In Nashville, beauty has always been about balance — polished but (hopefully) not trying too hard. You can see it in the way people dress, the way they decorate their homes, and even the way they order dinner. Elevated, yes. Overdone? Not intentionally.
But right now, that balance is evolving.
Across the city, top aesthetic providers say the goal isn’t transformation — it’s precision. Patients aren’t walking in asking to look like someone else. They’re asking to look like themselves, just a little more rested, more defined, more confident. The tools, however, are getting more sophisticated.
We’re talking neck lifts that create a jawline some patients never had to begin with. Hair restoration so natural you’d never know — if you didn’t know. Injectables that move with your face instead of sitting on top of it. Even long-standing procedures — from rhinoplasty to veneers — are being reworked.
It’s also, many times, happening earlier in life. More people are choosing to get ahead of aging rather than react to it. Patients are opting for subtle, cumulative treatments that build over time.
The through line? Results that feel invisible but make a visible difference.
Beyond Natural Beauty with Dr. Dennis Wells: The Rise of Adornment in Dentistry
While undeniably popular, not everyone wants subtle. At Nashville Aesthetic Dentistry, Dr. Dennis Wells is seeing patients across the spectrum — people who want everything from almost undetectable veneers to flashy, statement-making smiles.
“The trend is that spectrum is broadening,” Wells says. “The reality is our whole world has shifted to a place where aesthetics and beauty and all the possibilities have grown to an extent that if you want to be progressive and in the game, you will participate in those beauty procedures.”
While natural-looking enhancements remain in demand, Wells points to a parallel rise in what he describes as adornment — choices that intentionally go beyond nature. “A lot of things are considered beautifying and positive that are not necessarily natural,” he explains, citing tattoos, piercings, bold hair color, and even dental grills.
That includes high-end, highly customized pieces — such as his current diamond grill project involving multiple collaborators across the country.
For Wells, the takeaway isn’t one dominant trend, but a shifting definition of beauty itself.
“There are definitely services that are great, that provide a lot of value, that improve people's beauty, and most of all, improve their confidence in themselves and in their look,” he says. “In this day and time, from early in life all the way to people who are well into their mature years, still want to be relevant and look as good as they can and be thought of as still in the game of life. The trend is all of us to want to look our best and feel our best.”
Dr. Wells doesn’t see beauty standards narrowing. He believes they’re widening to include more styles. For more information, visit drdenniswells.com.