How Much Does Cosmetic Dentistry Cost?
We’re talking about ways to improve your smile from a kit that can cost $50 to a custom celebrity smile that can cost up to $40,000 and everything in between.
My name is Dr Tejas Patel and I’m a cosmetic dentist and over the years I have helped thousands of people get a confident smile.
In this blog, I’m going to talk about the biggest question we get in our dms and the most common comment on Cosmetic Dentists’ social media posts.
The biggest question is,
“How much does that cost?”
So I’m going to take that question of, “how much does that cost?” and apply it to the 4 biggest cosmetic dentistry procedures. I’ll give price ranges because the price will vary based on where you go and who you go to
The top 4 cosmetic dentistry procedures right now are:
- Teeth Whitening,
- Braces,
- Composite Veneers
- and Porcelain veneers
So for each of these procedures I’ll be answering the questions:
- Who should get it done?
- How does it work?
- How much and how long does it take?
- Is it painful?
- And how long does it last?
- So let’s get started!
- First up is Teeth Whitening
Who
If you’re happy with the look of your smile, the size and shape of your teeth, and you’re happy
with the straightness of your teeth, then teeth whitening can be a great solution. So, if you like
your smile, but just don’t like the color of your teeth.
How
Teeth whitening works by having a whitening gel applied to the front surface of the teeth over a period of time. Sometimes there’s a light involved, sometimes there isn’t…to be honest the light doesn’t do much.
There are two types of Teeth Whitening treatments. One you do at home, the other is what you would do at the dentist office.
Price & Time
The home whitening kit can range in price from $50-$200. This can be great for young patients
and teens. Home Whitening can take 7-14 days to see the results.
The in office Teeth Whitening treatments can range from $300 to $800. This can be a great option for adults. In the dental office we use much stronger whitening gel. In office Teeth Whitening is a 1 hr procedure and results are immediate.
Side note, insurance does not cover this procedure.
Pain
Whitening treatments aren’t painful, but can be uncomfortable or make the teeth sensitive during the treatment time.
Lasts
How long the results will last depends on habits. If you drink coffee, tea, red wine, smoke, then
the results will not last as long. Home kit results can last a few months. In office treatments
results can last 6 months to a year.
Second is Teeth Straightening or Braces.
Who
If you’re happy with size and shape of your teeth, but just wish your teeth were straighter then Braces are a great option. If your teeth have lots of gaps, are very crooked, or you have bite issues (or the way the top and bottom teeth come together), then Braces should definitely be considered. If you’re a teenager, and unhappy with your smile, Braces and Teeth Whitening are the first options I’d consider.
How
There are two types of Braces.
Traditional Braces are done with metal brackets and wires. Traditional Braces are stuck to your teeth.
Clear Braces are done with clear removable trays. An example of this would be Invisalign. Clear Braces can be taken in and out of your mouth.
All types of Braces work by applying pressure to the teeth over a period of time to align or straighten the teeth.
Price & Time
Prices can range depending on how difficult the treatment will be or how long the treatment will take.
On the average Braces can take anywhere from 8 months to 2 years. You would visit the
Orthodontist about every 2 months during that time.
Side note, this is one cosmetic procedure that insurance may help pay for.
Pain
Braces can be uncomfortable when getting them adjusted, tightened or putting in a new clear tray.
Lasts
How long the results last will depend on the retainers after the treatment is completed.
Generally, we recommend using retainers indefinitely to maintain the results after braces.
Next up is Composite Veneers.
Who
If you’re happy with the straightness of your teeth, but don’t like the size, shape, or color of your teeth, then composite veneers could be an option.
How
Composite Veneers work by having composite (or tooth colored filling material) bonded to the front surfaces of your teeth. Most smiles that are improved with Composite Veneers are done with just the 10 upper teeth OR 20 teeth total. 20 teeth would be 10 upper teeth and 10 lower teeth.
Price & Time
- Composite Veneers can cost about $300 to $800 PER tooth.
- So 10 upper teeth composite veneers could cost from $3,000 to $8,000.
- 20 total teeth composite veneers (which would be upper and lower teeth) could cost from $6,000to $16,000. Again this will depend on where you go. Many people who get composite veneerstravel overseas and outside of the US to have this done. I’ll talk about my thoughts on this in adifferent episode.
- To get composite veneers it usually takes 2 visits.
- Side note, insurance does not cover this procedure.
Pain
There is usually no buffing to the teeth, so there is minimal local anesthetic and minimal
discomfort.
Lasts
The biggest disadvantage of composite veneers is how long they last. On average composite veneers will last 3-5 years. Also, they will stain, chip and break more easily and require much more maintenance than other veneers.
Finally, let’s talk about Porcelain Veneers.
I just saw an article in Buzzfeed about how veneers are becoming an essential accessory for
influencers that want a better smile.
Who
If you’re an adult and NOT happy with the straightness of your teeth, have spaces between your
teeth, not happy with the size, not happy with the shape, or don’t like the color of your teeth, then
porcelain veneers could be an option. This is also a great option for adults that want a permanent
solution to have whiter teeth.
How
Porcelain Veneers work by having thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front surfaces of your
teeth. Most smiles that are improved with Porcelain Veneers are done with just the upper 8 or 10
upper teeth OR some people do up to 20 teeth total. Again, 20 teeth would be 10 upper teeth and
10 lower teeth.
Price & Time
- Porcelain Veneers can cost about $1,500 to $2,000 PER tooth.
- 8 upper teeth veneers could cost from $12,000 to $16,000.
- 10 upper teeth Porcelain Veneers could cost from $15,000 to $20,000.
- 20 total teeth Porcelain Veneers (which would be upper and lower teeth) could cost from $30,000 to $40,000. Again this will depend on where you go.
- To get Porcelain Veneers it usually takes 2 to 3 visits.
- Side note, insurance does not cover this procedure.
We also get the question, “why are they so expensive?”
Porcelain veneers are custom crafted and hand made and detailed by a ceramist. It’s also a very
specialized procedure. Think of it like custom jewelry that is made for each tooth.
Pain
There is usually minimal buffing to the teeth to make room for the Porcelain Veneers, so there is local anesthetic used to numb patients for the procedure.
Lasts
The biggest advantage of Porcelain Veneers is how long they last and how strong or durable they are. On average Porcelain Veneers will last 10 to 15 years and longer. Also, they will NOT stain, chip and break.