So you’ve decided to explore cosmetic dentistry in Gaithersburg, MD. You want whiter teeth, are tired of hiding a chip or a gap, and are ready for a full smile makeover. So you book a consultation, and now you’re wondering what to expect.
If you’re seeing a newer practice, the consultation might be quick. They’ll look at your teeth, take a few photos, and give you a treatment plan and a price. That’s often how it works.
But at a practice that’s been around for 50 years, the consultation looks different. It’s more thorough, and asks questions a newer practice might not think to ask.
Dr. Steven Anolik has been practicing dentistry in Gaithersburg since 1973. His son, Dr. Corey Anolik, joined him in 2007. Together, they’ve guided thousands of patients through cosmetic treatment. Here’s what a consultation at TotallySmiles actually looks like, and why the questions matter.
The First Question: What Do You Want to Change?
This seems obvious, but people often skip it. At some practices, the consultation is about what the dentist sees, not what the patient wants. They look at your teeth, identify problems, and recommend solutions. The patient’s goals are secondary.
At TotallySmiles, we start with you. What bothers you about your smile? What do you want to change? What do you want to keep?
That last question matters. Some patients love the shape of their teeth but want them whiter. Others want to close a gap but don’t want to change anything else. Knowing what you want to preserve is as important as knowing what you want to fix.
The Second Question: What’s the Story Behind Your Smile?
This is where the 50 years of experience shows up. A newer dentist might look at a chipped tooth and recommend bonding or a porcelain veneer. Dr. Steven or Dr. Corey will ask how the chip happened. Was it a sports injury? A fall? Years of grinding?
The answer changes the recommendation. A trauma-related chip might be a simple cosmetic fix. A chip from grinding might need a night guard in addition to the restoration. Otherwise, the same chip will appear again.
The same goes for discoloration. If coffee has yellowed your teeth, whitening will work. If tetracycline or fluorosis caused the discoloration, whitening won’t help. Dr. Steven and Dr. Corey know the difference because they’ve seen both for decades.
The Third Question: What’s Your Dental History?
This is where a longer-tenured practice has an advantage.
If you’ve been a patient at TotallySmiles for years, Dr. Steven or Dr. Corey already knows your history. They know which teeth have been restored, which ones have crowns, and which ones have been sensitive in the past. They know what your smile looked like 10 years ago and how it’s changed.
If you’re a new patient, they’ll ask about your history in detail. What dental work have you had? Any trauma? Any orthodontics? Any sensitivity, gum disease, or TMJ issues?
That information shapes the cosmetic plan. A veneer on a sensitive tooth might require a different approach than one on a healthy tooth. A crown on a root-canal-treated tooth needs a different design than one on a vital tooth.
The Fourth Question: How Does Your Bite Function?
Most cosmetic consultations skip this question, but it matters most for long-term results.
Dr. Steven’s training through the Stomatognathic Prosthetic Honor Society focused on the masticatory system, which includes the teeth, jaw joints, and muscles. Dr. Corey’s FAGD training covered occlusion and bite function in depth. Both evaluate how your teeth meet, how your jaw moves, and whether there are signs of imbalance.
Why does this matter for cosmetic work? Because a beautiful smile that doesn’t function correctly won’t last. If your bite is off, your new veneers or crowns will wear unevenly. They might chip, crack, or come loose. The cosmetic result might look great on day one and fail within a few years.
A 50-year-old practice has seen this happen. They’ve watched patients from other offices come in with failed cosmetic work because the bite wasn’t addressed. That’s why they check it before recommending treatment.
The Fifth Question: What’s Your Timeline and Budget?
Cosmetic dentistry is an investment. Dr. Steven and Dr. Corey take that seriously.
They’ll walk you through the cost of each treatment option and explain what insurance covers and what it doesn’t. They’ll also discuss payment plans and financing options if that would help.
They’ll also talk about timing. Some treatments can be completed in a single visit. Others take weeks or months. If you have an event coming up, they’ll help you plan around it.
They’ll also be honest. If a treatment isn’t worth the investment for your specific situation, they’ll tell you. That’s part of the practice’s commitment to conservative, patient-centered care. You’ll never be pushed into treatment you don’t need.
Why This Approach Matters
The difference between a 50-year-old practice and a new one isn’t just time. It’s pattern recognition.
Dr. Steven has seen what happens when cosmetic work ignores the underlying bite. He’s seen how a poorly designed veneer can cause problems years later. He’s seen how whitening can leave teeth looking unnatural if the shade isn’t chosen carefully.
Dr. Corey shares that mindset, backed by FAGD training and modern techniques. Together, they evaluate every cosmetic case from multiple angles before recommending a plan.
That’s what a real cosmetic consultation looks like. It’s not a sales pitch, but a conversation that leads to a plan you approve.
Serving Gaithersburg and Beyond
TotallySmiles Dental Group is at 1 Bank Street, Suite 110, in Gaithersburg, MD. The practice welcomes patients from Gaithersburg, Rockville, Potomac, North Potomac, Germantown, Montgomery Village, Bethesda, North Bethesda, and across Montgomery County.
If you’re considering cosmetic dentistry, we’d love to talk. Dr. Steven and Dr. Corey will take the time to understand your goals, evaluate your smile, and create a plan that works for you. No pressure, no upselling, just honest advice from two generations of dentists who care about getting it right.
Call your trusted Gaithersburg dental office at 301-701-5861 today, or request an appointment online anytime.
