Five Things to Remember before you Choose Cosmetic Dentistry

Until as recently as a couple of decades ago, there was a lot you could do to keep your teeth healthy, but not much you could do to improve the appearance of your smile.  If you were unlucky enough to have chipped or broken, uneven or discolored teeth, you had very few options to fix these and brighten your smile.

Things have been changed dramatically since then, and now, a person who yearns for a perfect smile, has a wide range of dental procedures and treatments to help him. These can range from simple, basic and inexpensive procedures like teeth whitening procedures, to expensive, complex and time consuming procedures, like dental veneer treatments. There are procedures to repair cracks, cover chips, erase stains, brighten teeth and even, give a whole new face to your teeth in the form of pricey veneers. Cosmetic dentistry is an ever advancing field, and newer cutting edge technologies are constantly being developed, reducing the time it takes for a person to transform his smile and appearance.  
However, before you decide to put down valuable dollars for a cosmetic dental procedure, it’s important to keep a few facts in mind.  

Cosmetic Dental Procedures can be Expensive
While bleaching and whitening procedures may be comparatively cheaper, you will find that the most sophisticated and effective treatments like veneers, are very expensive. Dramatic changes in smiles come only through these expensive treatments. For instance, if you've been mesmerized by the bright and dazzling smiles of Hollywood celebrities, then you must know that those smiles are the result for expensive porcelain veneers. These can cost up to $1,500 per tooth. 

Insurance May Not Cover Your Cosmetic Dental Treatment
Insurance companies typically consider cosmetic treatments to be elective treatments, or non essential treatments. That why they often don’t cover these.  You may find a plan that might cover teeth whitening, but it’s rare to across a plan that covers porcelain veneers. Because these treatments are so expensive, you might have to look at alternate sources of funding to pay for your treatment.  

The Results Might not Last Forever
Most cosmetic dental procedures make use of artificial dental materials. So, don’t expect these materials to last forever. For instance, veneers may be expensive, and they may be stronger than they used to be earlier, but they are still not indestructible. The same goes for inlays and crowns too. Theses may break or crack. In fact, the procedures may have to be repeated after 10 or 15 years. This brings us to another factor to consider - maintenance.

The Results Must be Maintained Properly
Because your veneers or inlays are so expensive, you may be required to avoid eating things that may damage your veneers. For instance, biting hard objects can crack your veneers. Composite resin may be stained by drinking tea or coffee and smoking. A proper lifestyle is therefore very important to maintain the results of your cosmetic treatment.  

Have Realistic Goals
A bright smile can enhance your appearance, but it’s important to understand that it may not dramatically alter what you look like. An enhanced appearance may lead to more self confidence, but will not fix any deep lying psychological problems, like depression etc.