At a Glance
- Service: Cosmetic dentistry, including professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and Invisalign clear aligners
- Serving: Loganville on both the Gwinnett and Walton sides, Bay Creek, and the Highway 20 corridor
- Office hours: Mon-Tue 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Wed 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Thu 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Fri 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM (one Friday per month)
- New patients: Yes, currently accepting cosmetic consultations
- Why patients choose us: Same dentist plans and performs every step of your treatment, no handoffs
Cosmetic dentistry websites lean heavily on before-and-after photos and light on actually explaining what happens in the chair. Here is the process for each cosmetic treatment offered at Heritage Family Dentistry, step by step, from first phone call to final result. Loganville patients make the run up Highway 20 with clear expectations rather than mysteries.
Step One Across Every Cosmetic Plan: The Consultation
Every cosmetic plan starts the same way: a comprehensive exam with digital X-rays, photos of your teeth and smile from several angles, and an unhurried conversation with Dr. Pickwick about what you want changed. This visit diagnoses anything that needs treating first, since cosmetic work goes on top of a healthy mouth. Uninsured patients pay the $159 new patient exam rate, which covers the full diagnostic workup. From there, you receive a written plan with specific treatments, pricing, and the order they should happen in.
The Whitening Process, Start to Finish
In-office whitening runs about an hour in one visit. The team isolates your gums with a protective barrier, applies a peroxide gel to the front of your teeth, and activates it under light. You leave with brighter teeth that day, plus custom take-home trays for maintenance touch-ups every few months.
Take-home whitening alone uses the same custom trays with a milder gel applied at home for two weeks. Both methods reach a similar end result; the in-office version gets there faster and costs more, while the take-home version costs less and requires daily consistency. Most patients use a combination.
Meet the Dentist Doing the Work
Methodical process reflects methodical training. Dr. Erin Pickwick earned her DMD from the Medical College of Georgia and completed a postgraduate residency through the University of Alabama and the Birmingham VA Medical Center, a hospital setting that demanded comprehensive treatment planning. She has practiced cosmetic and family dentistry in Gwinnett for over 15 years.
One detail Loganville patients ask about often: the same dentist who plans your cosmetic case also performs it. No handoff between a treatment planner and an associate provider partway through. The face you meet at consultation is the face you see at every appointment afterward.
The Drive from Loganville
From the Highway 78 intersection in Loganville, head north on Highway 20 toward Grayson. You pass through downtown Grayson, and the office sits at 2023 Grayson Hwy, Suite 203, just on the Lawrenceville side. Bay Creek-area patients connect to Highway 20 and make the same straight run, no highway merges and no Snellville retail traffic anywhere on the route. [Route and drive time: client to confirm before publishing.] Call (678) 336-1983 to start with Step One.
The Veneer Process, Visit by Visit
Veneer placement takes two appointments spaced roughly two weeks apart. Visit one: the dentist numbs the area, removes a thin layer of enamel from the front of each treated tooth (a millimeter or less), takes impressions of the prepped teeth, and places temporary veneers you wear while the lab fabricates the permanent ones. Temporaries protect the prepped teeth and let you preview the new shape, though they feel slightly different from the final result.
Visit two: the dentist removes the temporaries, checks fit and color of the permanent veneers against your face, makes any adjustments, and bonds them in place with a dental adhesive cured under light. You leave with the final smile, plus aftercare instructions covering brushing, flossing, and foods to handle carefully.
The Invisalign Process, Tray by Tray
Invisalign starts with a digital scan instead of impressions, which lets Dr. Pickwick show you a computer model of your projected final smile before treatment begins. If you don't like the projection, you don't start. The lab fabricates a series of clear aligner trays based on the approved model, usually a new tray every one to two weeks.
You wear each tray about 22 hours a day, removing them only to eat, drink anything besides water, and brush. Check-ins happen every six to eight weeks for short visits. Total treatment time averages 12 to 18 months for moderate adult cases, longer for complex bite work. A retainer follows treatment indefinitely to hold the result.
Learn More About Our Grayson General & Family Dental Services
Loganville Patient Questions
How many appointments does each cosmetic treatment require?
A: Whitening: one in-office visit, or two weeks at home with periodic check-ins. Veneers: two appointments roughly two weeks apart, plus the initial consultation. Invisalign: an initial scan, then check-ins every six to eight weeks throughout treatment. Each plan also begins with a comprehensive exam if you're a new patient.
Do I have to give up coffee during whitening or Invisalign treatment?
A: Not entirely. After whitening, avoid darkly staining drinks for 48 hours so the enamel pores can close. During Invisalign, remove the trays before drinking anything except water; coffee stains the trays and traps sugars against your teeth. With both, normal coffee consumption resumes; you just shift the routine slightly during treatment windows.
Is the veneer process reversible?
A: Practically no. Veneer placement removes a thin layer of enamel that does not grow back, so once you have veneers, you'll need them maintained or replaced for life. That permanence makes the planning conversation important, which is why we walk through alternatives like bonding or aligners at the consultation if your case is borderline.
How long does Invisalign treatment take start to finish?
A: Moderate adult cases average 12 to 18 months from first tray to last. Mild crowding cases can finish in six to nine months. Complex bite corrections sometimes run longer. The consultation includes a projected timeline based on your specific scan; that number is realistic, not optimistic.
Will I need temporary teeth between veneer visits?
A: Yes, you'll wear temporary veneers for the two weeks between prep and final placement. The temporaries cover the prepped teeth, protect them from sensitivity, and let you preview the new shape and length. They feel slightly different from the final porcelain but they're comfortable enough that most patients forget they're temporary.
Heritage Family Dentistry
2023 Grayson Hwy, Suite 203, Grayson, GA 30017
(678) 336-1983
https://graysonheritagedental.com/areas-we-serve/dentist-in-centerville/
- Cosmetic Dentist in Dacula
- Cosmetic Dentist in Snellville
- Cosmetic Dentist in Lawrenceville
- Cosmetic Dentist in Loganville
- Cosmetic Dentist in Centerville
Have a question? We have answers.
New Patient Specials
New Patient Comprehensive Dental Exam
$159
No insurance? We offer a $159 Comprehensive New Patient Exam and X-Rays.
New patients only. Cannot be combined with insurance.
No Insurance?
The Heritage Family Dentistry Membership Plan
With our membership plan, you can receive the quality care you need at a discounted price. Both monthly and annual payment plans are available.
Cannot be combined with insurance.
Our Grayson Dental Practice Location
Office Hours:
Monday - Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
(one Friday per month)
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed