Cosmetic Dentist in Walnut Creek, CA

Mona Lisa Smile Dental provides comprehensive cosmetic dentistry in Walnut Creek — from porcelain veneers and professional whitening to smile makeovers and gummy smile treatment — all under the care of Dr. Mohammad Khandaqji, DDS, an AACD-accredited cosmetic dentist with over 25 years of experience. Schedule your smile makeover consultation today by calling our office on Olympic Blvd.

There’s a reason porcelain veneers are still the gold standard. They just work. Dramatic transformation, natural appearance, and they hold up for years. Each veneer is basically a wafer-thin shell of dental ceramic — we’re talking 0.3mm to 0.5mm thick — that gets bonded right to the front of your tooth. It corrects color, shape, size, alignment issues. Sometimes all four at once.

We use high-grade lithium disilicate and feldspathic porcelain because those materials nail the translucency and light refraction you see in real enamel. The finished veneer? It’s indistinguishable from the teeth next to it. Even under that bright California sun Walnut Creek gets roughly 260 days a year. Nobody’s going to spot the difference.

The whole process usually takes two appointments. First visit, Dr. Khandaqji does minimal prep — preserving as much healthy enamel as he can — and takes precise digital impressions. You’ll wear temporary veneers while the permanent ones are being crafted. Second visit, we bond each one individually, dialing in the shade and contour until everything looks and feels right.

Porcelain veneers can last 15 to 20 years with proper care. That’s a solid return on investment. They resist staining from coffee, red wine, and tea way better than natural enamel or composite resin does. For professionals around Walnut Creek who want a polished, confident look — veneers deliver. Consistently.

Curious how veneers stack up against bonding or orthodontics? Or maybe you want to pair them with another treatment? Take a look at our full range of dental services to see what’s available under one roof.

Great cosmetic work starts with a real conversation. Not a quick glance and a treatment code — an actual sit-down where we listen. At Mona Lisa Smile Dental, we block out serious time for your smile makeover consultation because we want to hear what’s been bugging you. Chipped edges? Discoloration you’ve been self-conscious about for years? Uneven spacing that catches your eye every time you look in the mirror? We want to know all of it.

Dr. Mohammad Khandaqji uses 3D dental imaging along with digital photography to get a full picture of your tooth structure, gum symmetry, how your bite lines up, and your facial proportions. Here’s the deal: that diagnostic data lets us build a treatment plan that looks beautiful and actually works with your mouth — not against it. We don’t guess. You’ll see a projected result before we touch a single tooth.

Walnut Creek folks tend to do their homework, and honestly, we love that. We’ll walk you through every realistic option — maybe it’s conservative bonding, maybe it’s a full set of porcelain veneers, maybe something in between — and we’ll be upfront about timelines, costs, and what maintenance looks like down the road. Oh, and our team communicates in English, Spanish, Farsi, and Arabic. Language shouldn’t stand between you and understanding your own treatment.

So what really makes our consultations different? Dr. Khandaqji holds an accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). That’s not just a membership card. It requires rigorous case evaluations and peer review — only a tiny percentage of dentists nationwide go through it. You’re sitting across from someone who’s spent 25-plus years obsessing over aesthetic dentistry. That depth of experience shows up in every recommendation he makes.

A “gummy smile” — that’s when a lot of gum tissue shows above your upper teeth when you grin — affects roughly 10% to 25% of people. And it’s one of the most under-discussed cosmetic dental concerns out there. Tons of patients don’t even realize it’s fixable until they come see us for something else entirely.

The cause matters. Sometimes your teeth are actually normal length but look short because excess gum tissue is covering them — dentists call that altered passive eruption. Other times it’s about skeletal positioning, how your lip moves, or a mix of things happening at once.

Dr. Khandaqji treats gummy smiles with crown lengthening and laser gum therapy. Crown lengthening means precisely recontouring the gum line — and occasionally a small amount of bone underneath — to reveal more of the tooth’s natural crown. Using laser technology makes the whole thing cleaner: less bleeding, quicker healing, and really precise control compared to traditional surgical approaches.

You’ll see results right away, though the tissue takes about 3 to 6 months to fully mature. Want to combine gummy smile correction with veneers or whitening? We always do the gum work first. That way we establish the ideal tissue architecture before placing any restorations on top of it. This layered sequencing — honestly, it’s what separates a good cosmetic outcome from one that genuinely wows you.

Not everything needs a big procedure. Seriously. Cosmetic dental bonding and enamel shaping and contouring are conservative techniques — often done in a single visit — that can make a bigger difference than you’d expect.

Bonding is pretty straightforward. We apply tooth-colored composite resin directly onto the tooth surface, sculpt it by hand, then harden it with a curing light. Small chips, minor gaps, stubborn permanent stains, slightly irregular shapes — bonding handles all of that. The resin bonds chemically to your enamel, so the repair blends in and looks natural.

Contouring works the opposite way. Instead of adding material, we carefully reshape the outer enamel to smooth rough edges, fix minor overlaps, or tweak tooth length for better symmetry. Combine the two? You can get a remarkably polished result — often in under an hour, and a lot of times we don’t even need anesthesia.

We recommend bonding and contouring a lot for people who want visible improvement but aren’t quite ready for veneers. It’s also great for younger adults whose teeth are still settling after braces. The cost is significantly less than porcelain, and contouring is completely reversible. Bonding typically lasts 5 to 10 years before you’d need a touch-up (that depends on your bite and habits, though).

Coffee stains. Tea stains. Wine stains. Just plain getting older. These are the cosmetic complaints we hear most from patients around Walnut Creek — and professional whitening tackles them far more effectively and safely than anything you’ll grab off a drugstore shelf.

At Mona Lisa Smile Dental, we offer in-office teeth whitening and take-home whitening kits. The in-office version uses a high-concentration hydrogen peroxide gel under controlled conditions, and it can get you 6 to 8 shades lighter in one appointment. You’re in and out in about 60 to 90 minutes.

Prefer something more gradual? Or maybe you’ve got sensitivity concerns? Our custom-fitted take-home trays use a lower-concentration carbamide peroxide gel that you apply over 10 to 14 days. The trays are made from impressions of your actual teeth, so the gel distributes evenly and doesn’t irritate your gums. We’ve also got a sensitivity-safe whitening treatment with potassium nitrate and fluoride built in to protect nerve endings during the bleaching process.

Truth be told, whitening isn’t one-size-fits-all. Tetracycline staining, fluorosis, and certain kinds of deep discoloration respond differently than surface stains do. That’s why we evaluate first. We’ll figure out if whitening alone gets you where you want to be — or whether pairing it with veneers or bonding would give you a more complete result.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long does professional teeth whitening last in Walnut Creek's climate?

Professional in-office teeth whitening results typically last 12 to 18 months before a touch-up is recommended. Walnut Creek’s climate doesn’t directly accelerate fading, but lifestyle habits like frequent coffee, tea, and wine consumption can contribute to re-staining. Using a straw for dark beverages, rinsing with water after staining foods, and maintaining regular cleanings can extend results well beyond 18 months.

Is Mona Lisa Smile Dental easy to get to from the Saranap neighborhood?

Yes. Our office at 2079 Olympic Blvd, Walnut Creek, CA 94595 is typically under a 10-minute drive from Saranap via Boulevard Way to Olympic Boulevard. We offer convenient parking and Saturday appointments from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by request.

Can cosmetic dental work be done in just one visit?

Several cosmetic procedures can be completed in a single appointment, including cosmetic dental bonding (30-60 minutes per tooth), enamel shaping and contouring, and in-office teeth whitening (about 90 minutes). Porcelain veneers require at least two visits, and full smile makeovers are staged across several appointments for precision.

What cosmetic dental options work best for adults with sensitive teeth?

Sensitivity-safe whitening treatments with potassium nitrate, minimal-prep or no-prep porcelain veneers, and cosmetic bonding are all excellent options for adults with sensitive teeth. Nitrous oxide and oral sedation are also available for patients whose sensitivity creates anxiety. Dr. Khandaqji evaluates each patient’s sensitivity triggers and tailors the cosmetic plan accordingly.

Do Walnut Creek residents need a referral to see a cosmetic dentist?

No referral is needed. You can schedule a cosmetic consultation directly with Mona Lisa Smile Dental. We offer general, cosmetic, orthodontic, periodontal, prosthodontic, and surgical services all under one roof, so everything can be handled in-house without bouncing between specialists.

Why People in Walnut Creek Choose Our Cosmetic Dentist Office

People trust us because we talk to you like a real person, not a number. We live and work in the area, and we care about the community. We’ve helped local teachers from Northgate, busy parents from Rossmoor, young adults getting ready for new jobs, and even people coming back to the dentist after years away.

We focus on small steps, clear plans, and smiles that look natural. We fix the things that bug you every time you look in the mirror—chips, stains, uneven gums, worn teeth—and we do it in a calm, friendly setting.

Need Help With Your Smile?

If you want a brighter, cleaner, or more confident smile, our Walnut Creek cosmetic dentist team is here to help. Call, or book online anytime. Even if you’re not sure what you need, we’ll help you figure out the next right step.

Your smile should make you feel good every day. Let’s make that happen.