Plain English
Cosmetic Dentistry Glossary
Cosmetic dentistry has its own vocabulary, and most of it is used to sell rather than to explain. Here is a plain-English guide to the terms Dr. Marashi uses in consultation, what they actually mean, and where to learn more.
- Aesthetic Dentistry
- An umbrella term for dental work focused on the appearance of the teeth, gums, and bite. Cosmetic dentistry is the most common synonym. Cosmetic Dentistry →
- Bonding
- Using composite resin to repair or reshape a tooth, sculpted chairside and hardened with light. A short-term or single-tooth solution, not a substitute for porcelain veneers.
- Bruxism
- Habitual grinding or clenching of the teeth, often at night. A major cause of veneer failure when left unaddressed by a night guard.
- Cerinate
- The proprietary pressed ceramic used by the Lumineers brand. Not the same as custom hand-layered feldspathic porcelain. Veneers vs Lumineers →
- Chiclet Smile
- Slang for veneers that look bulky, opaque, and uniformly white, like the chewing gum. The most common reason patients seek veneer redo work. Veneer Redo →
- Composite Veneer
- A veneer made from tooth-colored resin sculpted directly on the tooth. Faster and cheaper up front than porcelain, with shorter longevity and more staining. Porcelain vs Composite →
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Dentistry focused on the appearance of the smile: veneers, whitening, reshaping, and full smile makeovers. Service Page →
- Crown
- A restoration that covers the entire tooth, used when the tooth has lost significant structure. Different from a veneer, which only covers the front. Veneers vs Crowns →
- Diastema
- A visible gap between two teeth, most commonly the upper front teeth. Often closed with veneers or orthodontics.
- Digital Smile Design
- Planning a cosmetic case digitally before any prep, using photos and scans to preview the final result and align expectations.
- Enamel
- The hard outer layer of the tooth. Veneers preserve as much enamel as possible because removed enamel does not grow back.
- Feldspathic Porcelain
- A traditional, hand-layered porcelain prized for translucency and lifelike depth. The material of choice for high-end cosmetic veneers. Service Page →
- Full-Mouth Reconstruction
- A coordinated treatment plan that restores or replaces every tooth, combining cosmetic and structural work.
- Gum Contouring
- Reshaping the gum line to balance tooth proportions, often combined with veneers to correct a gummy smile.
- Gummy Smile
- A smile that shows more gum tissue than is aesthetically ideal. Corrected with gum contouring, veneers, or orthodontics depending on cause.
- Hand-Layered Porcelain
- Porcelain built up in thin layers by a ceramist, allowing custom translucency, shade, and surface texture. Dr. Marashi's standard. Smile Science →
- Lithium Disilicate
- A high-strength pressed ceramic (brand name e.max) used for veneers, crowns, and onlays. Strong and esthetic, often paired with hand-layered porcelain.
- Lumineers
- A specific brand of no-prep veneer made from Cerinate. One product, not a category. Marketed as no-prep, often produces bulky results when forced on the wrong case. Veneers vs Lumineers →
- Marashi Collection (The)
- Dr. Marashi's proprietary range of veneer shades developed to match natural tooth color with translucency and depth. Used exclusively in his practice.
- Microscope Dentistry
- Performing dental work under surgical-grade magnification (typically 4x to 20x) for precision in margins, fit, and bonding. Service Page →
- Night Guard
- A custom-fitted appliance worn during sleep to protect veneers and natural teeth from grinding and clenching forces.
- No-Prep Veneer
- An ultra-thin veneer bonded to the natural tooth without removing enamel. True candidates have small or thin teeth that need volume added. Service Page →
- Occlusion
- The way the upper and lower teeth meet when biting. Critical to veneer longevity. Bad occlusion breaks beautiful porcelain.
- Porcelain Veneer
- A thin custom ceramic shell bonded to the front of a tooth to change color, shape, or proportion. Lasts 15 to 20+ years with proper care. Service Page →
- Prep Veneer
- A traditional porcelain veneer that requires conservative reshaping of enamel before bonding. The right choice for most cosmetic cases. Prep vs No-Prep →
- Quiet Luxury Smile
- Dr. Marashi's design philosophy: results that look like a refined version of your own teeth, not a costume. Restraint over uniformity.
- Redo (Veneer Redo)
- Removing and replacing veneers placed by another provider, typically because the originals look bulky, too white, or unnatural. Service Page →
- Sedation Dentistry
- Using oral, IV, or nitrous medication to help anxious patients receive treatment comfortably. Service Page →
- Shade
- The color of a tooth or restoration, described on a graded scale. Modern cosmetic work uses custom shades, not stock palettes.
- Smile Design
- The planning phase of a cosmetic case: shape, proportion, shade, and how the smile fits the face, lips, and personality.
- Smile Science
- Dr. Marashi's clinical framework combining facial analysis, hand-sculpted porcelain, and microscope precision to design natural-looking smiles. Read the Framework →
- Translucency
- The light-transmitting quality of porcelain that makes it read as natural enamel instead of opaque ceramic. The hallmark of high-end veneers.
- Veneer Candidacy
- Whether a patient is a good fit for veneers based on enamel health, bite, gum tissue, and the cosmetic goal. Not every smile needs veneers, and not every patient should have them.