How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?

Cosmetic dentistry is one of ten specialty areas in the field of dentistry. The focus in this specialty is on your appearance in regard to your smile. The efforts are put forth to restore or improve your smile. Your smile is invaluable since it can be seen as the foundation of your personality. It drives your self-esteem and your self-confidence. So, in reviewing the wide range of costs to follow ask yourself, how do you put a value on both your smile and your quality of life.

Teeth Whitening

The most basic and common procedure in cosmetic dentistry, the costs range from a simple $3 purchase over the counter to $350 at the dental office. In focusing on the professional application, this whitening procedure can use a peroxide bleach to remove stains and discoloration from your morning coffee or tobacco habits to your red wine enjoyment. Teeth whitening delivers a stunning transformation of the smile.

Dental Bonding

If you have become conscious of the cracked or chipped tooth, or even the gap between two teeth, bonding will correct these visual faults. A putty-like composite resin is applied to the tooth and sculpted, shaped and smoothed over the surface and then hardened with an ultraviolet light. This procedure can range roughly from $150 to $600 per tooth depending on the difficulty.

Dental Veneers

Taking the bonding concept up a notch. An impression of the tooth or teeth to be covered is sent to a dental lab where wafer-thin pieces of porcelain or ceramic are fabricated to match your teeth. With a thin layer of your enamel removed these thin shields are cemented to the front of the teeth being repaired covering any and all flaws. Just like that, your natural teeth look new. Veneers can easily range from $900 to $2,500 a tooth so this solution is more expensive than the bonding option.

Inlays and Onlays

More often likened to a filling, this cosmetic resin is shaped to cover removed decay and give the tooth back it’s natural shape 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

Much 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 can run $800 to $1,200 and are also very 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 many health benefits as well. A titanium post is placed into the jawbone acting as a root. A porcelain or ceramic crown then sits on that post at the gumline. This replacement solution delivers the sensations of the natural tooth as well as keeping the density of the jawbone natural. Dental implants can range from $1,500 a tooth to $4,500 a tooth.

So, what is the value of your smile?

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