After health, aesthetics is one of the elements most sought after by patients in dental offices. Much more than prescribing tooth whitening, the cosmetic dentistry specialty is capable of performing other restorative treatments, such as the application of oral contact lenses and porcelain veneers in addition to procedures that modify the facial appearance, such the application of Botox. The cost of what is called cosmetic dentistry will vary greatly, depending on how long and/or invasive your care is and how complicated your case is. Generally, cosmetic dentistry that is performed purely for aesthetic reasons will not be covered by your insurance. If this is the case, you can speak with your dental office about financing options or payment plans. However, if you have dental insurance and cosmetic dentistry intervention is needed for health reasons, your insurance might cover all or a portion of your care. Below, we have a list of cosmetic dental procedures and situations for each that are purely aesthetic and also situations that are related to oral health.
What are the benefits of cosmetic dentistry for oral health?
- Restoring teeth that have suffered some type of trauma;
- Remove stains from food, nicotine and acidic drinks;
- Bring a more pleasant color to your teeth;
- Make the smile more harmonic;
- Improve patients' self-esteem.
Most Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments
Laser teeth whitening
This whitening method is done exclusively in the dental office, using a gel with a very high whitening concentration. She has no contraindication, bringing excellent results for all types of patients. Laser treatment brings effects faster and may take one to three sessions to get the expected result. But all this will depend on the degree of stains present on the teeth.
Porcelain veneers
They are small dental caps that serve to improve the size, color and shape of the teeth. They are great options for those who do not want to undergo whitening or orthodontic treatment. They are restorations made of ceramics, cemented on the tooth surface and that need more wear for this.
Dental contact lenses
In addition to making the smile more harmonious, dental contact lenses can also bring functional benefits and improve occlusion problems and patient chewing. Also, best of all, the lifespan of a contact lens can be 10 to 15 years! Everything will depend on the care that the patient has with their oral hygiene, of course, but the chances of it being a long-lasting procedure are high - as long as you take good care of it.
Restorations
The restoration consists of removing the affected part of the element and filling the area with specific materials to prevent the entry of bacteria and deterioration of the site. The material used is made according to the amount of tooth that was lost, seeking to restore both the form and the function of the dental element that was affected.
Application of botulinum toxin (Botox)
This is one of the most sought-after beauty procedures in dental and medical offices. The famous Botox is often used to change the face a little bit, remove some wrinkles, touch up expression marks, and even correct gummy smiles. In addition, the procedure is also a great controller of both sleep bruxism and vigil bruxism.