A Quick Primer on Cosmetic Dental Costs

Cosmetic dentistry is used to enhance the appearance of teeth rather than repair or restore the function and are mostly considered “unnecessary” by a lot of dental insurance plans. Hence, the costs are very high as compared to restorative dentistry. Dentists may offer installment plans to cover these expenses if the cost is too high. It is always recommended to first get an estimate of the costs that will be incurred on getting the treatment done.

In this primer to cosmetic dentistry costs, we will give you an estimate of how much each of the cosmetic dentistry procedures will cost you. Remember, the costs below are just estimates and we recommend that you get firm estimates from the Dentist’s office for your cosmetic procedure(s). Costs can vary depending on the type of cosmetic procedure, the dentist doing the procedure and the equipment being used for it.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental implants are the closest thing to replacing your natural teeth when they decay beyond repair or are knocked out due to unfortunate accidents. Dental implants are titanium screws that are secured to the jawbone and then an abutment is added to it that will ultimately hold the crown, making it the tooth assembly to replace your natural tooth.

Costs vary depending on the type of material used, the dentist, the location, and the equipment used. The need for bone grafts and/or sinus lifts may increase costs even more. That’s why the cost of dental implants services in California can fluctuate from as low as $1,000 to as high as $3,000 per implant/tooth, with costs reaching a dizzying $25,000 to over $90,000 for a full mouth reconstruction.

METAL BRACES / INVISALIGN

Metal braces / Invisalign helps in straightening and aligning teeth for a pleasing appearance and improved bite. Mostly used at an early age to guide the teeth to perfection, it is not unusual for older adults to undergo this procedure at different stages of life.

Invisalign or metal braces are not considered a cosmetic dental procedure by most insurance plans because they also help the teeth improve bite and be easily cleaned. Most plans cover a part of this cost and may save you some expense. Please check with your dental insurance provider.

The cost of metal braces can vary from around $1,800 to over $4,000, whereas Invisalign can cost around $5,000. But, for a fair comparison, you’ve to consider that metal braces may need many more visits to the orthodontist/dentist’s office than Invisalign. Factor this and the costs of either procedure may be well within the same range.

DENTAL VENEERS

Dental veneers are the saviors of the dental world. They cover up our unaesthetic imperfections. They’re are basically customized porcelain shells or composite shells that resemble your natural teeth enamel. These veneers cover the visible portion of the teeth to hide any defects that may be spoiling your appearance. Veneers are made of either porcelain or composite material. Porcelain composites can last 10 to 15 years and cost between $900 to around $3000 per tooth. Composite veneers, direct or indirect, can cost between $200 to well over $1,500 but last only about 5 to 10 years.

TEETH WHITENING

Dental veneers are the saviors of the dental world. They cover up our unaesthetic imperfections. They’re are basically customized porcelain shells that resemble your natural teeth enamel. These veneers cover the visible portion of the teeth to hide any defects that may be spoiling your appearance.

There are many ways of whitening your teeth. There are over-the-counter products costing less than $100 followed by take-home whitening kits that cost in the range of $100 to $400, rounded out with the best option of teeth whitening done at the dentist costing around $600 or so. Take your pick!