Your smile is a clear reflection of your personality and your emotions – in fact, it’s likely the first thing someone else will notice about you when meeting for the first time. At Santavicca Dental Professionals, our caring team wants to help you achieve your ideal look and the high level of self-confidence you deserve through personalized cosmetic dentistry. Our recommended services will be an ideal match for your personal goals and preferences, and oral health and durability will be prioritized in addition to aesthetic value. We look forward to welcoming you into our Lebanon, NH dental office for an initial consultation!
Smile Makeover
Understanding the Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry
Which Cosmetic Dental Service Is Right for Me?
When patients wish to undergo cosmetic services, they usually want to accomplish one or more of the following: whiter teeth, straighter teeth, and/or differently sized or shaped teeth. We offer numerous treatments at various price points that can help with those goals:
- Direct bonding. Also known as dental bonding or cosmetic bonding, this service uses a tooth-colored composite resin to hide aesthetic flaws in teeth. It tends to be quite affordable, although its results may last for just a few years.
- Teeth whitening. Whitening services are an excellent way to address stubborn dental discoloration. They can also cost as little as a few hundred dollars. However, whitening does not enhance the shape or positioning of teeth.
- Veneers are custom-made pieces of porcelain that hide a range of imperfections in teeth. They can cost several thousand dollars, but they are a good value because they have the potential to last for 10 years or longer.
- Invisalign clear aligners are great for patients who have a degree of dental misalignment. Treatment can cost a few thousand dollars and may span the course of several months or longer.
- Smile makeover. A smile makeover combines multiple cosmetic services. This is the most expensive cosmetic option, but it is also the most efficient means to achieve a total smile transformation.
Cosmetic Dentistry Can Be an Investment Worth Making
Many patients who have undergone cosmetic services would say that they have no regrets about their decision. They have experienced outstanding benefits, such as:
- Improved confidence. It may become easier for you to have meaningful interactions in social situations.
- Improved oral health. Following cosmetic treatments, many people find that they are motivated to take better care of their teeth and gums.
- Heightened career success. An attractive smile may give others the impression that you are successful, approachable, and full of youthful energy.
How to Make Cosmetic Dentistry Affordable
Dental insurance almost never covers services that are deemed to be purely cosmetic, such as veneers and teeth whitening. However, your policy might cover some treatments that have cosmetic benefits but are primarily for oral health, such as metal-free restorations. Our team welcomes insurance, and we can help you figure out how your benefits may apply in any given situation.
Beyond insurance, we may be able to help you afford your cosmetic treatment by using other means, such as:
- Most patients are eligible for low-interest financing through a third-party company, such as CareCredit or Sunbit. Applying is easy, and you may be able to choose a monthly payment amount that fits your budget.
- Essential Dental plan. This discount plan provides reduced fees for most of the services available in our practice.
Would you like to learn more about the cost of cosmetic dentistry? Get in touch with our team to ask questions. We are eager to speak with you!
Cosmetic Dentistry FAQs
Is Cosmetic Dentistry Expensive?
Cosmetic dental services come at a range of price points. Options like teeth whitening and dental bonding may cost just a few hundred dollars, whereas a complete smile makeover may total tens of thousands of dollars.
Whether or not you classify cosmetic dentistry as “expensive” is really a matter of personal perspective. Many patients who have invested in these treatments feel that they are excellent value. After all, cosmetic dentistry can do more than enhance your appearance. It has the potential to provide years of increased confidence!
Is Cosmetic Dentistry Covered by Insurance?
Most cosmetic dental services, such as teeth whitening and veneers, are classified as purely elective. Therefore, dental insurance almost never covers them.
Dental insurance sometimes covers treatments that are beneficial for both a patient’s oral health and their smile’s appearance. For example, your policy might cover metal-free crowns if you have one or more badly damaged teeth.
Our team welcomes insurance, and we can help you figure out how your benefits may apply in any given situation.
Is Cosmetic Dentistry Safe?
Cosmetic dentistry involves very few risks. As long as you entrust your care to a qualified dental team, there is only a slim chance that something could go seriously wrong. If you have any concerns about the potential downsides of any treatment, our team can provide detailed information.
Cosmetic dentistry may not be safe if it is performed by someone who is not qualified to provide treatment, or if the products used are not properly vetted. You should always partner with a reputable dentist and be cautious about which DIY treatments you perform at home. For example, you would never want to use an extremely abrasive substance in an attempt to whiten your teeth.
How Long Does Cosmetic Dentistry Last?
How long your results will last depends on the specific treatment you underwent and how you care for your mouth on a daily basis. Teeth whitening may last for anywhere from a few months to a few years, whereas veneers may endure for 10 – 20 years. Some treatments, such as gum recontouring, are likely to provide permanent results.
To help your new look last as long as possible, you should avoid smoking, eat a reasonable diet, adhere to an excellent oral hygiene routine, and visit our practice for a checkup and cleaning twice each year.