Cosmetic dentistry can help you change something about your smile. It’s a wide-ranging field in dentistry encompassing different treatments that can address any smile concerns and ensure you look and feel best.
Specific examples of these treatments are whitening and veneers, which can help you get a youthful smile by lightening or brightening your teeth. Veneers can also get your teeth lengthened and make them look less worn, which can also be done by other treatments like bondings and crowns.
Are Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments Expensive?
The costs of cosmetic dentistry treatments vary. Non-invasive procedures cost less because they aren’t typically permanent. They only improve minor tooth imperfections, such as staining, discolouration, gap teeth, and short/worn teeth. They’re not strong as other treatments in higher price categories since they’re meant to keep the original tooth structure protected and intact.
In contrast, complicated cosmetic dentistry costs more, depending on the condition of one’s teeth and gums. Typically, the longer and more complex the treatment is, the more expensive it is. For example, root canals are among the most expensive procedures since they’re usually done on the most sensitive teeth in the mouth and require multiple visits.
The good news is that there are many ways to cut cosmetic dentistry treatment costs. The most obvious one is to take care of your dental health. It also pays to invest in dental insurance. Another tip is to shop around and compare fees from various dental clinics. It’s better to go local as well. For example, if you’re in Victoria, Australia, Explore Cosmetic Dentistry in Melbourne.
Going abroad is also a good choice, but only if you have enough funds. For example, Singapore had the most expensive dental implants globally, followed by the United States. It’s also important to note that your insurance may not cover services taken abroad.
Despite its costs, the following are the top reasons cosmetic dentistry is a must:
Improve Teeth Condition
In addition to improving your smile, cosmetic dentistry can replace pulled and missing teeth, boosting your confidence to smile. It can also improve any misshapen teeth, such as chipped, pointy, or weirdly shaped ones, that make many self-conscious and insecure. When these conditions are fixed, you can eat and look better.
Enhance Teeth Alignment and Bite
Cosmetic dentistry can also deal with teeth that are misaligned, which can usually cause jaw issues and pain. The procedure for this usually needs braces to help your teeth align better. It may cause pain as part of the realignment, but it’s worth it, especially if you can reduce the consistent jaw pains, eat more properly, and smile better.
Prevent the Consequences of Tooth Loss
A tooth loss doesn’t only affect your smile, which may negatively influence your confidence and self-esteem. It can also impact the overall feature of your face since one of the roles of our teeth is to support our cheeks. For example, if we lose a tooth at the side or rear of our mouth, the cheek in that area may appear sunken.
Another issue is the damaging effect on the tooth that substitutes the role of a lost tooth. Let’s use our very rear teeth as an example. Their primary role is to grind and chew our food. When they get extracted, we tend to use the teeth in front of them. While they can seem effective, at least initially, they aren’t designed for grinding and chewing, which can put extra strain on them that can cause premature wearing and even breakage.
Cosmetic dentistry offers solutions for both aesthetic and functionality concerns. Dentists recommend dental implants and removable implant-supported bridges to fill gaps and prevent other teeth from unnaturally twisting or shifting into the gaps. They can also help bring back or correct your smile by restoring your dental functions and protecting the alignment of your teeth.
Get Improved Nutrition
Cosmetic dentistry can also help you get a better, more nutritious overall diet. For example, as stated, back molars are used to grind and chew food more thoroughly. If one doesn’t have them, they’re less likely to eat meat, which can mean they lack the protein needed for muscle and body repair. However, with the help of cosmetic dentistry, they can replace their missing back molars and get proper nutrition.
Achieve Better Oral Health
Oral hygiene is much better after cosmetic dentistry treatments. Not only can it help you fix any dental concern, but it also can keep your teeth clean and in tip-top shape. For example, brushing and flossing can be much easier and more effective when your teeth are straight and uniformly shaped. Having fewer tight or awkward gaps between teeth can also prevent plaque from getting trapped.
With better oral health, cavities, and decay will be minimal or nonexistent. If you keep these up, you can reduce the risk of tooth decay, periodontal disease (i.e., gum inflammation and infection), and other common oral health problems.
Final Thoughts
Many cosmetic dentistry procedures are costly. However, for most patients, having cosmetic dental work is worth it. It doesn’t only improve our smiles—one of our valuable assets— but also improves our optimal well-being.