There are all kinds of cosmetic dentistry procedures out there. The shape of your jaw, the placement of your teeth and your oral health can all have an effect on what procedures are better for you.
Here we talk about the different kinds of procedures to help you determine what to talk to your dentist about.
Tooth contouring:
Using a polishing instrument, your dentist removes small amounts of enamel to contour the tooth. It's a relatively inexpensive, painless and quick procedure.
Too much tooth enamel could be removed but this is rare. The cost for this procedure can be anywhere from $600 to $1000 per session.
Full mouth reconstruction:
Using advanced technology, the dentist measures the jaw's muscle function in both stressed and relaxed positions by running computerized scans. With an imbalance, the dentist will use an orthotic appliance.
The orthotic is a removable or fixed appliance that artificially builds up the patient's bite to a comfortable resting position. For patients that wish to eliminate the orthotic, full mouth restoration is often required.
After the orthotic has been worn for several weeks to several months, the jaw naturally drops into its most comfortable position. Only then can the doctor begin to restore the bite.
Inlays and Onlays:
If a cavity is detected in a dental exam, or if you have a failing metal filling, and the decay is inside the cusp of the tooth, an inlay can be used to restore the tooth to health. The dentist will first take an impression of the tooth then send the impression to an outside lab.
The lab will custom build the inlay to fit the patient's tooth exactly. The patient will be fitted with a temporary inlay in the interim.
When the lab returns the inlay to the dentist, he or she will remove the temporary restoration, and bond the permanent inlay to the tooth. The inlay becomes part of the tooth, splinting it together and making it stronger.
There is no space between the inlay and the tooth, ensuring that bacteria can not enter and cause a cavity. The color and shading of the inlay should make the restoration invisible to the naked eye.
The cost for an inlay varies with the doctor's training and the cost of the laboratory, but typically ranges from $650 to $1,200.
Bridges:
The dentist will first administer an anesthetic to numb the area. Then, a minimal amount of tooth structure will be removed from the teeth on either side of the space to be filled by the new tooth or teeth.
This material is removed to provide the needed space for the new crowns. An impression of the area will be made.
This impression will be sent to a dental laboratory, serving as a model from which the bridge will be created. The patient will then be fitted with a temporary bridge.
At the next visit, when the permanent bridge is ready, the temporary bridge will be removed. The new bridge will be fitted and adjusted for perfect fit and comfort.
The new bridge will then be bonded to the teeth. Typically there is a fee per tooth, including the anchoring teeth on each side.
For example, if a patient needed a three unit bridge (one missing tooth, two anchoring teeth), and the cost per tooth was $1,000, then the bridge cost would be $3,000. The cost per tooth depends on the lab fees, skill, training and location of the dentist.
Gum recontouring:
Gum recontouring is a safe, comfortable procedure. The dentist will first numb the gums with anesthetic.
Then, with a duo laser, he or she will gently re-shape the gum line, sculpting excessive and uneven tissue. The laser immediately seals the tissue, promoting a fast, comfortable recuperation.
Typically gum recontouring is included as part of a larger treatment plan, so the procedure cost will be included in the overall fee.
Author Resource:-
Jack R. Landry is a former dental assistant and has authored hundreds of articles relating to oral health and dentist in Bakersfield, CA. He has been a guest dental lecturer for over 15 years.
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