Cosmetic Dentistry – Haverhill, MA

What Cosmetic Dental Service is Right for Me?

There are several different treatment options out there that can help you feel more confident about the appearance of your smile. Here are some of the most common ones we offer:

• Dental Bonding – Dental bonding is ideal for repairing small imperfections. This includes reshaping damaged teeth and covering noticeable flaws, like chips and stains. This is one of the most affordable options out there, but it only lasts for 3 to 10 years before needing to be replaced.
• At-Home Teeth Whitening – Teeth whitening is quick and relatively affordable when it comes to cost. If you are hoping for a brighter smile, this is likely the ideal option for you.
• Veneers – Veneers may not be the most affordable option out there, but they are the easiest way to transform numerous aspects of your smile simultaneously. Veneers can last for well over a decade if you care for them properly.
• Smile Makeover – A smile makeover combines several restorative and cosmetic treatments to achieve a variety of different goals. This is the most expensive of all of your options but will have the largest impact on the appearance and function of your smile.

Cosmetic Dentistry Can Be an Investment Worth Making

Cosmetic dentistry is a big commitment, but it’s also an investment that will pay off over time. For those who are insecure about their smile, cosmetic treatment can lead to improvements in confidence. When you feel happier about how you look, this is likely to translate into other areas of your life. For instance, greater confidence can result in better relationships, a more vibrant social life, better professional achievements, and a better quality of life overall. It’s important to look at the entire picture when considering if cosmetic dentistry is the right option for you.

How to Make Cosmetic Dentistry Affordable

Cosmetic dental treatments are rarely covered by dental insurance, but this doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll be left completely in the dust. At Associates in Dental Health of Haverhill, we offer financing with approved credit through Wells Fargo Bank, N. A., which can cover elective or medically necessary treatment. We also accept payment through CareCredit and Lending Club. To learn more about your financing options, don’t hesitate to contact us.

To find out exactly how much you can expect your cosmetic treatment to cost, schedule a consultation with us. We are eager to help you achieve your smile goals!

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Safe?

Most cosmetic dental treatments are completely safe for patients if performed by a trained professional. It’s important to remember that not every procedure is best for each patient. Since people’s situations vary from one another, your dentist will need to evaluate your oral health before determining the proper treatment to help you achieve your dream smile. Certain cosmetic procedures can pose risks to any developing issues you might have if they aren’t addressed first. For example, if you’re struggling with dental decay, placing a veneer over the affected area will only make it more difficult to treat the problem later on. Our team will ensure to address any issues beforehand.

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Expensive?

While many patients relate cosmetic dentistry to breaking the bank, this isn’t necessarily true. This costly reputation might originate from the fact that most dental insurance providers won’t offer coverage for these treatments, as they aren’t considered “essential” procedures. Fortunately, our practice offers alternative financing options via CareCredit, Lending Club, and approved credit through Wells Fargo, which will allow you to make smaller monthly payments for your treatment. Plus, you should consider the worthwhile investment in improving not only your pearly whites but your confidence and overall quality of life.

How Do I Know If I Need Cosmetic Dentistry?

Do you typically hide your teeth when smiling? Do you feel unhappy about the way your smile looks? If any of these are true, then you’ll probably benefit the most from cosmetic dentistry. Concerns like stains or discoloration can easily be addressed with a professional whitening treatment. If you’re struggling with chipped, cracked, or even misshapen teeth, then you can improve your pearly whites with dental bonding or veneers! The best way to determine which cosmetic treatment option is for you is by scheduling a consultation with our team.

Does Cosmetic Dentistry Hurt?

Some patients can be hesitant to undergo cosmetic dentistry because they’re concerned about experiencing discomfort. The good news is that we’ll do everything in our power to make sure you’re as comfortable as possible before and during your treatment. Many cosmetic dental procedures are non-invasive, such as whitening and bonding, so you won’t have to worry about any pain. Veneers will require a small amount of enamel to be removed, but you can be sure that we’ll provide you with local anesthetics to numb the area beforehand. While you might experience mild soreness or sensitivity after your appointment, this should only be temporary and can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.

Is Cosmetic Dentistry Covered by Insurance?

Generally speaking, dental insurance is unlikely to pay for procedures that are considered to be purely elective, or that aren’t done primarily for health reasons. Cosmetic dentistry therefore falls outside the realm of what the average dental plan is usually willing to cover.

There are some exceptions, like in the case of cosmetic treatments that happen to also support an oral health need. Dental crowns, for example, can be used for both aesthetic and restorative purposes. In such cases, your dental plan may pay for anywhere between 50-80% of the total cost of your treatment.

How Long Does Cosmetic Dentistry Last?

The amount of time that you can expect results from your cosmetic treatment to last depends on a few factors. The most obvious is the procedure that you choose—veneers easily last for over a decade, while teeth whitening can only keep your teeth shining for a few years at most.

The quality of your personal dental hygiene is also critically important. The better that you take care of your teeth the longer the results last. If you want to continue to reap the benefits of your dental treatment for as long as possible, daily cleaning and regular preventive appointments with us are both crucial.

What’s the Difference Between a Crown and a Veneer?

If you aren’t intimately familiar with cosmetic dentistry, the difference between crowns and veneers might not be obvious to you. After all, both treatments involve covering the teeth with a false restoration, one typically made from ceramic or other tooth-colored materials.

However, there are key differences. Veneers consist of thin shards of porcelain that can be placed onto the front surface of the tooth. They’re ideal for addressing myriad cosmetic issues with minimal disruption to the natural enamel—however, they are usually not able to deal with broken or seriously decayed teeth.

Dental crowns are small caps that cover the tooth entirely, surrounding it on all sides. This affords it additional stability and allows it to hold together severely damaged teeth, making it a much better restorative treatment. That said, putting a dental crown on your tooth will require removing much more of your natural enamel than in the case of a veneer.

What Should I Expect at an Initial Consultation for a Smile Makeover?

Smile makeovers can consist of any number of restorative or cosmetic treatments, meaning that they can be adapted to perfectly suit your individual needs. Thus, a large part of your smile makeover consultation will entail talking to you about the potential treatments that are available to you, as well as what each of them could do for your smile.

We’ll also take a look at the state of your oral health as it stands now. This will let us tell you what kind of preliminary restorative treatments you could need before cosmetic care can be completed.

And of course, you’ll have the opportunity to ask us any questions you have about your oral health, cosmetic dentistry, and the procedures you might want.