One of the biggest misconceptions about cosmetic dentistry is that the procedures aren’t affordable. While some of the treatments are pricier, there are many affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures that you can take advantage of!
What Is Cosmetic Dentistry?
A pearly white and perfect smile goes a long way in increasing a person’s self-confidence. Issues with the teeth tend to make a person feel self-conscious, hampering their personal and professional lives. This is why the cosmetic dentistry arena is one of the most popular ones in the field of dentistry.
Like we mentioned earlier, you don’t have to break the bank to bag yourself an aesthetic smile. Various procedures in cosmetic dentistry can give you the results you’re looking for – without going broke!
Cosmetic dentistry consists of procedures that aim at improving your smile. While it mainly focuses on the aesthetic value of the teeth, several procedures also improve functionality.
What Are Some Affordable Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures?
Tooth Reshaping And Contouring
If you are seeing chips in your teeth or if they are misshapen, but there are no structural issues, you can take advantage of tooth reshaping and contouring. This is a painless, fast, and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure that improves your smile.
A special drill is used by your dentist to smooth out the chips or ridges in your teeth or to reshape them. This results in a smoother and straighter smile.
Composite Dental Bonding
Composite dental bonding is another affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure that is pretty quick. A tooth-colored material (composite) is used to fix various structural issues with the teeth. Dental bonding is done to –
- Close extra spaces between teeth
- Fill decayed areas
- Restore a broken or chipped tooth
- Resize or reshape teeth
- Fix minor issues with bite
The out-patient procedure is painless and requires no anesthesia unless a filling needs to be performed. The treatment takes about 30-60 minutes to complete. Your dentist will apply the composite material to the affected tooth. They will then mold it into the desired shape and then set it using ultraviolet light.
You might be asked to avoid hard foods and habits like biting your nails to prevent the restoration from chipping. Other than that, you can go back to normal life once the procedure is complete.
Dental Crowns
Several issues with teeth can be taken care of by placing a tooth-shaped cover on top of the affected tooth. The cover or “cap” is called a dental crown. These are advised when your teeth have issues such as –
- Cracks or chips
- Weakened strength due to decay
- Large fillings
- Root canal treatment
- Severe discoloration
- Different sizes and shapes
A dental crown is an affordable treatment aimed at fixing structural and functional issues with teeth. They are pretty durable and can last for a long time if taken care of.
Dental crowns also improve the appearance of your smile. These are fabricated in a dental laboratory and are shade-matched to resemble your natural teeth. The result is your tooth not just looking good, but also working better.
Inlays and Onlays
Inlays and onlays are indirect restorations – this means that they are fabricated outside the patient’s mouth. Manufactured in a dental laboratory, inlays and onlays are usually used in cases where the decayed portion is too big for a regular filling.
These indirect restorations have many advantages over traditional fillings –
- Doesn’t fracture or damage easily
- Resistant to stains
- Gives a more natural and aesthetic appearance to the affected tooth
- Custom made to a patient’s tooth – size, shape, and color
- Can last up to 30 years
Inlays are used when the decay doesn’t involve the cusps of the tooth. Likewise, onlays are used when the damage involves the cusps of the tooth. Onlays are larger than inlays and smaller than dental crowns. They can also improve a tooth’s strength by up to 75%.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Similar to different people having different skin and hair colors, our teeth also have different colors. If your teeth are discolored, they can appear unsightly. Professional teeth whitening is an affordable cosmetic dentistry procedure aimed at improving the color of your teeth.
Tooth discoloration occurs due to various reasons –
- Constant ingestion of colored foods and beverages such as colored candy, dark fruits, curries, tea, coffee, red wine, etc.
- Smoking is the biggest culprit of tooth discoloration. Chewing tobacco also leaves dark-colored stains on the teeth.
- Poor oral hygiene can lead to plaque buildup that also discolors teeth.
Professional teeth whitening involves the use of strong bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Your dentist coats the teeth with the whitening chemical and proceeds to activate it by using a special light. They will also take before and after pictures to compare the results.
The procedure can last up to 90 minutes and your dentist might ask you to revisit in the future for another session. You will also be asked to avoid smoking and other habits that cause staining and discoloration.
How Do I Make Cosmetic Dentistry More Affordable?
The true secret on how to make cosmetic dentistry affordable is to not get multiple treatments at once. We understand you must be tempted to go all the way, but we suggest giving your wallet a chance to rest.
Since cosmetic dentistry consists of elective procedures, most dental insurance plans don’t cover the cost of treatment. However, if you require treatment owing to injury or urgency, your plan might cover some of the cost. Your dentist will be happy to help you file a claim.
If you were to visit Le Sueur Family Dental, you would be able to take advantage of our in-house dental plan. The Le Sueur Family Dental Plan offers competitive prices on various cosmetic dentistry procedures. We also have a separate plan for children, should you choose to avail that too.
You can find out more about the kinds of cosmetic dentistry procedures we provide and how else we can help provide a radiant smile. Give the Le Sueur Family Dental practice a call at (507) 665-6812 and schedule an appointment with our dental experts.
