Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry Services
Dental services are not always the most affordable services available, whether they are cosmetic or medically necessary. In addition to this, the cost can vary widely based on a number of factors. These can include insurance coverage, dental institution visited, or even the state of your teeth. Thus, the costs discussed here are estimates based upon averages.
In the United States, teeth whitening and bleaching is the single most common cosmetic dental procedure. This is, on average, between $600 and $800 dollars per treatment. While that does not seem initially steep, most whitening protocols require at least three visits and up to six. This means that that $600 can quickly become $3600. That is a lot more expensive all of a sudden.
Porcelain veneers for the teeth are another extremely common form of cosmetic dental service. These can range anywhere from $500 to $2500 per tooth. Thus, if you were to get high-end veneers over each tooth, it would be extremely expensive. Though, while these are a costly treatment, they are widely regarded as the most effective way to truly transform a patients smile.
Dental inlays or onlays are also quite common. These are a procedure that repairs damaged teeth that are not damaged enough to require a more invasive procedure. They also can have a cosmetic effect as visible damage is removed. These have an average price of $900 per tooth. While that seems high initially, most people do not need these on every tooth, rather, they only need them in a few places.
Overall, cosmetic dentistry services can be expensive, but not overly so. In addition, some of these costs may be covered by insurance. They can also be covered by insurance if your dentist agrees that you getting the cosmetic procedure done now will prevent a more invasive and expensive procedure down the line. This is especially true for veneers. Finally, most dentists offices will have payment plan options available. These vary widely, but generally, they will allow you to pay off your treatments with an installment plan. This is useful for all types of dental work, not just cosmetic.