Cosmetic Dentistry & Implants

Cosmetic dentistry is the art and science of improving the appearance of damaged or otherwise unsightly teeth. Unlike other aspects of dental care that are designed to keep the teeth healthy in addition to making the smile attractive, cosmetic dentistry is primarily an aesthetic pursuit. Teeth may have any number of problems that can detract from the smile, and cosmetic dentistry uses various treatment options to correct those flaws. Cosmetic dentistry interventions, including teeth whitening, dental veneers and even dental implants, may be provided alone or in combination, depending on the patient’s needs.

A dental veneer is a thin, tooth-shaped shell that is used to correct cosmetic flaws with a fairly conservative technique. Dental veneers are custom-designed so that they blend in with the rest of the patient’s smile for an overall natural look, and they can be made of porcelain or ceramic materials. Dental veneers are bonded to the front surface of a patient’s biological tooth to conceal flaws such as chips, cracks or deep stains that don’t respond to teeth whitening treatments. Veneers may also be used to make a slightly crooked stretch of teeth appear straight or to resize a tooth that is disproportionately small in comparison to its neighbors.

The different cosmetic dentistry treatments are associated with a range of costs, and services that are provided primarily for cosmetic purposes often are not covered by dental insurance. However, certain treatments may be partially covered if oral health is a consideration in addition to aesthetics.  

Rest assured that our experienced billing staff will work with you to maximize your insurance benefits and minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Additionally, they can educate you on which services may qualify for insurance coverage and which ones definitely will not. For any costs that are the patient’s responsibility, we accept a variety of payment options for your convenience.

Dental implants are small cylinders made of biocompatible titanium. That means that the bone tissue in the jaw is able to fuse with the dental implant’s surface after the dentist inserts the implant at the site of the missing tooth. Therefore, in order to benefit from dental implants, patients must have enough bone at the implant site for osseointegration to be completed. If the patient has experienced substantial bone loss or if there is a congenital defect at the site limiting the amount of bone tissue available, a patient may need to undergo a preliminary bone graft to supplement the tissue at the site. Your dentist will evaluate your case at your initial consultation to determine if you are a good candidate for this treatment.

The costs of dental implants will differ for various patient scenarios, and they also reflect additional services, including x-rays, extractions and bone grafting, when necessary. After your initial evaluation, your dentist can give you a better projection of the expected costs for this treatment.