Most people at some point in their lives worry about the state of their teeth and hide their smiles. Whether it’s diet-induced or the curious fault of genetics, some have to visit the dentist’s office more often than others – all in the pursuit of fixing their broken smiles. The dental industry has grown in service offerings exponentially over the past few decades, but particularly in the cosmetic dentistry and teledentistry sectors.
The cosmetic dentistry market size was valued at almost $15 million globally in 2020 and is set to grow to $24 million by 2030. Because of the large scope of procedures and treatment cosmetic dentistry can offer, it certainly has in its arsenal a myriad of solutions for a brighter smile.
Teledentistry has been a boon for dental professionals in this era of remotely doing everything, affording them the ability to check up on their patients online without the need for office visits. Because of the successes of teledentistry brought on by innovations historically geared for astronauts and soldiers abroad, products like at-home clear aligners, which work to fix crooked teeth, can now be delivered, executed and progress checked by professionals online.
Porcelain Veneers, Crowns and Dental Implants
Porcelain veneers help fix chips and cracks, tooth gaps, alignment, shape and size of teeth, along with alleviating stains and discoloration. They are basically tooth-coloured shells made out of super durable and stain-resistant material that are placed in the front of your teeth. Since the enamel of the tooth has to be filed down to place the veneer, the procedure is irreversible, but the results are great. The cost of veneers averages around $1,500 per tooth.
Crowns are for severely damaged or decayed teeth and help avoid actual extraction. It’s a tooth-shaped cap that is placed over the bad tooth, which improves its strength and function. They are custom designed so they look real, last for years, and definitely brighten up smiles. A crown can cost anywhere between $1,100 and $1,500 depending on the type.
Implants basically permanently replace missing teeth from root to crown, but they also have a lot of added benefits like stopping premature aging by preserving bone structure. They also provide full functionality for confident eating, speaking and smiling. Since they are basically a once-off, for life, tooth fix, their cost ($3,000 – $4,500) is a worthy investment in the long run.
Braces and Clear Aligners
Braces are dental aids attached to your teeth to help common teeth problems like crowding, crooked, and misaligned teeth. Braces are mostly used for teenagers while their teeth are still shifting, but adults can get them too. The treatment can take up to two years to complete, and because of this, they are quite pricey at $6,000 on average.
The treatment entails regular dental office visits, and they are most cosmetically unappealing while treatment is taking place. They are, however, almost always successful in their goal to brighten a smile.
A more palatable version of braces is the Invisalign device, which is a transparent, plastic form of braces that can be taken out and cleaned, or sometimes only have to be on for a few hours a day, allowing the gradual straightening of teeth. They are just as pricey as normal braces, averaging around $5,000 and also require regular dentist office visits.
At-home aligners like Byte and Smile Direct are just as effective as Invisalign though they are usually reserved for lesser dental problems, but can definitely fix a crooked smile, and all from the comfort of home, with remote check ups by dental professionals. They are cost-effective in comparison (maximum $2,300) and treatment time is shorter; products like Smile Direct nighttime aligners are made to work on brightening a smile while the patient is sound asleep.
Final Thoughts
Improving the condition of teeth and brightening a person’s smile brings back confidence, and leads, essentially, to happiness. With so many dental treatments available; from teeth whiteners and botox and dermal fillers to veneers and dental implants; no matter what the tooth problem, the dental profession has advanced so much that everyone now has a wide variety of treatments to choose from, in order to have that brighter smile.