How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?
Cosmetic dentistry is one of the ten specialty branches in the field of dentistry. The focus in this specialty is on your appearance regarding your smile. The various treatments are performed to restore or improve your smile. Your smile is invaluable since it is considered a foundation of your personality. It drives and influences your self-esteem and your self-confidence. In reviewing the wide range of costs for the different tasks, ask yourself, "How do you put a monetary value on both your smile and your quality of life?"
- Teeth Whitening- The most basic, frequent, and common procedure in cosmetic dentistry, the costs can range from a simple $3 purchase over the counter to $350 at your dental office. In focusing on the professional procedure, this whitening treatment will use a peroxide bleach to remove stains and discoloration from your morning coffee or your red wine enjoyment, to any tobacco habits. Teeth whitening delivers a stunning transformation of the smile.
- Dental Bonding- If you have become consciously aware of a cracked or chipped tooth, or even a gap between two teeth, bonding will correct these minor visual faults. A putty-like composite resin is applied to the surface of the tooth and sculpted, shaped, smoothed, and then hardened with an ultraviolet light. This procedure may range from $150 to $600 per tooth, depending on the difficulty.
- Dental Veneers- This takes the bonding concept to the next level. An impression of the arch to be addressed is sent to a dental lab, where wafer-thin pieces of porcelain or ceramic are fabricated to match your natural teeth. By then removing a thin layer of enamel, these thin shields are cemented to the front of the teeth being restored, covering all flaws. Your natural teeth look terrific again. Veneers can easily range from $900 to $2,500 a tooth, so this solution is more expensive than bonding.
- Inlays and Onlays- More often likened to a filling, this cosmetic resin is shaped to cover removed decay and restore the natural shape of the tooth, as well as keep it healthy. An inlay, a smaller surface being covered, can range from $250 to $1,500. An onlay, which covers more of the actual biting surface, will range between $350 and $1,500.
- Dental Crowns- Like veneers, but now covering the entire tooth like a cap, these are both functional in protecting the tooth as well as improving the appearance. A dental crown may run $800 to $1,200 and is also quite common after a root canal procedure.
- Dental Implants- The new gold standard for a tooth replacement, a dental implant not only delivers an artificial tooth but a variety of health benefits as well. A tiny titanium post is placed into the jawbone, which functions as an artificial root. A porcelain or ceramic crown is affixed to the post at the gumline. This replacement solution delivers the sensations of the natural tooth as well as maintaining the natural density of the jawbone. Dental implants will range from $1,500 a tooth to $4,500 a tooth.
Only you can determine the value of your smile.