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Top Cosmetic
Dentistry Procedures
Note: Much of the following information was taken from pages on our
"sister' website: BestDietForMe.com.
Veneers & Tooth Whitening Is Booming
OK, so you've just reached your
weight loss goals and made it through a fad diet, commercial or medical weight
loss program or weight loss center, and are eating a healthy diet and exercising
regularly. Congratulations! You've been through diet plans like South Beach,
Atkins and low-carb diets. But, you're STILL not happy with how you look,
especially your age. You want more. You want to turn back the hands of time.
Well, first educate yourself about all the options out there for makeovers to
your face, your teeth/smile, your skin, etc.
The Boom In Cosmetic Dentistry
I t has been reported that
cosmetic dentistry accounts for 70% to 75% of restorative dental treatment. That
is quite an increase from the 14% figure cited in 1980. The cosmetic products
segment (15% of the dental labs industry's business) is growing 37% per year.
The veneers business is growing 50% per year for the past 5 years, according to
the American Assn. of Cosmetic Dentistry. Direct bonding has increased 20%/year
for the past 5 years. Marketdata (the parent company operating
BestDietForMe.com) published a study on the dental labs industry. Its 2004
estimate of the size of the U.S. cosmetic dentistry segment of the business was
$804 million.
Here are some facts and
highlights from AACD’s (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) 2000 member
poll:
* Teeth whitening/bleaching has
increased by over 300% in the past five years.
* Direct bonding has increased
by over 100% in the past five years.
* Veneers have increased by over
200%.
* Cosmetic procedures that are
in the highest demand from patients under 20:
· Whitening
· Orthodontics
· Composites
Cosmetic
procedures that are in highest demand from patients 20-50:
· Whitening
· Veneers
· Composites
Cosmetic procedures that are
in highest demand from patients 50+:
· Crowns and
bridges
· Whitening
· Veneers
Cosmetic Dentistry Options
While veneers are most commonly used to create a whiter, more
polished look, they can also lengthen or round an individual tooth, or give the
appearance of a straighter smile. The industry standard when it comes to
longevity is 15 years for veneered teeth, 7+ years for bonded teeth (5-7 if they
are i front). Regarding bonding, the thing is that people who are heavy coffee
drinkers, smokers, grape juice or wine drinkers, the teeth will absorb that
color. Porcelain veneers, by contrast, will not stain.
Cosmetic dentists say that you will spend less for bonded teeth.
The savings can be substantial. Resin bonding costs about one-third what
porcelain costs: $300 to $600 per tooth. A full set of veneers, including upper
and lower teeth, can cost as much as a new car--from $25,000 to $30,000.
Porcelain is always the better choice for front teeth. Bonding
is preferred for patients seeking small improvements, such as filling a small
space between their two front teeth. It used to have another plus over
veneers--it dosen't require the removal of tooth structure.
The big selling points now for resin bonding, say cosmetic
dentists, are the cost and the need for a single visit, not multiple ones.
How To Choose The Right Cosmetic Dentist
* Always ask to see before and after photos, and ask if they are
the doctor's patients.
* Ask to speak with previous patients
* Don't assume that your regular family dentist is skilled in
bonding or veneering procedures.
* Try to find a member of the AACD
* Ask what materials the dentist will use, then go online and
learn about it.
* See what kind of smile the dentist and his or her team has.
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