What Is Instant Orthodontics?
A Straight Smile in Days — Not a Year and a Half.
Porcelain veneers earned the nickname “instant orthodontics” because of what they can achieve cosmetically in a fraction of the time of traditional alignment treatment. By custom-designing thin porcelain shells that correct the appearance of crowded, gapped, or misaligned teeth, Dr. Hovden can transform a smile that looks uneven into one that looks completely straight—without a single month in braces.
But instant orthodontics is more than just straightening. Because veneers simultaneously address alignment, colour, shape, and size, the result is a comprehensively transformed smile—something no aligner or brace can achieve alone. For the right patient, this is not a shortcut. It is genuinely the better path.
Dr. Hovden’s philosophy is always to recommend the most conservative option first. For many patients, that means Invisalign combined with whitening—preserving your enamel entirely. But when patients also want to change the shape, size, or colour of their teeth alongside alignment, or when cosmetic issues are severe enough that braces alone won’t deliver the result they want, veneers become the right tool. He will tell you honestly which path serves you best.
AACD Accredited Fellow
1 of 80 practicing dentists worldwide
Digital Smile Design
See and approve your result before treatment begins
1–2 Visits
vs. 12–18 months with traditional orthodontics
Kois & Spear Faculty
Visiting faculty — advanced cosmetic expertise
Multi Gold Medal AACD
Smile makeovers are recognized as some of the best in the field
Why Patients Choose Instant Orthodontics
Everything Braces Do, Plus Everything They Can’t
Traditional orthodontics, whether metal braces or Invisalign, moves teeth. That is all it does. If your teeth are crooked but also chipped, discoloured, worn, or disproportionate in shape or size, you can finish 18 months of treatment and still not have the smile you wanted. Instant orthodontics solves the whole picture at once.
In the right hands, and with the AACD-accredited artistry Dr. Hovden brings to every veneer case, the result looks completely natural. His gold medal-recognised smile makeovers are built on decades of experience designing smiles that suit each patient’s face, skin tone, and personality. Not a generic “perfect” smile. Your smile.
Honest Comparison
Instant Orthodontics vs. Invisalign—Which Path Is Right for You?
Dr. Hovden will always recommend the most conservative option first. Here is the honest comparison between these two paths so you can understand which one genuinely serves your goals.
|
Instant Orthodontics (Veneers) |
Invisalign Clear Aligners |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Treatment Time |
12–18 months of consistent wear |
|
|
Enamel |
Minimal reduction required for veneer bonding |
|
|
Fixes Alignment |
||
|
Fixes Color |
No—whitening is a separate treatment |
|
|
Fixes Chips & Shape |
No—only alignment is addressed |
|
|
Fixes Spacing & Gaps |
||
|
Natural Look |
Retainer required permanently to maintain |
|
|
Daily Impact |
22 hours/day of wear required |
|
|
Best For |
Instant Orthodontics (Veneers)
Invisalign Clear Aligners
Dr. Hovden’s Honest Take
If your primary goal is straighter teeth and your teeth are otherwise healthy, Invisalign (often combined with whitening) is usually the better first step. It preserves your enamel entirely and achieves 80–90% of the cosmetic result. Dr. Hovden has talked patients out of veneer plans when Invisalign + whitening genuinely served them better. If you also want to change colour, shape, or size—or if your alignment concerns are accompanied by chips, wear, or disproportion—instant orthodontics may deliver a more complete result. He will tell you honestly which path is right for your specific teeth and goals. Learn more about Invisalign →
Why Dr. Hovden for Instant Orthodontics
AACD Artistry. Kois & Spear Science. A Smile Built for Your Face.
Porcelain veneers placed by a general dentist and veneers placed by an AACD Accredited cosmetic dentist are not the same procedure. The AACD Accreditation — held by only 1 of 80 practicing dentists worldwide — requires demonstrated mastery of cosmetic dentistry including the ability to design and deliver smile makeovers that look completely natural. Dr. Hovden has received multiple gold medals from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry for his clinical work.
His training as a Clinical Instructor at the Kois Center and Visiting Faculty at the Spear Institute means the cosmetic design is always underpinned by rigorous bite analysis and occlusal planning. A veneer case that looks beautiful but creates bite problems will fail within years. Dr. Hovden’s veneers are designed to last decades — he has only ever replaced 2 veneer cases in his entire career.
And because he completes well over 200 hours of continuing education per year since 2020, including the latest in digital smile design and cosmetic materials, every case reflects the current state of the art. Dr. Hovden is also a Former UOP Faculty Member for 39 years in the Department of Endodontics, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, and he was the founder of the Bay Area Aesthetic Masters study club, committed to raising the level of care of local dentists for over 20 years.
The Best of All Worlds
See Your New Smile Before We Start. Approve It. Then We Begin.
The biggest anxiety patients have about cosmetic dental work is not knowing what the result will look like until it is done. Digital Smile Design eliminates that entirely.
Before any preparation begins, Dr. Hovden uses DSD technology to create a precise digital preview of your proposed smile — mapped to your actual facial proportions. You see the shape, shade, and alignment of your veneers as they will look on your face. You request adjustments. You approve the final design. Only then does treatment begin.
This is what Dr. Hovden means by “the best of all worlds”: his DSD mastery combined with AACD Accreditation, Kois and Spear training, and decades of proven clinical results. Not digital design alone, and not artistry alone, but both together for a result that is both scientifically sound and genuinely beautiful.
Am I a Candidate?
Who Is Instant Orthodontics Right For?
Instant orthodontics is not the right path for everyone — and Dr. Hovden will always tell you that honestly. Here is how he thinks about who is genuinely well-suited to veneers versus who would be better served by Invisalign first.
Strong Candidates for Instant Orthodontics
When Invisalign May Be the Better First Step
Not Sure Which Path Is Right?
This is exactly what the consultation is for. Dr. Hovden will conduct a thorough assessment of your teeth, bite, and cosmetic goals and give you a completely honest recommendation.
He has talked patients out of veneer plans when Invisalign + whitening genuinely served them better. If instant orthodontics is the right path, he will show you why. If it is not, he will tell you that too.
You will leave the consultation knowing exactly what your best path is—and why.
What to Expect
Your Instant Orthodontics Journey: Step by Step
From consultation to walking out with your new smile, here is exactly what the process looks like. Most patients complete their transformation in two appointments over two to three weeks.
Consultation & Assessment
Dr. Hovden assesses your teeth, bite, and cosmetic goals. He discusses whether instant orthodontics or a more conservative path serves you best—and explains exactly what the result will look like.
Digital Smile Design
Photographs and digital scans are taken. Dr. Hovden designs your new smile using DSD technology. You see and approve the result before any tooth preparation begins.
Preparation & Temporaries
A minimal amount of enamel is removed to create space for the veneers. Temporary veneers are placed immediately. You walk out of this appointment with your preview smile already in place.
Final Veneer Placement
Your custom-fabricated permanent veneers are checked for colour, shape, and fit under the operating microscope before final bonding. Any final adjustments are made to ensure a perfect, natural result.
Your New Smile
You walk out with a permanently transformed smile—straight, bright, and designed specifically for your face. No retainers. No further treatment. Just the smile you approved, exactly as planned.
Patient Results
Real Transformations. Designed for Real Faces.
Every instant orthodontics case Dr. Hovden completes is custom-designed—not templated. The shade, shape, length, and surface character of every veneer is chosen to look completely natural for that specific patient’s face, age, and smile. His multiple AACD gold medals speak to the standard these results are held to.
In over 40 years of practise, he has replaced only two veneer cases. That longevity comes from the combination of AACD artistry, operating microscope precision, and Kois and Spear occlusal training applied to every single case.
Patient Reviews
What Patients Say About Their Smile Transformation
“For the first time in memory, my teeth aren’t too small for my mouth, and I really like my smile. Dr. Hovden is clearly a consummate professional who enjoys his work.”
Arch W.
“I was thrilled with the outcome and LOVE my smile! He is a true specialist and takes great pride in his work. I cannot thank him enough.”
Patient, Smile Transformation
“I was one of those people fearful of dentists until I found Dr. Hovden. I call him and his team my guardian angels. My smile has never looked better.”
Tereza K.
“I have been a patient for over 20 years. Dr. Hovden provides top notch service every visit. The entire team always has genuine care about your well being. Highly recommend.”
Robby S.
Common Questions
Instant Orthodontics FAQs
The questions patients ask most before their consultation. Something not covered? Call us at 650-755-6000.
Your Best Smile—Designed, Approved, and Delivered in Days.
Book a consultation and walk away knowing exactly whether instant orthodontics, Invisalign, or a combination approach is right for your goals. Dr. Hovden will give you an honest assessment, a Digital Smile Design preview, and a complete picture of your path forward—before any commitment is made.
Serving Daly City, San Francisco, Pacifica, and the greater Bay Area · 901 Campus Dr Ste 202, Daly City, CA 94015
