When Straight Teeth Still Aren't Right: Veneers After Braces
Correcting flared, discolored teeth and uneven spacing that orthodontics alone left behind
By Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh, DMD · 9460 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 850, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 · (310) 770-3335
Last Updated: July 2026
Finished braces and still not happy?
Braces straighten teeth - but they don't change a tooth's shape, color, or proportions. If your teeth are aligned and the smile still looks flared, uneven, or dull, the issue is the teeth themselves, not their position. That's what veneers are for. Send us a photo and we'll tell you what's actually left to fix.
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Treatment Plan by Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh
- Smile design
- Gum lift
- Upper and lower temporary veneers, revised to preference
- Permanent porcelain veneers and onlays
The Patient's Journey
After braces, this patient's teeth were straight - but she still wasn't happy. The teeth were discolored, the smile looked asymmetric, small spaces remained, and the teeth flared outward. Alignment had done its job; the shape, color, and proportion of the teeth had not been addressed.
Straight is not the same as finished. Orthodontics moves teeth - it doesn't change their shape, their shade, or how they flare.
Understanding the Challenge
Her remaining problems were about the teeth themselves. Their shape created uneven gaps that straightening couldn't close, and they flared outward, which reads as bulky. Simply veneering over them would have added to the bulk. The answer was to reset the proportions - lengthen the teeth, fill the spaces at the base, and flatten the outward flare - while keeping everything natural.
Initial Findings
Post-orthodontic alignment with residual esthetic concerns; discoloration; asymmetry; small spaces from tooth shape; outward flaring.
The Treatment Sequence
We designed the smile around her facial features and performed a gum lift to lengthen the teeth upward. The veneers were then designed to widen the teeth near the base - filling the open spaces - while flattening the front surface to correct the flare and eliminate bulk. She test-drove temporary veneers and we revised them to her preferences, then delivered permanent porcelain veneers and onlays in a shade she chose herself.
The Result
A brighter, fuller smile with even proportions and edges that line up - fuller where it was open, flatter where it flared, and never overdone.
Frequently Asked Questions About Veneers After Braces
Why do I still not like my smile after braces?
Braces align teeth but don't change their shape, color, or proportions. If those are the issue, veneers address what orthodontics can't.
Can veneers fix flared teeth?
Yes - the veneer design can flatten the outward flare and rebalance proportions, so teeth no longer look like they splay outward.
What is the difference between a veneer and an onlay?
A veneer covers the front of a tooth for appearance; an onlay rebuilds part of a tooth's biting surface. Both were used here to restore look and function.
Why a gum lift as part of this?
It lengthens the teeth upward so they can be reproportioned and the spacing filled without looking oversized.
Can I choose the shade?
Yes - in this case the patient selected her own final shade after previewing it in the temporaries.
Will it look natural?
Reproportioning and shade selection are designed to look full and even without appearing overdone.
How long did treatment take?
About fifteen weeks, including gum healing and the temporary-to-permanent stages.
What does treatment like this cost?
It depends on the specific plan, which we review at consultation. We accept PPO insurance and offer financing through Proceed Finance, PatientFi, Happen Bank, CareCredit, and Cherry.
Last Updated: July 2026
Dr. Kiyan Mehdizadeh, DMD
Doctor of Dental Medicine
Most cosmetic dentists refer out for surgery. Most surgeons don't do cosmetic work. Dr. Mehdizadeh trained in both — implantology and bone grafting at Loma Linda and UCLA, fixed prosthodontics under Mauro Fradeani in Italy, periodontal microsurgery with Hürzeler and Zuhr in Munich, and IV sedation at the University of Alabama. That combination means complex cases involving surgery, grafting, implants, and restorative work are planned and executed by a single provider with full command of every phase.
Technical skill produces function. Taste is what produces beauty. The difference between dental work that looks like dental work and a result that looks entirely natural comes down to aesthetic judgment — proportion, texture, translucency, how light moves across a surface. That sensibility runs through everything here, from the way cases are designed to the office itself.
An in-house master ceramist and on-site laboratory allow restorations to be designed, fabricated, and refined with direct collaboration between doctor and technician — no outsourced lab work, no guesswork, no compromise on the final product. Dr. Mehdizadeh is one of few dentists with the refined ability to provide care across multiple specialties, resulting in cohesive and holistic outcomes.
Education & Credentials
- Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), cum laude — Boston University
- Bachelor of Science in Biology — Emory University
- Mastership in Implant Dentistry & Grafting — Loma Linda University / gIDE Institute
- Advanced Implant Therapy & Grafting — UCLA / gIDE Institute
- Implant Placement & Restoration — UCLA / Nobel Biocare
- Guided Bone Regeneration & Ridge Augmentation — gIDE Institute
- Sinus Elevation & Augmentation — gIDE Institute
- Soft Tissue Management & Grafting — gIDE Institute
- Minimally Invasive Augmentation & Autogenous Bone Management — IDEA, San Francisco
- Master Program in Fixed Prosthodontics — Fradeani Education, Italy
- Aesthetic Dentistry — UCLA School of Dentistry
- Advanced Occlusion & Bite Design — UCLA
- Periodontal Micro-Surgery — Hürzeler/Zuhr, Munich
- Micro-Endodontic Training — University of Pennsylvania
- IV Sedation — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Injectable Therapy for TMJ & Facial Pain — American Academy of Facial Esthetics
Considering similar treatment?
Send Dr. Mehdizadeh a photo and ask what’s possible for your case.