As you age, oftentimes so does your smile

As you age, oftentimes so does your smile. If you feel that your teeth need a "tune-up," a trip to a cosmetic dentist may be in order. Learn the information you need to know before you make your appointment.

If your teeth are broken, chipped, or cracked, they can be repaired with bonding. This is a process whereby the cosmetic dentist applies an etching solution to the surface, followed by a composite resin material which is matched to the existing tooth color. It is then contoured into the appropriate shape and hardened with a curing light. The result of bonding can look very natural, and the procedure is affordable, usually $1,000 per tooth.

If there are stains or gaps in your smile, you may want to consider veneers. These are custom-made using composite or dental porcelain to cover the front of your tooth. They can last up to 30 years and cost $1,000 to $2,500 per tooth. However, this procedure is not reversible, so you and your cosmetic dentist should consider carefully whether or not veneers will work for you. In addition, you must avoid drinking coffee, tea, or red wine in order to prevent staining your veneers.

Crooked teeth can also be remedied with braces, no matter your age. In fact, for minor corrections, so-called invisible braces can be used. These consist of clear plastic trays which are made using a computer-aided design and manufacturing process in order to incrementally realign your teeth. They can be conveniently removed for eating and flossing but must be worn for at least 20 hours a day in order to successfully reposition everything. For more complex problems, however, your cosmetic dentist may recommend traditional wire braces. Although not as aesthetically pleasing as invisible braces, wire braces have been improved recently; they are smaller and can straighten your smile in less time than before. The cost for each is about the same, anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.

Perhaps your smile is in great shape but you find that it has gotten a little duller. In that case, you may want to consider having your teeth whitened. This can be done in your practitioner's office and involves the use of peroxide gel that is applied to the surface by a trained technician. This gel is left on the surface for up to an hour and costs approximately $650. If you cannot afford to spend that much, your practitioner may provide you with an at-home whitening kit. These kits use a lower concentration of peroxide gel, applied via custom-made bleaching trays, which can remain on the surface for more than one hour. These take-home kits cost anywhere from $100 to $400.

Dental insurance can sometimes cover these procedures, especially if your practitioner cannot provide a solution to your problem any other way. If not, however, most cosmetic dentists will allow payment plans, usually administered by a third-party company. Either way, you have nothing to lose by consulting a cosmetic dentist in your area to see what they can do to help you achieve the best smile possible.