The term cosmetic dentistry can be misleading. It may suggest that cosmetic dentistry products and procedures are superficial, but this is not always true. There are many great benefits to cosmetic dentistry. It offers treatment and solutions for various conditions such as decayed, disintegrated, discolored, broken, chipped and missing teeth. Through cosmetic dentistry, you can improve your looks and get a smile makeover. You can choose one, two or more procedures to fix any dental problems that you may be facing. But improving the smile is not the only way cosmetic dentistry can help you.  Here, we are going to discuss five benefits.

1. Improved appearance

There is no denying that looking better has its advantages. We always feel better if we know we look better. This has apparent benefits, especially in the way we view ourselves and how we interact with others. Discolored and stained teeth do not give us confidence, so it makes sense to use teeth-whitening and dental veneers to solve that problem. We know there is nothing better than making a good first impression and if we feel we look good, we have a better chance of making a good, lasting impression.

2. Dental health

Cosmetic dentistry is a sure way to keep our teeth from degenerating further. For every dental problem, there is a cosmetic dental procedure. These procedures can make sure that we can keep our teeth in good health despite any problems we may have had early on. It improves the appearance of our teeth but at the same time, it ensures that the tooth which received treatment is not deteriorating or degenerating further. For example, dental crowns will protect the damaged or decayed teeth from worsening  while dental implants safeguard the gums and bones from decay and degeneration.  Ultimately, cosmetic dentistry can improve oral health.

3. Self-confidence

With cosmetic dentistry, everything that stopped you from feeling free and confident can be changed. The benefits of improved self-confidence are many and they cannot be measured in specific terms. Self-confidence has a significant bearing on your life. From your professional career to personal relationships, it touches all aspects of your life. A flawed appearance concerning your teeth can seriously impair your ability to smile with confidence. Cracked or chipped  teeth can be rectified with cosmetic dentistry and this, can boost your morale.

4. Improved diet

If there is a tooth missing, it can interfere with your ability to chew  food properly. If you have many teeth missing, it can seriously affect your eating habits. This, in turn, can affect your ability to digest food. Some dental problems may look minor but they can impact your eating habits, which can have a negative influence on your physical health. Cosmetic dentistry solutions such as onlays and inlays can improve the functions of your teeth, leading to better chewing  for an overall  healthier life.

5. Financial savings

Cosmetic surgery may help you prevent a bigger problem in the future that could  turn out to be more expensive if not caught on time. A more serious dental problem may result in an exorbitant treatment cost. By undergoing cosmetic dentistry sooner, you can save money that you may have to spend on a future treatment. For example, a dental implant saves your gum and teeth bone. If left alone, adjoining teeth may shift towards the empty space left by the missing tooth. If you want to set the problem right at a later date, the procedure may not be technically more difficult but it could be a lot more expensive.  Preventive dental care ensures that you do not have a bigger and more serious issue in store for you

Next,  we are going to discuss some very popular cosmetic surgery procedures, their benefits, and possible costs. Depending on what procedure you are anticipating, cosmetic dentistry costs can range from $100 to $3,000 or even more.

Types of Cosmetic Dentistry

1. Teeth Whitening ($500)

Teeth-whitening is the least expensive and the most simple way to enhance the appearance of your smile. Your dentist will bleach your teeth with products available in the dentist’s office. You can also buy gels and molds from your dentist to do the teeth-bleaching procedure at your home. You can also buy whitening products over the counter for at home use. These products include whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, and rinses. These products can cost $300-$500.

 2. Dental Veneers ($500-$1,300 per tooth)

Dental veneers are extremely thin, customized shells that cover the teeth’s front surface. It is made of tooth-colored resin or porcelain. The dental veneers are implanted after removing half-a-millimeter of enamel. Then the veneers are fixed to the front surface of the teeth. With dental veneers, the teeth’s color, size, shape or length can be changed. Dental veneers are often referred to as “Hollywood Teeth”.

3. Dental Bonding ($100 to $400 per tooth)

Dental bonding is a procedure in which resin is used that is similar to the color of your teeth and like putty in texture.. It is made of plastic, is durable, and is bonded to the tooth with the help of a laser or ultraviolet light. Your dentist will do the finishing touches which involves trimming and polishing, giving it the perfect shape. Dental bonding can give a new lease on life to your decayed, cracked, chipped, or misshapen teeth. It is also a good alternative to silver fillings.

4. Dental Crown ($500 to $900 each tooth)

A dental crown or dental cap is used to provide protection and strength to a damaged or decayed tooth. It restores its shape, strength, size, and appearance. A crown holds a cracked and damaged tooth together and prevents the weakened tooth from disintegrating. They can also be used to cover discolored teeth. Dental crowns are made from ceramic, porcelain, metal, or resin.

5. Onlays and Inlays ($650 to $1,200 per tooth)

Inlays and Onlays are techniques of indirect fillings in which damaged or decayed teeth are filled with gold, composite materials, or porcelain. When the filling is bonded inside the tooth’s center, it is called an “inlay”. When the fillings are more widespread and cover more than one point or include the biting surface, it is called an “onlay”. Your dentist can administer dental fillings during a visit to his office while onlays and inlays are prepared in a dental laboratory. After they are ready, your dentist can bond it into place.  Onlays and inlays are alternatives to crowns and can preserve much of the healthy tooth or teeth as possible.

6. Dental Implants ($1,250 to $3,000.)

Dental implants have three components: the titanium tooth root, the abutment, and the replacement tooth. The procedure involves inserting the titanium post or tooth root into the bone where the missing tooth once existed; then involves attaching a small connector post called the abutment. The last step is to attach the new tooth or crown.  Over time, the jawbone heals and grows around the implant of the titanium tooth root. It secures the implant tightly.

7. Other procedures

Other procedures not mentioned above are bridges, dentures and dental braces. A bridge is created of crowns with a false tooth in the place of a missing tooth.. A denture acts as a removable replacement for one or many missing teeth.. Dental braces are used to straighten misaligned or crooked teeth. It applies continuous pressure to move teeth slowly in a particular direction..

Final thoughts

Cosmetic dentistry does more than make cosmetic changes. To think that cosmetic surgery focuses only on improving the appearance of the patient’s smile is not entirely correct. The most important benefit of cosmetic surgery is that it helps prevent deterioration and degeneration of decaying, stained, broken, or chipped teeth. It offers lasting solutions to many of the common dental problems and offers a more charming and flawless smile.