Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry is provided for children and adults to treat tooth disorders, gum disease, child dental health issues and to provide overall dental health for adults. The field contains procedures that offer a wide range of treatments, from filling cavities to covering broken teeth with porcelain crowns. Cosmetic dentistry can help repair and improve unsightly stains, brighten smiles, and repair and replace chipped or broken teeth.
What Types of Services Does Cosmetic Dentistry Provide?
Cosmetic dentistry is a field that includes, but is not limited to such services such as:
- Repairing rough spots or chips
- Filling cavities
- Filling gaps between teeth
- Bleaching teeth for a whiter, brighter smile
- Covering and protecting broken teeth with porcelain crowns
- Improving dental health and function through bonding, bridges, and dental implants
Who Benefits from Cosmetic Dentistry?
Children, teenagers, and adults may benefit from a wide variety of cosmetic dental procedures. Procedures and treatments from braces to extending crowns and dental implants benefit those who have suffered tooth injury or loss due to genetics, disease processes or poor oral hygiene.
Cosmetic Dental Procedures
- Veneers are custom-made shells that are usually created from porcelain. They are used to treat dental conditions such as chipped teeth, gaps between teeth, and slightly crooked teeth.
- Crowns, also known as caps, are custom fit over a tooth that has been decayed, broken, or chipped. Usually made of porcelain or acrylic, they are fused to metal and slipped and glued over broken or damaged teeth. Crowns may also fill in the spaces between teeth.
- Implants are designed to replace missing teeth and are usually made of titanium. They are surgically inserted into the jawbone. Implants are permanent and are used to anchor crowns, bridges, and even dentures.
- Bonding is a treatment designed to improve the appearance of badly stained teeth. The process involves the application of tooth colored materials that are bonded to the surface of the teeth.
- Teeth whitening methods have grown increasingly popular as a remedy for discolored or stained teeth. This process is also known as bleaching the teeth and can be performed at home, though services provided in a dental office produce more professional results.
- Braces aren\'t just for kids anymore. Braces provide solutions for crooked teeth, over bites, and buck teeth, and now offer a wide variety of materials and techniques.
How Much Does it Cost?
Cosmetic dentistry can be expensive, depending on the procedure. In the United States for example, implants may cost $1,200-$2,000 apiece. Bonding may cost $300-$600 a tooth, and crowns may cost anywhere from $800-$1,000.
Dental professionals and clinics in South America, Eastern Europe, and Asia offer the same services for quite a bit less. For example, dental implants in India range from $750 to $1,200 and porcelain or metal crowns or bridges cost only $125 to $300 each. Travelers to Argentina can save up to 70% on dental procedures, and in Europe, travelers to Croatia will pay roughly $1,000 for dental implants and $430 for bleaching or teeth whitening procedures.
Who Provides Cosmetic Dentistry Services?
The cosmetic dentist you select should have basic credentials as well as experience in the procedure you are looking for. Finding a highly skilled cosmetic dentist may take a little bit of effort but will pay off in the long run. Your dentist should be licensed through a state or national licensing board. Find out where they completed their dental training. Do they belong to American or International dental associations or organizations?
Cosmetic dental patients should be able to view and understand their treatment plan as well as all the costs and recommendations that are necessary and included for a specific procedure. Those undergoing orthodontic treatment should be seen by a certified orthodontist, a dentist who has completed two to three years of additional study in the field of orthodontics. |
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