Cosmetic dentistry is much sought after nowadays for the simple reason that people like their smiles and everything associated with it to be as perfect as possible. The color, size and shape of your teeth all have a big impact on your appearance. Cosmetic dentists provide dental treatments to enhance and correct chipped, cracked, discolored and unevenly spaced teeth. Thanks to the advancement in technology, you can get natural looking and tooth-colored dental materials to make your teeth appear as natural as possible.
The first step in getting cosmetic dentistry treatment is to choose a good cosmetic dentist. You can ask your friends and relatives to suggest a good dentist. You can also ask your regular dentist for advice. You should make sure that the cosmetic dentist you chose has the necessary technical training and experience to do cosmetic dentistry work. You can also contact the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry for a list of cosmetic dentists in your area.
What treatments does a cosmetic dentist provide?
Before opting for a cosmetic procedure, you will have to consult the cosmetic dentist to decide if that particular procedure is right for you. Some of the procedures done by a cosmetic dentist are:
Composite Bonding: Chipped, broken, discolored or decayed teeth may be repaired or have its appearance corrected using a procedure called composite bonding. Only one visit to the dentist’s office is required. The solution will last for several years. Bonding can cost $300 to $600 per tooth, but it can go as low as $100 or as high as $1,000 per tooth depending on the complexity and extent of the bonding process.
Teeth Whitening: It is one of the most preferred and common cosmetic dentistry procedures. Teeth are bleached by the use of peroxide-based materials. A laser light source is used to activate the peroxide to oxidize stains on the tooth surface which will whiten the teeth. The cost of teeth whitening is between $500 and $1100.
Inlays / Onlays: It is used as a filling for decaying teeth or teeth having similar structural damage. It is also known as indirect fillings and is made from porcelain or composite materials and is long lasting. An inlay / onlay can cost in the range of $450 to $950 depending on the material chosen.
Dental Veneers: They are custom-made porcelain wafers that are adhesively bonded to the surface of a tooth to enhance their appearance and also to repair damage. The costs of veneers depend on how many of them you need. The cost of one porcelain veneer can range anywhere from $800 to $1500.
Reshaping and Contouring: It is a procedure used to correct crooked, overlapping, chipped or irregularly shaped teeth. The average costs for reshaping and contouring are approximately $50 to $350 per tooth. The cost depends on how much dental reshaping is needed.
Dental Implants: Dental implants are artificial root replacements that are used to compensate for tooth loss. It is utilized to replace one or maybe a few of missing teeth. A basic implant costs around $1,250 to $3,000 and for the complete procedure for the upper or lower jaw, the cost will go as high as $15,000 to $30,000.
Full mouth reconstruction: In a full mouth reconstruction, various methods like dental bonding, porcelain veneers and crowns, dental implants and braces are used to correct functional problems with your bite, muscles, teeth and bone structure and improve aesthetic appearance. The total cost for a full mouth reconstruction averages $15,000 -$35,000, but can go as high as $40,000 -$55,000 or more depending on the procedure needed.
If you are one of the many people suffering from crooked, decayed or structurally damaged teeth, a cosmetic dentist is the best person to treat these issues and give you the confidence to smile without a care.