Do you smile at yourself in the mirror and then immediately frown at what you see?
Have you ever considered cosmetic dentistry? Are you wondering what is cosmetic dentistry? This is a form of dentistry that focuses on making your teeth more attractive.
It doesn’t just focus on dental health but also on the cosmetics of the patient. It helps you build your confidence and is something that can truly change your life.
So what are the different types of cosmetic dentistry? What is the average cost for cosmetic dentistry? If you need a recommendation, you can make your teeth feel good with the cosmetic dentist in West Seattle.
Here’s everything you need to know about cosmetic dentistry:
Cosmetic Dentistry Cost
The cosmetic dentistry cost will depend on the complexity of the procedure and the clinic you choose.
It’s imperative that you don’t try to be on a budget when choosing cosmetic dentistry. The procedures are complex and can cost a few thousand dollars at the high end.
Rather than looking to find a cheap option, you can try to set up a payment plan with your clinic.
You can look at clinics such as Seattle Specialty Dentistry to choose your cosmetic dentistry procedure and find a suitable payment plan.
Now let’s look at some of the procedures that are available as part of cosmetic dentistry.
Teeth Whitening
The first type of cosmetic dentistry is teeth whitening. This is when your teeth are cleaned so that every tooth is sparkly white!
The process often involves using a bleach product to whiten the teeth. They might even assist you with using household products for whitening your teeth. These can include gels, molds, or whitening strips.
Part of the process might also include a consultation on how to make sure your teeth remain white. They might suggest follow-up appointments to maintain your teeth.
The payment for this procedure will vary, but you might be able to pay around $500. This is one of the few procedures that you can find for under $1000.
Dental Implants
These are when you replace the root of your teeth with a titanium implant. This helps you have a solid foundation for when you need to replace your teeth.
This is one of the more costly procedures that cost between $1250 to $3000 on average.
You want to consult your dentist to see if they recommend dental implants for you.
This is usually only suggested if you have decaying teeth that need to get replaced. If you aren’t happy with how your teeth look, you might want to ask about dental implants.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is a covering that encapsulates a decaying or damaged tooth.
It improves upon the appearance of your tooth. It also can improve the strength, shape, and size of your tooth. You can get dental crowns on select teeth or on all your teeth.
Dental crowns are made from different materials. These include the following materials:
- Porcelain
- Resin
- Metal
- Ceramic
You can choose which material works best for your needs. You want to consult with your dentist as to which material they think is best.
This procedure can cost between $500 to $900 per crown. Ask your dentist what they think is best for your needs.
Dental Bonding
Similar to a dental crown, this is when the material gets applied to your tooth to improve its appearance.
Your dentist will use a resin material and apply it to your tooth. The resin is then molded and hardened by exposing it to ultraviolet light.
It works to repair cracked, chipped, decaying, or crooked teeth. This is one of the most popular options for cosmetic dentistry. It’s a great alternative to filings that you would get with cavities.
The procedure for dental bonding often costs between $100 to $400 per tooth. This process usually takes up to one hour per tooth. It’s one of the more affordable and simple options for cosmetic dentistry.
As such, if the other options on this list seem out of your league you can consider dental bonding.
Dental Veneers
These are thin coatings that cover the front of your teeth. If your main focus is on cosmetics, then this is one of the best options available.
Dental veneers are made of porcelain or resin and get cemented to the front of your teeth. They’ll have a shiny white color and will give the impression that you have perfectly white teeth.
In fact, this procedure is quite popular among celebrities and is often called “Hollywood Teeth!”
Even though it’s a simple procedure, it can also be costly. The procedure can cost between $500 to $1300.
After all, if it’s a procedure that celebrities like, it won’t come cheap! But as it’s a simpler procedure, it might be the ideal one for you to choose.
Inlays and Onlays
These are filings that are meant to fill decayed or damaged teeth. Inlays and Onlays are made from gold, porcelain, or other composite materials. You can ask your dentist which material works best for your needs.
The inlay is the material that goes on the inside of the tooth. The Onlay is what covers up the outer coating of a tooth.
This is a more complex and time-consuming procedure. You can expect to pay between $700 to $1200 per tooth for inlays and Onlays.
Unlike a traditional filing, these filings are made in a dental laboratory by your dentist.
After they create the filings, you’ll come in to have them installed. These are far superior to ordinary filings that you’ll get to repair damaged teeth.
These filings can also last much longer and are much stronger than traditional filings.
Now You Know What Is Cosmetic Dentistry
Now that you know what is cosmetic dentistry you can decide whether it’s for you.
You want to always speak to your dentist on whether it’s advisable for you to opt for cosmetic dentistry or not. You want to discuss each of the procedures to see which one works best for your needs.
Please share this guide with anyone else who is considering cosmetic dentistry. They’ll be sure to thank you with a smile for it!
You can also read more great content on health and well-being here on our website.
