeth, or cover minor discolouration. It is one of the most versatile and accessible cosmetic treatments available.

What it involves: Your dentist selects a composite shade that matches your natural tooth colour, applies the resin directly to the tooth, shapes and sculpts it to the desired form, then hardens it with a curing light. Most bonding is completed in a single appointment with no preparation of the natural tooth required.

Cost in Markham: $150–$400 per tooth for simple repairs; $300–$600 per tooth for more extensive reshaping or gap closure.

Results: Bonding typically lasts 3–7 years depending on location in the mouth, bite force, and habits. It can stain over time with coffee and tea. It is easily repaired or refreshed if chipped.

Best suited for: Minor chips, small gaps between front teeth, uneven tooth edges, minor discolouration on specific teeth. For more extensive cosmetic improvement across multiple teeth, veneers generally produce more natural, longer-lasting results.

Insurance coverage: May be partially covered when used to repair a chipped or fractured tooth (restorative). Typically not covered when used purely for cosmetic improvement.

4. Clear Aligner Orthodontics (Invisalign)

Invisalign has become one of the most requested cosmetic treatments in Markham offering the alignment correction of traditional braces with the aesthetic benefit of near-invisibility during treatment.

What it involves: A series of custom-fabricated clear plastic aligners that move the teeth incrementally. Each set is worn for approximately 1–2 weeks before progressing to the next. Treatment typically takes 12–18 months for mild to moderate cases.

Cost in Markham: $4,500–$6,000 for mild to moderate cases; $6,000–$8,000 or more for complex cases.

Results: Comparable to braces for mild to moderate alignment issues. Requires 20–22 hours of daily wear for treatment to progress on schedule.

Insurance coverage: Most Ontario dental plans include a lifetime orthodontic benefit of $1,500–$3,000, applicable to Invisalign when provided by a licensed provider.

For a full comparison with traditional braces, see our Braces vs. Invisalign guide for Markham patients.

5. Gum Contouring

Gum contouring is one of the most overlooked cosmetic dental treatments and one of the most transformative for patients whose smile concerns are actually about their gumline rather than their teeth.

What it involves: A "gummy smile" where the gums cover an unusually large proportion of the tooth surface or an uneven gumline can make otherwise healthy teeth appear short, small, or asymmetrical. Gum contouring uses a dental laser or surgical technique to remove excess gum tissue, revealing more of the tooth surface and creating a more proportionate, even gumline.

The procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. Laser gum contouring typically involves minimal bleeding and faster healing than traditional surgical techniques, with most patients returning to normal activities within a day or two.

Cost in Markham: $200–$400 per tooth for laser gum contouring; whole-smile gum contouring can range from $1,000–$3,000 depending on the extent of reshaping required.

Results: Results are permanent the reshaped gumline does not grow back in most cases. Gum contouring is often combined with teeth whitening or veneers as part of a smile makeover for a comprehensive result.

Insurance coverage: Generally not covered as a purely cosmetic procedure. May be partially covered if gum overgrowth is related to a medical condition (such as medication-induced gingival hyperplasia) discuss with your dentist.

6. Dental Crowns (Cosmetic Focus)

While dental crowns are primarily a restorative treatment, they play a significant role in cosmetic dentistry when a tooth is severely discoloured, misshapen, or structurally compromised in ways that veneers or bonding cannot adequately address.

What it involves: A custom-fabricated tooth-shaped cap covers the entire visible tooth above the gumline, restoring its shape, size, strength, and appearance. Modern crowns are made from tooth-coloured porcelain or zirconia, producing results indistinguishable from natural teeth.

Cost in Markham: $1,000–$2,000 per crown depending on material.

Results: Crowns last 10–15 years on average with proper care.

Insurance coverage: Typically covered as a restorative procedure (usually 50–80% after the deductible) when placed for structural reasons. Coverage for purely cosmetic crown placement on healthy teeth varies by plan.

7. Smile Makeovers

A smile makeover is not a single treatment it is a coordinated treatment plan that combines multiple cosmetic procedures to comprehensively transform a patient's smile. The specific combination varies entirely by patient and is designed during a consultation process that assesses your current smile, identifies what you want to change, and sequences the treatments in the right order.

Common smile makeover combinations:

• Teeth whitening + composite bonding (most affordable, minimal preparation)

• Orthodontics + whitening + bonding (corrects alignment before cosmetics)

• Whitening + porcelain veneers (most comprehensive, most dramatic)

• Gum contouring + whitening + veneers (addresses gumline and tooth appearance together)

Cost in Markham: Smile makeover costs vary enormously by scope. A conservative whitening-plus-bonding makeover on 4–6 teeth might cost $1,500–$3,000. A comprehensive treatment involving orthodontics, veneers, and gum contouring across a full smile could range from $15,000 to $30,000+.

Results: When properly planned and sequenced, smile makeovers produce the most dramatic and lasting cosmetic improvements available. Most patients describe the psychological impact the confidence to smile freely, to make eye contact, to photograph naturally as exceeding the physical transformation.

Cosmetic Dentistry Cost Summary for Markham Patients

Treatment	Cost Range (per tooth/session)	Lifespan	Insurance Coverage
Professional whitening (in-office)	$300–$800	1–3 years	❌ Not covered
Take-home whitening trays	$200–$500	6 months–2 years	❌ Not covered
Composite veneers	$250–$600/tooth	5–7 years	❌ Usually not covered
Porcelain veneers	$800–$2,500/tooth	10–20 years	❌ Usually not covered
Dental bonding	$150–$600/tooth	3–7 years	⚠️ Sometimes (if restorative)
Invisalign	$4,500–$8,000	Permanent	✅ Partial ($1,500–$3,000 lifetime)
Gum contouring	$200–$400/tooth	Permanent	❌ Usually not covered
Dental crown	$1,000–$2,000/tooth	10–15 years	✅ Partial (if restorative)
Smile makeover	$1,500–$30,000+	Varies by treatment	⚠️ Varies by component

The Right Order: What Must Happen Before Cosmetic Treatment

One of the most important and least discussed principles of cosmetic dentistry is treatment sequencing. Cosmetic work cannot reliably succeed on an unhealthy foundation. Before any cosmetic treatment begins, your dentist in Markham must ensure:

1. No untreated decay. Active cavities must be treated before cosmetic work. Bleaching agent entering a cavity causes significant pain and can damage the pulp. A crown or veneer bonded over untreated decay will eventually fail.

2. Healthy gums. Gum disease compromises the tissue that holds teeth in place and affects how cosmetic work looks and adheres over time. Periodontal treatment must be completed and the gums stable before cosmetic procedures begin.

3. Orthodontic work first where needed. If the teeth need to be repositioned to achieve the desired cosmetic result, orthodontic treatment typically comes before veneers or bonding not after. Applying veneers to misaligned teeth and then moving them orthodontically defeats the purpose of both treatments.

4. Whitening before veneers or bonding. If you plan to whiten your teeth and also want veneers or bonding on some teeth, whitening must be done first and the shade allowed to stabilise before the cosmetic restorations are shade-matched. Veneers and composite don't respond to whitening agents if you whiten after, your natural teeth will be lighter than your restorations.

A qualified cosmetic dentist at Hwy7 Family Dentistry will assess your oral health comprehensively at your cosmetic consultation and develop a sequenced treatment plan that accounts for all of these dependencies before any cosmetic work begins.

How to Choose a Cosmetic Dentist in Markham or Unionville

Not all dentists who offer cosmetic services have the same depth of experience in aesthetic dentistry. Here is what to look for when evaluating a cosmetic dentist in Markham:

Ask to see a before-and-after portfolio. A cosmetic dentist with genuine expertise in the treatment you are considering should be able to show you real patient cases ideally cases similar to your own situation. Assess the naturalness of the results rather than just their dramatic impact.

Look for specific cosmetic dentistry training. General dentistry training covers the basics of cosmetic procedures, but additional postgraduate courses in smile design, aesthetic dentistry, or digital smile planning indicate a dentist who has invested specifically in this area. Ask what additional training the dentist has completed.

Ensure a comprehensive consultation. A qualified cosmetic dentist will not recommend specific treatments at a first consultation without a thorough examination of your oral health, X-rays, and a full discussion of your goals, budget, and timeline. Any consultation that moves immediately to a specific treatment recommendation without this foundation should raise questions.

Discuss the sequencing. A cosmetic dentist who discusses the order of treatments what needs to happen before what, and why demonstrates both clinical depth and genuine patient-first thinking.

Confirm they perform your oral health baseline first. The best cosmetic result is only as good as the oral health foundation beneath it. A cosmetic dentist worth choosing will ensure your gums and teeth are healthy before proceeding with any cosmetic work.

The Hidden Costs of Cosmetic Dentistry: What to Budget For

Most people significantly underestimate cosmetic dentistry costs due to hidden expenses like preparatory treatments, multiple appointments, and long-term maintenance. Before finalising your budget, account for:

• Preparatory treatments gum disease treatment, cavity fillings, or orthodontics required before cosmetic work can begin

• Multiple appointments porcelain veneers, crowns, and orthodontic treatment require multiple visits; budget time as well as money

• Temporary restorations during the laboratory fabrication of permanent restorations, temporary veneers or crowns are typically placed; these are included in the treatment cost but confirm this upfront

• Maintenance and replacement whitening touch-ups, veneer replacement after 10–20 years, retainers after orthodontic treatment

• Night guard if you grind your teeth and are investing in veneers or bonding, a custom night guard is essential protection; budget $300–$600 for this separately

• Routine care during treatment regular check-ups and cleanings continue throughout and after cosmetic treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is cosmetic dentistry? 

Cosmetic dentistry is the area of dental practice focused on improving the appearance of the teeth, gums, and smile rather than treating disease or restoring damaged function. Common cosmetic dental treatments include professional teeth whitening, veneers, dental bonding, clear aligner orthodontics (Invisalign), gum contouring, and smile makeovers that combine multiple treatments for a comprehensive transformation.

Is cosmetic dentistry covered by insurance in Ontario? 

Most purely cosmetic dental procedures are not covered by standard dental insurance in Ontario treatments like whitening, veneers, and gum contouring for aesthetic purposes are typically classified as elective. Some treatments serve both cosmetic and restorative purposes and may receive partial coverage: dental crowns placed for structural reasons, bonding used to repair a fractured tooth, and orthodontic treatment (usually a $1,500–$3,000 lifetime benefit). The Canadian Dental Care Plan does not cover elective cosmetic procedures. Always request a pre-determination from your insurer before beginning treatment to understand your specific coverage.

What is the most affordable cosmetic dental treatment? 

Professional teeth whitening is the most accessible entry point in-office whitening costs $300–$800 and delivers noticeable results in a single appointment. Dental bonding ($150–$600 per tooth) is the next most affordable option for addressing chips, gaps, or minor imperfections. Both can be excellent first steps for patients who want to improve their smile without a large initial investment.

How long does cosmetic dentistry take? 

It depends entirely on the treatment. Professional whitening is completed in a single 60–90-minute appointment. Dental bonding is also typically one appointment. Porcelain veneers require 2–3 appointments over several weeks. Invisalign treatment takes 12–18 months on average. A comprehensive smile makeover combining multiple treatments may take 6–18 months from start to finish when treatment sequencing, preparatory work, and laboratory fabrication times are all accounted for.

Do I need to have healthy teeth before getting cosmetic dentistry? 

Yes this is fundamental. Any active tooth decay or gum disease must be treated before cosmetic work begins. Applying cosmetic treatments over an unhealthy oral foundation leads to poor results and treatment failure. A good cosmetic dentist will complete a full oral health assessment and address any underlying issues before recommending or beginning cosmetic procedures.

What is a smile makeover? 

A smile makeover is a coordinated treatment plan that combines multiple cosmetic procedures such as whitening, veneers, bonding, orthodontics, and gum contouring to comprehensively transform a patient's smile. The specific combination is tailored entirely to the individual patient's starting point, goals, and budget during a detailed cosmetic consultation.

Book a Cosmetic Dentistry Consultation in Markham

Whether you are interested in a simple whitening treatment or a comprehensive smile makeover, the right starting point is always a thorough consultation that honestly assesses your teeth, discusses your goals, and maps out a realistic, well-sequenced treatment plan.

At Hwy7 Family Dentistry, located at 4560 Hwy 7 E, Unit 500, Unionville, Markham, we provide the full range of cosmetic dental treatments from professional whitening and composite bonding to porcelain veneers, Invisalign, and smile makeover planning. We currently accepting new patients in Markham and Unionville.

📞 Call us at (905) 604-1995 🌐 Book your cosmetic consultation online