New Haven's Home for Beautiful, Natural-Looking Smiles

For more than four decades, Dr. N. Summer Lerch has helped people across New Haven feel at home in their own smile. From routine care to complete smile makeovers, you will find unhurried, judgment-free attention from a team that treats you like a person first.

Board-accredited cosmetic dentist, the first woman in New England and fourth in the world to earn AACD accreditation
Comprehensive care under one roof, from cleanings and Invisalign to veneers, implants, and full smile makeovers
A calm, welcoming visit built around your goals, with third-party financing available

Dental Services We Offer

We believe your smile is part of the bigger picture of how you look and feel every day, and we care for it that way. Located in New Haven, CT, our modern boutique practice offers everything from routine cleanings and tooth-colored fillings to veneers, dental implants, Invisalign®, full smile makeovers, and facial aesthetics, all under one roof. Dr. Lerch has been designing smiles here for over four decades, and she and her team take the time to understand your goals before recommending anything. Every visit is unhurried and judgment-free, built around getting to know you as a person first. Whether you have been quietly thinking about your smile for years or simply want a dentist who truly listens, we would love to be that place for you.

General & Preventive Dentistry

Good care starts with the basics done well, in a place where you feel looked after from the moment you sit down. This is where we get to know you and help you stay ahead of problems before they grow.

Services:

Dental Cleanings & Exams
Tooth-Colored Fillings
Tooth Extractions

Cosmetic Dentistry

If something about your smile has been quietly on your mind, this is where we talk it through and find the approach that feels right for you. Every plan is shaped around your goals and your face, so the result looks natural and like you.

Services:

Smile Makeover (Smile Design)
Porcelain Veneers
Teeth Whitening
Dental Bonding (chip & gap repair)
Tooth Reshaping / Contouring
Gum Reshaping

Restorative Dentistry

When a tooth needs attention, we focus on comfort, function, and a result that blends in with the teeth around it. The aim is to help you eat, speak, and smile with confidence again.

Services:

Dental Crowns
Dental Bridges
Inlays & Onlays
Dental Implants
Full Mouth Reconstruction
Root Canal Treatment

Teeth Straightening

Straightening your teeth as an adult can be simpler and more discreet than you might expect. We walk with you through each step so it fits into your everyday life.

Services:

Invisalign® Clear Aligners

Facial Aesthetics

Your smile lives on your whole face, and we care about how everything works together. These treatments are designed to help you look refreshed and like yourself, never overdone.

Services:

Designer Lips, a needle-free lip and lip-area treatment
Botox & Dermal Fillers

What OUR PaTIENTS are saying

MEET OUR DOCTORS

Dr. N. Summer Lerch, DDS, FAGD, AAACD

Dr. N. Summer Lerch is the founder of the Center for Esthetic Dentistry in New Haven, and she has been caring for smiles in this community for more than four decades. She knew early that she wanted to work with her hands and with people, and a college love of pottery drew her toward dentistry as a form of art. That blend of science and craftsmanship still shapes how she practices today, and she treats every smile as something personal rather than routine.

She earned her dental degree from the University of Washington School of Dentistry and went on to become accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, as the first woman in New England and the fourth in the world to reach that milestone. For more than twenty years she also served as an examiner for that same accreditation, reviewing the work of other dentists across the country, and she is a Fellow of both the Academy of General Dentistry and the Pierre Fauchard Academy. In 2025 she was named President of the Connecticut State Dental Association. She shares all of this not to impress, but so you understand the standard she holds herself to when she looks at your smile.

What matters most to Dr. Lerch is that you feel known and comfortable from the moment you walk in. She believes a beautiful smile is less about being the brightest and more about harmony, where every tooth is in agreement with the others and with the person wearing it. Outside the office, you will find her skiing, gardening, reading, leading personal development courses, and enjoying good food near the lake. Her guiding phrase, "smile, you deserve it," is the spirit she brings to every person who sits in her chair.

Dr. Frank Amaefuna

Bio coming soon. We look forward to introducing you to Dr. Amaefuna.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What dental services do you offer in New Haven, CT?

At the Center for Esthetic Dentistry, we care for the whole smile, from routine cleanings, exams, and fillings to veneers, dental implants, Invisalign, and full smile makeovers. Whether you are due for a checkup or thinking about a bigger change, you can have your care in one place with a team that knows you.

What is a smile makeover, and how do I know if one is right for me?

A smile makeover simply means looking at what is bothering you and finding the right combination of treatments to address it, whether that is one tooth or several. The best way to find out what fits is a consultation with Dr. Lerch, which is a relaxed conversation about your goals, not a commitment.

Can adults still straighten their teeth with Invisalign?

Yes, and many of our patients are adults, including people whose teeth shifted years after braces. Invisalign uses clear, removable aligners that most people around you will not even notice, and we walk you through each step so it fits into your daily life.

I feel anxious about going to the dentist. How do you help nervous patients?

You are in good company, and feeling nervous is something we meet with patience every day. Our team takes time to listen and let you settle before anything begins, so you feel comfortable and cared for rather than rushed.

Do I need a referral to become a patient, or can I book a consultation directly?

No referral is needed. You can reach out to us directly, and your first visit is unhurried and judgment-free, designed so we can get to know you and understand what you are hoping for before recommending anything.

How much does cosmetic dentistry cost, and do you offer payment options?

Every smile is different, so cost depends on what you actually want and need, which is one of the things we talk through at your consultation. Third-party financing is available, and our team is happy to help you understand your options.

Where is your dental office located, and how do I make an appointment?

We are located at 375 Orange St in New Haven, CT, in the Arts District near Yale. You can request an appointment through this page or by calling us at 475-445-2575, and we look forward to meeting you.

Center for Esthetic Dentistry

375 Orange St, New Haven, CT 06511, United States

475-445-2575

Monday - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM;
Tuesday - 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM;
Wednesday - 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM;
Thursday - 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM;
Friday - 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM