Cosmetic dental surgery involves procedures to make a person's teeth aesthetically pleasing and, in general, healthier. This process can involve cosmetic dental techniques such as straightening, whitening, or by employing different methods of adjusting teeth that cause aesthetic or health problems.
Teeth that are misaligned and non-uniform in appearance may be corrected by using braces, or by the use of Invisalign. These procedures involve realigning the teeth by force. In the case of Invisalign, a sample of the structure of the teeth is taken and a mouth piece made from the mold. Separate pieces are made for the top and the bottom teeth, and worn by the patient. This process is less invasive than traditional breaches due to the fact that the corrective pieces are removable, with length of time being varied for each phase of the corrective procedure. Teeth straightening with conventional braces may cost approximately $4,500, and teeth straightening using Invisalign has an approximated cost of $3,000 to $9,000.
An aspect of Holistic dentistry involves removing mercury fillings and replacing those fillings with a bonded or porcelain filling. The filling removal process promotes a healthier way to care for teeth that have decay, as porcelain fillings are said to have no negative side effects like their mercury counterparts. Removal of metal fillings also has aesthetic value as fillings cannot be seen by persons looking at the teeth. Metal fillings can be removed quickly with the use of a suction technique, and the new fillings made of porcelain may cost (in approximation) $200 to $500 per filling.
Improvement of smile by tooth whitening is also a part of cosmetic dentistry. Techniques involving bleach and lasers, or, in the case of Brite Smile teeth whitening, a specially formulated gel and blue light. The whitening process may lighten discolored teeth by a few or many shades, depending on the process used and the degree of discoloration. Tooth whitening procedures are completed in 2.5 to 3 hours and have an average cost of $500 to $1200 for a complete in office cleaning.
Smiles may also be lightened by tooth veneers that not only whiten teeth but also help make the tooth become stronger, especially in cases of teeth weakened by wear or decay. Veneers are a very thin layer of porcelain that, when bonded to a tooth, become extremely durable. Veneers are used for fixing the front teeth, and to correct chips in the teeth, misaligned or malformed teeth, and to repair worn out fillings on front teeth. To place a veneer on a tooth, the cosmetic dentist first examines the tooth to see its condition. The enamel of the tooth is then slightly reduced to accommodate the thin sheath of veneer. This tooth preparation is done on the first visit, and on the second visit the veneer is placed on the tooth. The total time for the placement of veneers is approximately 2 dental visits with one follow up visit. The cost of veneers is approximately $400 to $900 a tooth.
Cosmetic dentists use crowns to repair teeth that are decayed, discolored or malformed. Crowns can also be used to restore function to teeth that are badly damaged, and also to replace teeth that are missing from the mouth. Crowns are made of different combinations of materials, some of which are base metals such as gold, with some made from metal and porcelain or porcelain and a ceramic material. To place a crown on a tooth involves examining, making a model of and then removing part of the tooth. In cases of severe decay, dentists must place a filling in the tooth to be crowned. Receiving a dental crown typically takes more than one cosmetic dental office visit, and so temporary crowns are given to patients until the actual crown placemnt appointment arrives. It takes approximately one week to make an appropriate mold for a crown. The permanent crown is affixed to the tooth with a dental fixative. Crowns may last from 10 to 15 years. Crowns can also be used to replace multiple missing teeth. Crowns used for this purpose are anchored to the teeth and a "bridge" connects the two or more crowns. The cost of a crown may range from $750 to $2,500, and dental insurance companies may not cover the entire expense.
Cosmetic gum surgery is also called periodontal plastic surgery. This type of gum surgery is the redefining of gums and surrounding tissue for problems such as over exposure of teeth, or under exposure of teeth. Gum problems arise from aging or from congenital factors as well as disease. Gum surgeons correct these problems by performing corrective surgery, also called "sculpting" on the gums. This procedure is often combined with other cosmetic dental procedures such as veneers and crowns to reshape the teeth. A procedure called crown lengthening may be performed to correct a "gummy" smile problem. This procedure is one of the top surgical techniques for persons under the age of 55. Excess gum and bone are eliminated and the gum line is redefined, exposing more of the tooth and creating a more proportional smile. For different reason the gums may recede and make the teeth look much longer than they actually are. The surgical process by which this problem is fixed involves the cosmetic dental surgeon taking tissue from the roof of the mouth, and by using a grafting process, adheres the tissue to the patient's receded gum line. Surgical gum processes take approximately 2 hours, and no damage to the gum is evident after surgery. Gum surgery may be covered in part by dental health coverage, but generally the procedure costs approximately $50 to $150 per tooth.
