Dental care has been practiced for thousands of years, even the early Roman and Greek civilizations used crushed bone and oyster shells to clean their teeth. Today, many different dental practices exist for various dental treatments; however, not all dental care practices are capable of performing cosmetic dental procedures. Cosmetic dentistry often involves procedures outside the scope of regular dental treatments such as teeth cleaning and cavity fillings. Common cosmetic procedures specialize in restoring your teeth through teeth whitening, bonding, veneers, tooth reshaping and dental implants. This form of dentistry is becoming very popular in the United States, and although the cost of cosmetic dentistry varies depending on different procedures and practices, Americans accounted for approximately $1.4 billion in the cosmetic dental industry last year.
The cost of cosmetic dentistry procedures can be quite affordable, especially under dental insurance coverage. Among the most common and affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures are teeth whitening treatments. Teeth whitening treatments typically use a peroxide-based chemistry, which use the process of oxidation to achieve a beautiful bright and white smile. Prices can range anywhere from $40 USD for home whitening kits, to upwards of $500 dollars for custom professional whitening treatments through a cosmetic dentist.
For those who need to replace missing or damage teeth, dental implants prove to be one of the best solutions. Dental implants have a success rate of up to 98 percent, and with proper care, a dental implant can last a lifetime. The procedure involves inserting an titanium artificial root in the jaw bone. Once the jaw bone heals around the artificial root, an artificial tooth, typically made of porcelain is inserted into the new root, providing an artificial and permanent replacement that looks almost 100% real.
Dental implant prices can get a bit expensive, for those who have damaged or extremely discolored teeth, dental veneers are a common, more affordable solution. Generally, veneers prices range from $500 to $1,300 per tooth. The procedure involves placing a porcelain cap over the damaged tooth, providing the appearance of a healthy and genuine tooth. But veneers are not for everyone, therefore it’s smart to visit an AACD member dentist to learn more about veneers, and see if the procedure is right for you. Check out this website for more.