The West Hollywood Edit
5 Dental Procedures Behind the Red Carpet Smile
With 4K cameras in our pockets and unretouched video uploaded to Instagram, the "Hollywood Smile" has undergone a massive rebrand. It is no longer about opaque, blindingly white uniformity. Today, the aesthetic is hyper-naturalism.
Walk down Sunset Boulevard or scroll through the feeds of the A-list, and you will notice a shift. The teeth look real. They have texture. They catch the light. This isn’t an accident. It is the result of a specific set of protocols that prioritize biology just as much as beauty.
In West Hollywood, where the camera lens is unforgiving, the best dentistry is the kind you cannot see. Here are the five procedures that high-profile patients—from actors to executives—are actually requesting to stay camera-ready.
1. The "Invisible" Upgrade: No-Prep & Minimal-Prep Veneers
For years, the fear of veneers was the "shaved down" tooth—the aggressive removal of healthy enamel to make space for porcelain. That approach is fading.
The current standard of care, and the primary focus of our practice, is the preservation of the natural tooth structure. We utilize No-Prep and Minimal-Prep Veneers.
- The Appeal: It allows for a complete change in shape, length, and brightness without compromising the long-term health of the tooth.
- The Visual difference: Unlike the thick, "Chiclet-style" veneers of the early 2000s, these are ultra-thin shells of hand-layered porcelain. They are designed to hold "incisal translucency"—that subtle glass-like quality at the biting edge of a natural tooth.
When the light hits these veneers, it passes through the porcelain and reflects off the underlying structure, creating depth. This is why they look undetectable in high-definition close-ups.
2. The "Friday Treatment": Laser Gum Contouring
Sometimes, the issue isn’t the teeth; it’s the frame. A smile that shows too much gum tissue, or an uneven gum line, can make perfectly shaped teeth look short or boxy.
Symmetry is the subconscious key to beauty. In the past, correcting the gum line meant scalpels and sutures. Today, we use the LiteTouch™ Er:YAG Laser.
- Why it’s a favorite: Speed and silence. The LiteTouch™ allows us to sculpt the gum tissue with light energy. There is no vibration, no drilling noise, and often, no need for needles.
- The Downtime: Minimal. Because the laser seals the tissue as it works, healing is accelerated. A patient can often have their gum line refined on a Friday and be back on set or in meetings by Monday.
3. The "Micro-Tweak": Cosmetic Bonding
Not every smile needs a total overhaul. Often, a patient loves their smile but is distracted by a single chipped edge, a small gap (diastema), or a lateral incisor that looks slightly too small.
Cosmetic bonding is the art of using high-grade composite resin to sculpt these additions directly onto the tooth.
- The Process: It is a single-visit appointment. There is no lab time and usually no numbness required.
- The Artistry: The challenge with bonding is matching the shade and texture of the resin to the natural enamel, so the transition line is invisible. This is a procedure of millimeters, strictly for the detail-obsessed.
4. The "Non-Surgical Facelift": Anti-Aging Dentistry
Faces change as we age. The lower third of the face can lose volume as teeth wear down from years of grinding or use. This loss of height collapses the bite, which deepens the marionette lines around the mouth and makes the lips appear thinner.
Before reaching for fillers or surgical options, many patients in West Hollywood look to Anti-Aging Dentistry.
By restoring the original length of the teeth (often through veneers or onlays on the back teeth), we open the bite back up. This physically supports the lips and cheeks from the inside out, smoothing facial folds and restoring a more youthful facial proportion naturally.
5. The Red Carpet Detox: Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT)
Hygiene appointments are rarely discussed in beauty edits, but they are the secret to the high-gloss finish seen on the red carpet. Traditional cleanings involve scraping (scaling), which can feel abrasive.
We have introduced Swiss EMS Guided Biofilm Therapy (GBT) to the practice. It is a game-changer for maintaining both veneers and natural enamel.
- How it works: Instead of metal tools, GBT uses a warm, regulated airflow mixed with water and a soft powder. It washes away biofilm and heavy staining (coffee, wine, tobacco) without scratching the surface.
- The Feeling: It feels less like a dental procedure and more like a spa treatment. It leaves the teeth feeling polished and looking brighter immediately, without the sensitivity that often comes from aggressive cleaning.
The Missing Step: The "Test Drive"
One element often overlooked in cosmetic dentistry blogs is the fear of the unknown. What will I look like?
At Dr. Borzoo’s practice, we believe you shouldn’t have to guess. We utilize a Provisional "Test Drive" protocol. Before any final ceramics are made, patients wear a temporary version of their new smile. You go home with them. You see how they look in your bathroom mirror, how they feel when you speak, and how they photograph.
We only fabricate the final porcelain once you—and we—are thrilled with the design. It’s a safeguard that ensures the result matches the vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you reverse no-prep veneers?
Because no-prep veneers require little to no removal of natural enamel, the underlying tooth structure remains intact. This makes the procedure much more conservative and reversible compared to traditional crowns or aggressive veneers.
How do I know if I need gum contouring?
If you feel your teeth look "short" or you see a lot of gum tissue when you smile, contouring might be the solution. We use digital imaging to show you exactly how lifting the gum line would change your overall facial harmony.
Is the LiteTouch laser painful?
Most patients report little to no sensation. The laser uses light energy and water spray, eliminating the heat and vibration that cause pain in traditional dentistry.
