A smile doesn’t just make you seem friendlier and more approachable. If it’s genuine, it can also boost your mood and make you feel better. A sincere smile triggers your body to release dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin — hormones that relieve stress and contribute to a better quality of life.
It’s due to these reasons that everyone wants a picture-perfect smile. However, this dream is not easy to achieve as only 7% of Americans are happy with the state of their teeth. Due to poor oral hygiene or other lifestyle choices, people schedule cosmetic and family dentistry to address their smile-related concerns.
Fortunately, dentistry has grown leaps and bounds over the years. This article will detail some of the most common smile enhancement procedures implemented to bring smiles to their natural appearance. We will also discuss the process and cost of cosmetic dentistry operations.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular procedures dental clinics provide to their clients. These veneers are thin, customized shells that enhance the shape, color, and look of your teeth. Veneers are best for restoring the appearance of any cracked or discolored teeth that negatively impact your smile.
Advantages of Veneers
One of the biggest advantages of getting veneers is the length of time it serves its purpose. With proper care, your veneers could last for decades before their appearance begins to fade.
The immediate positive impact of veneers on your teeth makes them a popular choice for many patients. They can instantly correct minor gaps, discoloration, and other visual issues that may affect your confidence. They can be applied to a single tooth or a complete segment of teeth.
On a related note, if you’ve always felt self-conscious about your gummy smile, a well-made veneer can make your smile look more proportionate.
Veneer Installation Process
The first thing you can expect from the best cosmetic dentists is for them to inspect your teeth to determine whether veneers are suitable for you. They will explain the realistic impact of this recommendation on the appearance of your teeth and how it can affect your lifestyle.
Once the veneer installation is given the green light, your dentist will prepare the teeth and place temporary acrylic covers to give you a preview of the veneer while the permanent one is being made. Once the permanent veneer is ready, it will be installed using a specialized light.
When the veneer is stable, a follow-up session will fix any bite harmony and contouring issues.
Cost of Veneers
The overall expenses will depend on the number of veneers you want. Generally, you can expect to pay anywhere from $900 to $2,500 per tooth. Composite veneers cost a little less, with a $450 to $2,000 price range, but these only last for five to seven years.
Teeth Whitening
If your love for coffee and wine left you with stains on your teeth, you might want to consider teeth whitening. This process of bleaching your teeth is popular among all cosmetic dentistry patients, and dentists have come up with numerous ways you can achieve those perfect pearly whites.
Advantages of Teeth Whitening
There’s nothing more eye-catching than a megawatt smile. Knowing that you have a pearly white set of teeth can boost your appearance and confidence, and people will naturally gravitate toward you. Moreover, the most recent teeth whitening products don’t damage your teeth!
Teeth Whitening Process
There are multiple ways you can make your smile shine sterling white, but one of the best ways is to get a personalized home treatment. Ask a reputable cosmetic and family dental clinic about tailor-made teeth whitening trays that will hold some type of bleaching gel to do the job.
When you’re at home, simply fill the tray with the prescribed amount of gel and put it on your teeth for 30 minutes. You should be able to notice a change in your teeth’s color after one use.
Cost of Teeth Whitening
For a cosmetic dentistry treatment with noticeable before-and-after looks, the cost can vary wildly.
Whitening toothpaste and mouthwash can cost anywhere from $2 to $15. Some whitening strips can go for $50, and in-office whitening procedures from a reputable practice might have you foot a $1,180 bill. However, this depends on your individual case and insurance coverage.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a cap that covers your damaged tooth. It can be made from ceramic, porcelain, metals, metal-ceramic, or composite resin. These crowns can protect a damaged tooth, an implant, or an incisor or molar that removes your smile’s natural luster.
Advantages of Dental Crowns
The biggest draw of dental crowns is their ability to restore your tooth’s appearance and function. With this perk, you can bring back the million-dollar smile to boost your confidence and win the hearts of family and friends. Dental crowns also protect your remaining tooth structure.
Dental Crown Installation Process
Unlike veneers, dental crowns can be finished within one appointment. You can expect to receive an anesthetic during the process. The dentist will remove the damaged tooth structure and take images for crown fabrication.
Your dentist will give you a 20-30 minute break as they fabricate your custom crown. Once done, they’ll try to fit it onto your tooth to inspect its shape and comfort. Once you’re comfortable with their work, they’ll glaze and place the crown in a hot oven.
After cooling the crown, it will be disinfected, sterilized, and permanently cemented.
Dental Crown Costs
A high-quality crown made by the best cosmetic dentists can cost anywhere from $500 to $2,000. While the price tag is far from cheap, the smile enhancement it can provide makes it more than a worthwhile investment.
Dental Bridges
It’s easy to think that you can’t restore your natural smile when you’ve lost more than one tooth due to an accident or other conditions. Luckily, dental bridges are here to save the day! This cosmetic dentistry procedure is famous for its efficient way of restoring the smiles of patients with missing adjacent teeth.
Advantages of Dental Bridges
Probably the most important benefit you’ll get from dental bridges is how effectively they restore your smile. The confidence this treatment can provide to a person who lost more than one tooth can be life-changing. However, it also does more than just restore your smile.
Your teeth are essential for other tasks like eating, drinking, and communicating. A well-placed dental bridge can fully restore these functions on your teeth.
Dental Bridge Installation Process
The process of installing a dental bridge to your mouth can depend on the type of bridge. Most traditional bridge installations take at least two appointments before they can be fixed.
The first visit typically involves filing the abutment teeth to prepare them for crowns. The dentist takes a digital impression of your teeth to send them to a lab before setting another appointment.
While waiting for the permanent bridge, your dentist will install a temporary one to get you familiar with the feeling. Once the fabrication is finished, the second appointment will mostly involve the removal of the temporary bridge and the installation of the new one.
Subsequent appointments can be made for bite adjustment and comfort.
Dental Bridge Costs
Bridges are one of the more expensive cosmetic dentistry procedures. The most affordable resin bridge can cut a $1,500-sized hole in your pocket, while implant-supported bridges can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Fortunately, your insurance can cover some of these expenses.
Dental Implants
If you want a more permanent solution to your missing tooth, dental implants are the perfect answer to your woes. What makes them great for individual teeth is that the crown is attached to a small metal post (usually made of titanium) that is surgically attached to your jaw.
Advantages of Dental Implants
One of the biggest reasons people pay for dental implants is their ability to maintain facial appearance. Not only will these blend in with your natural teeth, but they also help keep the shape of your jaw.
Moreover, their durability is their biggest draw. As long as you take proper care of your implant and implement sound oral hygiene practices, these implants can last for a lifetime.
Dental Implant Installation Process
Installing dental implants is easily one of the most labor-intensive dental procedures. Your dentist will check whether your jaw is strong enough to support your implant through the latest digital imaging software. The results will determine the size and angle needed for the implant to work.
Once the surgery for the implant is accomplished, the site will need to heal for about three months. During the healing process, a custom tooth will be fabricated to stand in for the permanent crown. Once the gum is fully healed, a more permanent crown can be installed.
Dental Implant Costs
The long-term benefits of dental implants and their intricate installation process make the price tags reasonable. Conservative estimates for a single implant can go anywhere from $3,000 to $4,500.
Bring Back Your Radiant and Confident Smile
These are some of the most popular smile enhancement services your nearby cosmetic dentist can provide. They can bring back the natural charm of your grin so you can beam proudly from ear to ear.
If you require cosmetic or family dentistry in Scottsdale, AZ, get in touch with Scottsdale dentist Rod W. Gore, DDS. He is a trusted name for high-quality dental care and will ensure that you walk away with a brighter smile than before. Book an appointment today!