I have spent years in front of cameras. Fashion events, interviews, photographs, social media, and meetings are part of my professional life, so I have always been conscious of my smile. I wanted it to look beautiful, modern, and natural, not like a row of extremely white, identical teeth. I wanted a smile that suited my face and made me feel confident whenever I laughed, spoke, or saw myself in a photograph.
When I began exploring cosmetic dentistry in the United States, especially in South Florida, the estimates surprised me. At one point, the smile I wanted seemed to cost as much as an apartment. That made me ask a simple question: Why was I limiting my search to America?
I was not looking for the cheapest dentist. I wanted the same high standards, advanced technology, and cosmetic expertise at a price that made sense. That search led me to Santo Domingo and Dr. Jonathan Collado at Veneers Dominican Republic.
Price matters, but the doctor matters more
Price is naturally part of the decision, but I would never choose someone to permanently change my teeth simply because the treatment was less expensive. The more I researched, the clearer it became that the doctor is the most important factor. I wanted an experienced cosmetic dentist who understood facial proportions, lips, tooth shape, and shade, and whose work I would choose even if the price were the same everywhere. That is what drew me to Dr. Collado.
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I also looked closely at the clinic’s materials and laboratory standards. Options such as porcelain and E-max veneers can be excellent, but the material alone does not create a beautiful result. The skill behind the design, preparation, and placement matters just as much.
A beautiful smile, not obvious veneers
There is a particular look I wanted to avoid: teeth that are technically perfect but too white, too uniform, or disconnected from the person’s face. I do not want people to say, “You have beautiful veneers.” I want them to say, “You have a beautiful smile.” A well-designed smile should look individual and believable, not like the same template used for every patient.
A transformation in approximately five days
Another important advantage was timing. Depending on a patient’s dental health and treatment plan, a cosmetic smile transformation may be completed during a short stay, in some cases approximately five days.
For someone whose schedule revolves around work, events, and cameras, the possibility of traveling to Santo Domingo and completing treatment in one trip is extremely attractive. Of course, this timeline cannot be promised to everyone. Gum health, existing dental work, bite issues, and other clinical factors require an individual evaluation.
Going abroad does not mean lowering your standards
Dental tourism should never mean choosing the lowest price and booking a flight. This is medical care, and a polished social media page is not enough.
Patients should examine the doctor’s experience and results, ask what materials are used, understand why a treatment is recommended, and learn what support is available afterward. They should also ask how much natural tooth structure will be altered and whether the results look natural across different faces.
A lower price does not automatically mean lower quality. American practices have significant costs (including real estate, staffing, insurance, laboratories, and administration) that may differ greatly in another country. Price and quality should therefore be evaluated separately.
The right smile
My work places me in front of cameras, and I do not want to think about my teeth whenever someone raises a phone. I simply want to smile without calculating the angle.
I once thought my choices were to pay an extremely high price in the United States or compromise elsewhere. I learned that expanding the search does not have to mean lowering standards.
For me, the price made Santo Domingo worth considering, but it was never enough on its own. Dr. Collado’s experience, the quality of the clinic and laboratory, and the possibility of achieving a natural result are what made the option compelling.
I am not looking for the cheapest smile. I am looking for the right one.
Anna Estrin is a fashion journalist, writer, and media contributor whose work and personal style have been featured in Vogue Italia, Marie Claire, Harper’s Bazaar, and The Wall Street Journal.
For more than fifteen years, she has worked within the fashion industry, covering runway shows, industry events, and the people behind one of the world’s most visible and influential businesses. Her reporting has taken her between New York, Miami, and international fashion destinations, where she has spent years exploring the intersection of image, ambition, culture, and success.
She shares her work and style on Instagram.
