Are the telltale signs of aging taking away from your natural smile? If laugh lines or missing teeth are causing you to smile less, you may be a good candidate for a 'smile makeover'.
Sunken lips, wrinkles around the mouth, and an unbalanced jaw line are usually the result of missing teeth and may give your cheeks a 'hollow' appearance. Today's innovative cosmetic dentistry treatment programs offer several solutions for re-contouring your gums, teeth and skin and give your face a fresh and youthful appearance.
Whether you want to take 20 years off your appearance or improve the appearance of lines and wrinkles around the mouth, a smile lift could be just what you need to share a healthy smile with the world.
Porcelain veneers are one option for improving the look of your smile and providing your mouth and jaw area with an instant 'lift.' The veneers are sturdy enough to secure the gum line once again, and can even decrease laugh lines.
Your mouth needs to be in good health to undergo a cosmetic dentistry procedure, and your dentist will begin the process with a complete examination and evaluation.
You may be a good candidate for a smile makeover if you have:
Missing teeth
A 'gummy' smile
Crooked or chipped teeth
Teeth gaps
Uneven teeth
Cosmetic dentistry has evolved from simple teeth whitening and tooth replacement treatments to complete mouth reconstruction and re-shaping procedures. Cosmetic dentistry options today make it easy for anyone to achieve a 'celebrity-inspired' look with not only a new set of teeth, but also a dramatic change in appearance of the mouth and face.
Since the entire gum line and set of teeth can be replace, restructured and re-contoured, the facial muscles around the mouth are forced to change and readjust. This reconstruction often yields a more youthful and structured appearance, taking decades off of the appearance.
The corners of the mouth, the lips and the jaw line all undergo significant changes after a cosmetic dentistry procedure, and this 'lift' can help reduce the signs of aging in an instant. If you've been considering facial plastic surgery or other skin rejuvenation treatments to improve the contours of your face, don't overlook the options available with today's innovative cosmetic surgery treatments.
In addition to porcelain veneers, some of the most popular treatments available in cosmetic dentistry procedures include:
Tooth contouring
Full mouth reconstruction
Inlays and onlays
Bridges
Gum recontouring
Dental implants
So now we will discuss the cost of your new smile.
Cosmetic changes to your smile can be a little as $125 for bonding to repair a chip, to $10,000 for porcelain veneers, to $35,000 and up for full mouth rehabilitation. Clearly, this is an investment - not something to be done on a whim.
Many people who know they can benefit from cosmetic dentistry put it off because they are concerned about the cost. This is a valid concern but it is one that can be addressed quite easily.
First, consider that your insurance may be able to cover some of the cost of your treatment plan. While dental benefits are notoriously small (typically no more than $2,000 per year), and don't usually cover elective procedures, it is possible that some of your work will be covered.
Ask your dentist's office team to help you maximize your benefits. After that option has been exhausted, your dentist will likely offer several payment options.
Cash is always a good form of payment, and sometimes you will get a better deal if you can pay cash right up front. Credit cards are also widely accepted. Some offices allow you to pay for the treatment in thirds, billing your credit card once a month.
If your treatment plan is larger, say over $5,000, you may wish to finance the fee. You can look into a personal loan with your own bank, or a home equity loan, but most dental offices use a third party billing service.
The office manager will help you figure out several payment plans that will fit your budget, allowing you to extend the payments for a year (often with no interest if paid in full within 12 months!) or longer.
Once you complete a credit application, the office manager will contact the financing company to see if you are approved. Once approved, you sign an agreement, and you're ready for treatment and a new smile.
Author Resource:
Tom Selwick is a former dental assistant, has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health and has worked for an dentist Las vegas . He has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
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