What is Cosmetic Dental Surgery?

Did you know that a smile is the first thing people notice when you meet for the first time? And most people believe that perfect teeth make the perfect smile. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has enabled anyone to achieve the ideal smile.

So, what is cosmetic dental surgery? Cosmetic dental surgery or cosmetic dentistry is dentistry that focuses on improving the appearance of your smile. Although the practice shares some procedures with restorative dentistry, cosmetic dentistry does not necessarily improve the function of your teeth. Instead, cosmetic dental surgery improves things like misalignment, staining, teeth gaps, and other visual issues you may have with your teeth.  

Are you happy with your dental formula? Are you confident about your smile? If you are not, you can change it by getting cosmetic dental surgery in Columbus. Below are some of the procedures you can get to improve your smile.

1. Teeth Whitening or Bleaching

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that can be performed by a dentist or at home with over-the-counter products. Anybody can get their teeth bleached, but the process is best for people with stained or discolored teeth.

Teeth whitening is one of the most affordable ways to change your smile, especially if you use over-the-counter products such as rinses, whitening strips, paint-on gels, and molds.

2. Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are best for people who want to change their teeth’s shape, size, color, or length. So, if you have cracked, crooked, or gaps in your teeth, this procedure is for you.

Veneers are a type of dental procedure where a thin layer of either resin or porcelain is placed over the front of your teeth. The veneers are custom-made to fit your teeth and are bonded to your natural teeth.

It will take more than one visit to the dentist to get dental veneers done, so be prepared for a higher cost with this procedure.

3. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is another popular oral cosmetic surgery procedure in Columbus. This procedure fixes cracked, chipped, or decaying teeth by bonding a tooth-colored resin to your tooth’s surface using UV light. The dentist will then shape, polish, or trim your tooth to achieve the desired outcome.

4. Dental Crowns

As the name suggests, a dental crown is something that goes over or covers the tooth. You can get dental crowns to fix gaps between your teeth and chipped, broken, decayed, or misshaped teeth.

Crowns can be made from various materials like porcelain or acrylics, and your choice will affect the price of the procedure.

5. Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth that replace missing or broken tooth roots. These artificial teeth have screws made from titanium that go into the jawbone to act as the tooth root. Dental implants are best for people who do not have natural tooth roots.

6. Teeth Shaping or Enamel Shaping

This process shapes your teeth by filing or removing the enamel. This procedure is best if you want immediate results and a painless procedure.

7. Inlays and Onlays

Inlays and Onlays are indirect fillings used to fix teeth that are severely decayed. They are an excellent option for cosmetic dental surgery because you can preserve your teeth’s natural surface. An inlay is an indirect filling bonded at the center of the decayed tooth, while an onlay covers part of, or the entire, tooth.

8. Wearing Braces

Braces are common among children and teenagers, but they are also an option for adults who want to straighten their teeth. Braces help move teeth to the desired position by applying pressure over time. It can take six months to a couple of years until you achieve your goal, but it will be worth it in the end.

9. Gum Shaping or Contouring

If your gums rest too high or too low on your teeth, they might look too long or too short. Sometimes this can be caused by gum recession, leading to tooth decay and tooth loss. It might even be a symptom of periodontal disease. However, gum shaping or contouring is usually a cosmetic procedure to improve one’s smile.

How Much is Cosmetic Dental Surgery in Columbus, Ohio?

Knowing the cost of cosmetic dental procedures is essential to budget for your smile makeover in good time.

Dental procedures can be expensive, but the price is determined by a few factors listed below:

• Type of procedure
• Materials used for the procedure
• Number of teeth affected
• The severity of your dental condition

There can also be additional costs like consultation fees, x-rays, and aftercare costs if needed. Below is a table showing cost estimations of different cosmetic dental procedures near Columbus, Ohio:

Does Insurance Cover Cosmetic Dentist Surgery?

Cosmetic dental surgery deals with the general aesthetic of your teeth. However, most cosmetic dental procedures borrow from restorative dental surgery, which is partially (and sometimes fully) covered by insurance.

Insurance pays for restorative dental surgery because it is medically necessary for the patient. Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, is elective and not medically necessary.

So how do insurance companies tell the difference between the two?

Insurance companies consider a dental procedure restorative when:

• It is medically necessary due to decay, disease, accident, or injury.
• It helps improve tooth functionality, like replacing missing teeth and altering the mechanics of the existing teeth.

A dental procedure is considered cosmetic when:

• It is done solely to improve the appearance of a patient’s smile.
• There is no medical reason, like decay, injury, etc., to perform the procedure.

Most insurance companies will pay for restorative and preventive dental procedures that will benefit your oral health in the long term. Unfortunately, cosmetic dental surgery does not fit into this category, and thus it is not covered by insurance.

However, the lines are blurry because most restorative dental procedures are done with a cosmetic appeal. Therefore, if you can prove that your cosmetic dental practice has a medical benefit, insurance can cover 50% of the cost.

Cosmetic dentistry procedures like crowns and implants usually have lasting oral health benefits to the patient. However, others like gum shaping, tooth shaping, and whitening are purely cosmetic, so the chances of insurance paying for them are minimal.

Regardless of whether you have insurance, it is possible to reduce your dental costs with the help of your dentist. It is customary to consult your dentist for advice on the most affordable and best dental procedure to get the desired results.