How did you find Affleck Dental?
I was referred by my orthodontist. He mentioned that his brother-in-law had his teeth done by Dr. Affleck and was very happy with the results.
My situation was complex. I started with an oral surgeon thinking it was a jaw issue, got referred to an orthodontist, then a prosthodontist, then two more orthodontists — Dr. Martinson was the one who ultimately pointed me to Dr. Affleck.
I also did my own research. I visited a dentist in Provo and had a virtual consultation with someone in Arizona. I’m thorough when it comes to decisions like this.
What drew me to Dr. Affleck was his conservative approach. Every other dentist wanted to crown every single tooth. Dr. Affleck only wanted to treat what was structurally necessary — I actually had to push him to do a couple of extra teeth. I appreciated that. I was worried about how I’d look, but I’m very happy with the outcome.
What stood out about his approach?
He’s focused on preserving as much natural tooth structure as possible. You’d think every dentist does that, but that’s not always the case.
When the first set of top crowns didn’t meet my expectations, he had them redone without any pushback. He’d look at something, say “that looks off,” and fix it. One crown didn’t fit right and he rebuilt it entirely. He never treated it as “good enough.”
Was the redo due to personal preference or a lab issue?
It was the lab. I actually went into the lab myself and met the technician who designed the crowns. She compared them to my temporaries and found they were shorter than what Dr. Affleck had originally ordered.
I’d recommend anyone going through this process visit the lab in person. It made a real difference in the final result.
How many crowns were done in total?
All but one on the bottom, and eight on top — about 21 crowns total. The eight on top were the ones that needed to be redone. The bottom teeth were fine except for one crown that had to be replaced. I wore temporaries for a while during that process, but they were fine.
Why a prosthodontist instead of a cosmetic dentist?
My case wasn’t purely cosmetic. My bite had collapsed, and that needed to be corrected alongside the crown work. A prosthodontist has more specialized training for complex cases like mine. Cosmetic dentists focus on appearance — prosthodontists focus on function and structure too. That distinction mattered a lot to me.
What would you tell someone considering this type of treatment?
Don’t go in expecting it to be quick. It’s a time commitment, and that’s okay.
What I’d want someone to know is that Dr. Affleck is a specialist who combines cosmetic skill with functional expertise. It’s not just about how your teeth look — it’s about how they work. You need to be able to eat comfortably and have everything feel natural.
One cosmetic dentist tried to scare me into acting fast, saying my face would change permanently if I waited. That wasn’t true — it was a sales tactic. Dr. Affleck never did anything like that. He was straightforward, easy to work with, and genuinely focused on doing the job right.
Did anyone suggest implants?
No. Every dentist I consulted recommended crowns. Some wanted to crown all 28 teeth. Dr. Affleck was the only one who didn’t push for more than what was necessary.
How did the cost compare to other providers?
Mine came to $25,000. The dentist in Utah County quoted $60,000. The Arizona dentist was comparable to Dr. Affleck per tooth, but he wanted to do every tooth.
I didn’t choose Dr. Affleck because he was the cheapest. I chose him because of his expertise.
What was the process like? Was it painful?
Very comfortable, honestly. The first appointment was six hours for the bottom teeth, and the top teeth took about five hours two days later. It’s a time commitment, but I was never in pain — not once.
I took Tylenol the first day as a precaution. Your mouth is stretched open for hours, so there’s some discomfort, but nothing painful. The only thing that hurts is the numbing injection. They also offer nitrous oxide, which helps a lot.
How many visits did it take?
A few consultations upfront, then the two main appointments for bottom and top teeth, followed by visits for the final crowns and one crown replacement. About six appointments total, not counting consultations.
What caused your teeth to get to that point?
A combination of genetics, age, and bruxism — I grind my teeth at night. I’d had braces as a kid and wore a night guard for years, but over time my bite shifted. My bottom teeth started hitting the backs of my upper front teeth, which caused breaking and chipping. The top veneers were about ten years old and worn down. Eventually it reached a point where I had to do something.
How long should the crowns last?
We didn’t talk about longevity in detail, but a close friend had her crowns done in Arizona nearly twenty years ago and they still look great. That gave me confidence.
I’m also being more careful now — no opening bags with my teeth, no cracking walnuts. It’s an investment and I intend to treat it that way.
What are the crowns made of?
Porcelain. All of them.
Any advice for someone in a similar situation?
See a specialist. I believe in going to the person with the most relevant training and experience for your specific problem.
Also — ask for before-and-after photos. Dr. Affleck didn’t have many to show me at the time, and I think seeing real examples of his work would have made me decide sooner. I’d tell anyone researching this: ask to see the work.
How do you feel about the final result?
It’s made a huge difference. My teeth look natural — not fake, not overly white, not perfectly uniform in a way that looks artificial. I asked for a natural step pattern along the bottom edge rather than a straight line, and Dr. Affleck included specific instructions to the lab to prioritize natural-looking detail over just getting the color right.
I’m very pleased. It looks like my teeth, just better.
Would you recommend visiting the dental lab?
Absolutely. I asked to go, Dr. Affleck supported it, and I went to Treasure Dental in Salt Lake to work directly with the technician. That visit helped ensure everything matched what I actually wanted. If you’re going through a process like this, I’d strongly recommend doing the same.