You have probably read stories about actors or actresses that spent tens of thousands of dollars to get their perfect Hollywood smile, but in reality, cosmetic dentistry does not have to break the bank. While it is true that an entire mouthful of dental implants would cost a fair penny, there are a number of ways that you could improve your smile without having to take on debt or sell the family silver.
Cosmetic Dentistry Options
Before reading any further, you should consider the pros and cons of cosmetic dentistry. The downsides are the financial expense involved and having to spend a few hours in a dentist’s chair. The upsides are improved self-esteem, more confidence and dazzling looks. If you are unhappy with your smile but are worried about what it would cost to improve it, here are a few affordable options for you to consider.
Teeth Whitening
Smoking, drinking coffee or red wine or even eating certain fruits or vegetables can discolour teeth over time, but the change in your smile does not have to be permanent. Teeth whitening is one of the easiest and least expensive forms of cosmetic dentistry, and the best thing is you won’t even need a shot of Novocaine. It can also be done very quickly, which means it could be an ideal option if you have a special occasion or an important interview coming up. Star Dental offers the teeth whitening in the office as well as whitening kits that you can use at home.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are an affordable alternative to crowns or dental implants for chipped or damaged teeth. They are also a great option for people with severely stained teeth. Veneers are very thin strips of porcelain or composite resin that have been custom shaped in a lab to fit over a tooth. Once in place, they look just like a natural tooth. We can apply veneers using UV light that will resist stains and match the rest of your teeth exactly, and the whole process can usually be taken care of in only three visits. If you have basically healthy teeth that do not look as good as they could, dental veneers could be the perfect option for you.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding is a simple and inexpensive way to fix badly damaged teeth, protect teeth with roots that have been exposed by receding gums or fill the gaps between teeth. It is done by applying a durable tooth-like material to the tooth or teeth to be treated and then hardening it with LED light. The material used is chosen carefully to make sure that the bonded tooth will match the rest of your smile, and it is then shaped and smoothed until you get the look you desire. Bonding can normally be completed in a single visit because no lab work is required.
Composite Fillings
If you have teeth that were filled 10 or more years ago, your dentist probably used a filling material that was silver in colour and contained mercury. Not only does this type of filling material not look very good, but it could also swell over time and cause decay. You can avoid root canals and improve the look of your teeth quickly and inexpensively by replacing your old fillings with fillings made out of advanced composite materials.
Composite fillings are nontoxic and almost invisible to the naked eye because they are matched to the rest of the tooth that was filled.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are used to cover and protect teeth that have had root canal treatment or strengthen teeth that could crack. They are also a great option for badly damaged or severely decayed teeth. At Star Dental, we can match crowns to the rest of your teeth almost perfectly, which means no one will ever know that you have had work done. Dental crowns are made in a lab using molds that we create in our office, which means getting them will involve a few visits. However, once they are in place, they will provide a natural looking and near permanent improvement to your smile.
Other Considerations
There are often other aspects to consider when you want a healthy and affordable simile. Having dental insurance is ideal because some of the cosmetic dentistry services on this list such as crowns are often paid in full or in part by your insurance company. It is usually a good idea to choose a dentist that is within your insurance company’s network to keep down cost.
There are also special dental insurance plans that pay for cosmetic dentistry that is not covered in a typical insurance plan. For instance, there are plans that pay for teeth whitening. As these plans can be pricey, you will need to decide if the costs for premiums and the deductible outweigh just going ahead and paying for the teeth whitening service outright.
On the other hand, there are also programs and payment plans available for patients that don’t have insurance. You can discuss all of these questions and options with your family dentist’s office, and they can assist you in the best course of action to achieve your affordable cosmetic dentistry goals.
Star Dental: Decades of Cosmetic Dentistry Experience
If you want to improve your smile with affordable cosmetic dentistry options in Port Macquarie, you should look no further than Star Dental. We have decades of cosmetic dentistry experience, and we always work with our patients to find the most affordable way to give them the results they want.
We are confident that one visit is all it will take to make you a patient for life.