I have protruded teeth and would like to get them fixed. I get that braces is an option, but I am hoping there are cosmetic dentistry options so that I do not have to have a mouth full of metal at my age. Can you give me all my options along with their costs?
MaryEllen
Dear MaryEllen,
You said your teeth were protruded, but didn’t say how protruded. That will make a difference in both treatment and cost. If they are extraordinarily protruded, then even braces would require extra interventions, such as surgery. If you are just talking about normal protruded teeth, then you have two good options.
Straightening Your Teeth Without Traditional Braces
Left: Braces / Right: Invisalign
If you want to actually straighten the protruded teeth, then my recommendation for you would be to see a dentist who offers Invisalign. Rather than using traditional metal wires and brackets, these use clear aligners. No one will know that you are straightening your teeth, even at a conversational distance. This is why some people call them invisible braces.
There are a couple of additional benefits to these. First, in most cases they work faster than braces so you will get a straight smile even faster. Second, the aligners can double as teeth whitening trays. Your dentist can provide you with professional strength teeth whitening gel that you can wear directly in your Invisalign aligners. This will allow you to straighten and whiten your teeth at the same time, without the additional cost of needing to have teeth whitening trays made.
One word of caution, make sure if you are going to whiten at the same time that you get your teeth professional cleaned first. Otherwise your results will be splotchy because the gel didn’t have an even surface to work with.
Making Your Teeth Look Straight
Another option is to have porcelain veneers done. These won’t actually straighten your teeth, but it can make them look straight. This is what people, including those Hollywood celebrities, go to for a complete smile makeover. Veneers can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. While you can go to any dentist who does Invisalign and get the same results, this is not true of porcelain veneers.
Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty. This means any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of whether or not they’ve invested in post-doctoral training to do the work well. Think of it like a painting. You can have two artists paint the same portrait, but the results are going to be different based on the skill, training, and artistry of the painter. Because of that, you will want an advanced cosmetic dentist with significant training and experience.
As for cost, Invisalign is typically around the $5,000 mark. Veneers will have vastly different prices depending on the dentist, the area you live in, and the number of veneers you get. It will definitely be more than Invisalign, though.
This blog is brought to you by a gentle dentist in Kalamazoo, Dr. Susan Dennis.