Our Featured Media

Q: What would you say separates you from the pack?

Dr. Tom Hedge:
What separates me is education and experience. I’ve always been fanatical about continuing education — and I still am. I read every night. I stay curious about everything.

I'm also a techie. I’m constantly reading, exploring — I use Apple News+ to stay updated on everything from health to technology. I’ve taken countless hours of dental education, and I believe that if I sit through a full-day course and take away even one pearl — one small insight that makes me better at what I do — it's completely worth it. I genuinely enjoy that process.

[Friend/Patient adds:]
"As your friend and your patient, I’d say you also bring a unique level of comfort and ease to the experience — and that’s incredibly rare in dentistry."

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Thank you — we work very hard at that.

You’ll see five stars on our wall — not for marketing, but as a daily reminder to deliver five-star service to every patient. We make it a point to ensure each person feels special, like they’re the only patient in the office.

I don’t jump from room to room. I can’t do that anymore — and I don’t want to. I want to give my full attention to the person I’m treating. That’s what they deserve. That’s what real care looks like.

Closing:
"Thank you, my friend."
"Let’s go fix that chip. Let’s go fix the tooth."

Q: What would you say to people who feel they can’t afford cosmetic dentistry?

Dr. Tom Hedge:
One of the core values in our practice is education. On your very first visit, we take about a dozen high-quality photos and display them on a large screen. Then we go through them together — I ask, “What don’t you like?” and “What’s your biggest concern?”

From there, we focus on addressing that first.

If a patient can't afford to do everything at once, that’s completely okay. We come up with a step-by-step plan that gets them moving in the right direction — or at least helps them maintain what they have until they’re ready for more comprehensive treatment.

Everyone can improve their smile in some way — and it doesn’t always require an outrageous investment. There are always options.

Now, yes — a handmade set of veneers on 12 upper and 12 lower teeth can cost tens of thousands of dollars. But again, there are alternatives. Not everyone needs the full package, and we tailor the plan to the individual.

Q: And everything kind of stair-steps in price, right?

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Exactly. The least expensive treatments are usually whitening and clear aligners like Invisalign. They’re often the most effective too — and the great thing is, you typically don’t have to do them again.

Now, if I do veneers, I’ll do them perfectly — no question. But let’s say you’re 30 years old: chances are, somewhere down the road, you’re going to chip one, damage something, or your gums may recede. That means the veneers will eventually need to be redone.

Your natural teeth — when straightened and whitened properly — are always the best option. Nothing beats keeping your own teeth healthy and intact.

Dr. Tom Hedge:
You’ve got $100,000 worth of teeth in your mouth.

You might be thinking, “How does that make sense?”
Well — you have 28 teeth. If you lose just one tooth, here’s what it takes to replace it:

• Tooth extraction
  
• Bone graft
  
• Implant placement
  
• Abutment
  
• And then, 6 months later — a crown
  

That’s a $4,000–5,000 process for one tooth. Multiply that across your whole mouth — and it’s clear: your teeth are a six-figure investment.

So take care of them.

Spend the $80 on a good electric toothbrush — like the Oral-B iO Series 4.
It’s like changing the oil in your car or maintaining a luxury vehicle. This is one of your body’s most valuable assets.

And it's absolutely worth protecting.

Dr. Tom Hedge:
A beautiful smile is one of the most powerful things to make someone look beautiful, handsome, younger — whatever your goal may be. And the best part? It’s one of the easiest things to fix.

Cosmetic dentistry is predictable.
I’ve talked to friends who are plastic surgeons. They work with soft tissues, and healing can vary from one side to the other — it’s unpredictable. That’s not their fault; it’s just biology.

But in dentistry, I’m working with solid structures. They are what they are. We can preview a smile with temporary veneers, and it will look exactly like the final result. That’s the level of control we have. It’s repeatable and consistently beautiful.

The Veneer Process — Not Always What You Expect

Veneers have been one of the most transformative advancements in dentistry. They can completely change the shape, color, and position of your teeth — instantly.

But here’s the truth:
A lot of people come in saying, “I want veneers,” but their teeth are misaligned or poorly spaced. In those cases, we start with Invisalign or clear aligners.
Then, we might whiten the teeth. And once that’s done, many people realize:

“Wow, I don’t even need veneers anymore. My natural teeth look great.”

That’s where we always start — because nothing is better than your own natural teeth.

Bonding, Damage, and the “No-Prep” Option

We talked this morning about a chipped tooth that’s been bonded since middle school. That kind of maintenance is a pain, and it highlights how important durability is in smile design.

One concern I often hear is:

“I don’t want my teeth shaved down to little stubs.”

And I get it. That’s how we did it 25–30 years ago. But today, I do a lot of no-prep veneer cases. We don’t shave the teeth. The veneers are ultra-thin and are bonded right on — as long as the teeth are in the right position.

That’s why starting with alignment is so important. If we move the teeth first, we can often avoid any aggressive prep work. It’s about choosing the right combination of treatments — done in the right order — for each patient.

When Veneers Are Done Right

Some people say, “I want veneers,” and my honest reply is:

“You don’t need them — straighten and whiten your teeth first.”

That alone makes them happy. But when we do go forward with veneers, our goal is subtle enhancement.

You shouldn’t walk out of our office looking like you have obvious dental work.
We’ve all seen celebrities with big, unnatural smiles — they look like horse teeth.

That’s not what we aim for.

When we’re done, I want people to say:

“You look great — did you get a haircut? Did you lose weight?”
Not:
“Oh, you got your teeth done.”

It should look natural. Undeniably improved — but untraceable.

Q: So is Invisalign the new go-to these days, or are there other options?

Dr. Tom Hedge:
When I was a kid — around 13 — I had it all: wires, brackets, rubber bands, headgear… total mess.
You and I both did, right? That was the standard back then.

But things are different now — especially for our kids.

My son used Invisalign, and it’s become a really popular choice. Personally, I use a product called ClearCorrect. It’s similar to Invisalign but made by a company out of Austin, Texas — and I like to support Texas businesses. We use it for all our patients.

Why I Don’t Recommend Traditional Braces Anymore

I wouldn't go back to brackets and wires. They're like cheese graters in your mouth.

Imagine eating a sandwich — food gets stuck everywhere. It’s uncomfortable, messy, and hard to clean.
There’s just no reason to put patients through that anymore.

Why Clear Aligners Work So Well

ClearCorrect aligners are:

• Removable — take them out to eat, brush, and floss
  
• Invisible — people often can’t even tell you're wearing them
  
• Comfortable — no sharp wires or brackets
  

I’ve had a TV news anchor wear them on-air and forget to take them out — and no one noticed. They're that subtle.

Treatment Time & Cost

Remember when braces used to take 4 years?

Now, with clear aligners:

• Most of my patients are done in 3 to 6 months
  
• Longest cases may take up to a year and a half
  
• Predictable results and far more convenient
  

And we don’t do one-size-fits-all pricing. Instead of a flat $5,000 for everyone, we use a graduated pricing model based on how many aligners you need and how long treatment will take.

Bottom Line

Clear aligners like ClearCorrect are:

• Faster
  
• Less visible
  
• More hygienic
  
• And often more affordable than braces
  

They really are the modern solution for teeth straightening.

Friend/Patient:
One thing I love about you — aside from us being friends — is that you do this because you love it, not because you have to.
You've been doing this a long time. What keeps you going?

Dr. Tom Hedge:
I’ve been fortunate. Over the years, I’ve had all kinds of dental practices.

This office now — it’s basically my man cave. I come here every day, surrounded by high-tech toys, doing what I love: helping people feel great about their smiles.

I’ve done this long enough that I’ve gotten really good at it — and now I finally get to do it my way:

• One person at a time
  
• No bouncing from room to room
  
• Seeing friends and family — because that’s how I view my patients
  

My patients are my family.

Friend:
You're like the Frank Sinatra of cosmetic dentistry — you're doing it your way.

Dr. Hedge (laughing):
Exactly! I thought you were going to make me sing!
Well, maybe I could… we’ve talked about that. I’m giving it a shot.

A Love for Technology

You’re absolutely right about one thing: I’m always on the lookout for new tech.
I’m constantly texting patients and friends saying:

“Hey, check out this toothbrush,”
“Look into this new device,”

Not every dentist does that — but I do.
I stay up to date because I want my patients to have access to state-of-the-art tools and knowledge.

Friend/Patient:
Your technology is truly top-tier — state-of-the-art. But what I really admire is how you want your patients to stay up to date too — especially when it comes to home care.

Dr. Tom Hedge:
Absolutely. A few years ago, I drew a line in the sand.

You know that free toothbrush you usually get from the dentist — the one you use for six months and toss?
Yeah, we don’t do that here.

Instead, when you come into our office, I have you log into Amazon and order what I believe is the best brush on the market: the Oral-B iO.

Why I Recommend the Oral-B iO

This toothbrush is a game changer.
It oscillates and vibrates — but more than that, it gives feedback:

• Press too hard? It turns red
  
• Apply the right pressure? It turns green
  

It’s like this:

You could wash your car with a bucket and a sponge,
Or go to a touchless car wash with 10 people hand-washing it for you.

That’s the difference this brush makes.

Patients Love It

Everyone who uses it comes back and says:

“Oh my God, this is a game changer.”

And I get it — it sounds weird to be this excited about a toothbrush.
But once you use it, you understand.
It’s just that good.

Friend/Patient:
You go to the grocery store or drugstore today and it’s overwhelming — shelves full of toothpastes. There’s natural, fluoride-free, whitening, charcoal… you name it.
When I was a kid, it was just Crest and Colgate. Now it’s a whole wall of options.

So how do you even know where to start? Does it actually matter?

Dr. Tom Hedge:
That’s a great question — and honestly, I don’t care what kind of toothpaste my patients use.
Really, they all work well enough.

Myth: Whitening Toothpaste Actually Whitens Teeth

Let’s get one big myth out of the way:
Whitening toothpaste does not whiten your teeth.

What it actually does is remove surface stains — the stuff that makes your teeth look darker.
So yes, they may appear whiter, but you’re not truly whitening the teeth at a chemical level.

If you want true whitening, you need peroxide-based treatments — which is a different conversation altogether.