Cosmetic dentistry?

[KristinBelle]

Anyone ever had any? I'm interested in veneers or something like that. How much did it cost, do you think it was worth it?

 

[shovan]

Bumping. I'm thinking about this also.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

This is probably OT. My DS(15) recently has his first teeth whitening session(Zoom or something like that) I paid $399 for the 90 minute treatment. OMG. The result was shocking. I thought my teeth was white already. His teeth were at least 7+ shades whiter. The dentist claimed that his teeth should remain white for at least 3 years. I am seeing my baby smiling more and bigger.

 

[suzimar57]

i've had both lightening and bonding - DH wanted my smile to look nice for our wedding (9 years ago) - lightening made my teeth literally blindingly bright! (didn't last more than a few months) - bonding on all 6 upper front teeth still doing well - had lots of spaces, all even and closed up now - worth it? - yes, i'd always hated those spaces - as far as the color of my teeth, well, they were never bright white before - they've just gotten back to normal since then (i don't smoke, drink tea/wine or anything staining) - when the bonding starts to go, i'll touch it up as needed

 

[toocooltobeMom]

I am so sorry to hear about your lightening experience. I am my fingers crossed. I will be happy if it lasts half of that time. I can literally see his self-confidence emerges.

 

[Pooki]

I havent had the whitening or the veneers, but my last dentist appointment my dentist just happens to mention that if I were interested, that he offers the service. I was not even considering it, but thought that I would ask anyways, and he told me that generally, the veneers cost about $1,000 per tooth. That was a little too rich for my blood, but if I had lots of cash laying around needing to be spent, I would love to have a movie star smile too

 

[SillyMe]

I'm glad you asked this question. I have an appt with a cosmetic dentist in two weeks.

 

[KimR]

I've had whitening, crown lengthening, and veneers. I have 5 veneers and one crown on my top teeth and I'm sorry but I don't remember the cost. The insurance actually covered the veneers because I had some erosion of the tooth enamel so you might want to look into this possibility. Make sure they code it properly though, becuase if they code it as veneers the insurance company will automatically reject it.

I am aboslutely thrilled with the results. I used to HATE my smile and was extremely self-concsious. Now I think my teeth are one of my best features. My only regret is that I waited so long to do it.

 

[Imzadi]

This is probably OT. My DS(15) recently has his first teeth whitening session(Zoom or something like that) I paid $399 for the 90 minute treatment. OMG. The result was shocking. I thought my teeth was white already. His teeth were at least 7+ shades whiter. The dentist claimed that his teeth should remain white for at least 3 years. I am seeing my baby smiling more and bigger.

Can you try to remember the name of the process, or describe it, please? I need one that lasts.

I had a front tooth bonded over ten years ago. Even though I had braces, it moved back a little & really wrecked the alignment of my teeth. The bonding has really lasted all this time & is still in great shape EXCEPT, it has reached the saturation point from all the coffee I drank over the years. It is noticeably a discolored yellow now & can not be whitened. I have to get it re-bonded or veneered, along with another front tooth that has shifted back.

However, I'd love to get my teeth whitened too. I need to do that FIRST, so the bonding will match. However, my current dentist tried to charge me $850 for a process called Brite Smile (or something like that.) I thought that was a bit much as I've seen ads for about $350 for whitening. I wanted to read up on it, to make sure it will last. I can't have it fade, while the bonded teeth next to them remain sparkly white. Well, when I got to the official Brite Smile website, there was a coupon special for only $399! My dentist did not offer me any price break. She is already getting over $3000 for a root canal & crown, even if it was paid by insurance. She also wanted to charge me $1200 per tooth to get my teeth veneered instead of bonded (which costs less.)


I am definitely shopping around for a new dentist to do the whitening & bonding. The bonding lasted 10 years & that was even with the old materials they used back then.

 

[KristinBelle]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[mudnuri]

A word of caution- make sure your gums are in 100% perfect shape before you do any veneers, if they're not your going to start losing your teeth from the gum line- cavities under the vener etc.

What I have, due to only having 4 permanent teeth- the rest are all primary teeth, is white filling rebuilds, not sure the technical term, basically they take my primary tooth down to the strongest part, removing the enamel etc, and then bond a white filling to the tooth, building it up.

I have a million dollar mouth, due to this issue.

I would have had titanium implants done instead, but my jaw can't withstand the pressure of them, and we knew from the rest of my mouth issues, they would reject the titanium... Insurance doesnt cover those either

Brandy

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I had a ton of dental work in my 30's to improve my smile (my teeth were horribly crooked! ). I was never a canidate for veneers or bonding (and I wanted to keep my natural teeth as unmarred as possible) so I opted for surgery and braces. It was a long four plus year process, but I got my braces off a few months ago, and WOW! For the first time since probably age 11, I have a normal smile. BEST THING I ever done.

I can't emphasize enough how a poor smile can wreck someone's overall appearance, and can negatively affect how others treat you (well, that was my experience). Now that I look better, people suddenly treat me as a "person worth knowing" and I got a new job and promotion and raise, too! I don't pretend us humans are so "above" judging people by appearances, because we aren't - appearances matter, and a nice smile with straight teeth are a MUST nowadays.

To the OP - I hope you find a process that works for you! I don't know if braces are an option in your case (there's a huge EWWW factor, I know), but it worked for me! Hope you get the smile you are looking for, what a difference it can make!

 

[hemispheredancer]

Is it ZOOM! whitening? I have of that process here and it it runs about $300. Oh...our dentist offers BriteSmile whitening. Not sure on the cost.

 

[ElizK]

I really want to have some work done on my teeth, too. I want to have my teeth whitened, but can't until I have one of my front teeth (which died) capped. To the tune of $900 (if I'm remembering correctly). Since it died without abcessing it didn't need a root canal, which insurance would have covered. Nope, just cosmetic. My other front tooth has a big very white spot on it (It came in like that when I first got my permanent teeth.), so I'd like that fixed to, while I'm at it. Someday... when I'm rich, instead of so good looking (as my mom always says).

 

[toocooltobeMom]

To the other post, if I remember it right, my DS spent about an hour plus on a chair with some type of Gel and an UV light focused on his mouth. The reason that I'm sure whether it's ZOOM or Brite-Smile, it's because the processes are so similar. You know both use the UV lights.... I am so glad with my decision to spend the $400. One of you mentioned that you were quoted for $800 for Brite-Smile. Don't even look back. The price has dropped considerably this past year. You might be able to find a place cheaper.

 

[Imzadi]

Thanks, I was the one wondering which process it was. I looked at the Zoom site. It is endorsed by the Beverly Hills dentist that did all those Extreme makeover shows. Those people did always have pearly white teeth at the end, that I envied. I watch to see where the rich go. If you consider these people can afford to go anywhere, (by referral) they would most likely go to someone who actually delivers results.

I was also the one who said my dentist tried to charge me $800. That was a quote from only 3 WEEKS ago. So she was overcharging me. And I am not going back.

Thanks for your help. I'll be doing the Zoom process.

 

[toocooltobeMom]

I have just noticed your locale being in NYC. There are alot of Teeth Whitening Center in the Big Apple. I took the liberty to check out the difference between Zoom and Brite-smile. I found nothing in particular except the prices. Brite-smile treatments are now standard at $399.