If you are unsatisfied with your appearance or afraid to flaunt your smile while speaking in public, a cosmetic dentist can help. Aside from helping boost your confidence, a great smile lightens up your conversations and makes you appear younger and healthier.

A cosmetic dentist can explore various cosmetic procedures to help improve your teeth' shape and look and achieve the bright smile that you deserve to face the world confidently. Cosmetic dentistry is becoming more popular every day as more people seek to enhance the aesthetic appearance of their smiles.

These cosmetic dentistry procedures, which range from teeth whitening to dental crowns, can improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile and raise your self-esteem. However, a common worry among patients seeking cosmetic dentistry is whether their dental insurance will pay for these procedures. If this is your worry, buckle up and let us help you understand the relationship between dental insurance options and cosmetic dentistry.

Common Cosmetic Dental Treatments Your Insurance Plan Could Cover

Many people do know the difference between cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry. Generally speaking, cosmetic dentistry entails any dental procedure performed to improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile.

Conversely, restorative dentistry is any dental procedure a dentist performs on a patient to help improve or restore his/her teeth’ functionality. These include fixing damaged teeth and replacing lost ones. If you are unsure whether or not you are an excellent candidate for cosmetic dentistry, you should speak with a dentist. Generally, cosmetic dentistry is an option worth considering if:

  • You have discolored or stained teeth
  • You have chipped teeth
  • You have misaligned teeth
  • You have crowded teeth

As long as you have healthy gums and teeth, you can pursue cosmetic dental procedures to enhance the appearance of your smile. However, will your insurance cover the cost of your cosmetic dental treatments? Unlike restorative or preventative dental procedures, typically covered by dental insurance policies, that is not the case for cosmetic dental treatments.

Most dental insurance policies categorize cosmetic dental procedures as “elective,” meaning you are responsible for their full cost if you choose to undergo any. However, your dental insurer could provide some coverage if the cosmetic procedures also have a functional purpose.

Although this could differ from dental insurer to dental insurer, the majority of insurance companies will pay for all or a portion of the following cosmetic dental treatments:

Dental Veneers

Veneers are thin, white, and strong porcelain or ceramic-made shells that your dentist attaches or applies to the front surface of discolored or stained teeth to improve their aesthetic appearance. Although many people use them for cosmetic reasons, dental veneers can also help prevent cracks and chips, which cause decay.

While dental veneers are a cost-effective and non-invasive way to improve the appearance of your teeth, not every patient is an excellent candidate for this procedure. You would not be an excellent candidate for veneers if you had the following:

  • A gum disease
  • A habit of clenching or grinding your teeth
  • A serious tooth-crowding issue
  • Excessive cavities
  • Serious tooth damage
  • Poor oral hygiene

The cost of your veneers will depend on the type your dentist recommends. Traditional veneers could cost anywhere between $925 and $2500 per tooth and last for about ten (10) to fifteen (15) years. No-prep veneers will cost anywhere between $800 and $2,000 and last for about seven (7) years.

It is worth noting that most insurance policies do not cover veneer costs. However, if the dentist advises the procedure to avert potential cavities or other dental problems down the road, your insurer could provide financial support.

Dental Bonding

Also known as composite bonding, dental bonding is a common cosmetic procedure that involves the application of tooth-colored composite resin on the surface of your teeth to cover cosmetic imperfections such as:

  • Craze lines
  • Discolorations and stains
  • Chips

Using this technique, the dentist can also reshape your teeth to make them longer, wider, or more evenly spaced. Tooth bonding is reversible, in contrast to most cosmetic dental procedures, because the dentist does not need to remove any portion of your tooth enamel in order to complete the procedure. However, you will need touch-ups every three (3) to ten (10) years.

Before the dental bonding procedure, your dentist will sit with you at his/her clinic to discuss your cosmetic goals. Then, the dentist or a dental assistant will take dental X-ray pictures to examine the condition and health of your teeth and gums. 

Fillings

Dental fillings are a useful tool for cosmetic dentists to repair small chips, cracks, and reverse cavities in teeth. When a cavity is left unchecked, the hole will keep deepening, compromising the pulp chamber of that tooth. When that happens, root canal therapy or extraction of the tooth could be the remedy.

Fortunately, you can easily know whether you require a dental filling. Generally, you could be an excellent candidate for dental filling if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

  • Sensitivity on the teeth when sipping cold, sour, sugary, or hot drinks
  • Sharp pain in the teeth when chewing or biting food

Once you schedule an appointment with your cosmetic dentist for this procedure, he/she will examine the affected tooth to find the primary cause of the issue and, when necessary, request some dental X-rays. Before commencing the procedure, the dentist or dental hygienist will numb the affected tooth to prevent discomfort.

Generally, your dentist could recommend any of the following types of dental fillings, depending on the location of the cavity, whether you have allergies to the filling material, the extent of the repair, and the cost:

  • Composite filling
  • Amalgam fillings
  • Ceramic
  • Metal
  • Glass ionomer
  • Gold fillings

Although the cost of dental fillings is high, your dental insurance provider could cover this procedure’s cost. However, ensure you talk with your insurer to learn the unique extent of their coverage for this procedure.

Dental Crown

A dental or tooth crown is a tooth-shaped cap that your dentist will place on your problematic tooth or set of teeth to restore their shape and size. Once the dentist cements the dental crown into place, it will fully cover the visible part of your tooth at and above your gum line. Generally, your dentist could recommend a dental crown for any of the following reasons:

  • To cover an implant
  • To cover a delicate tooth after a root canal procedure
  • To protect the affected tooth or teeth from further wear and tear
  • To protect a delicate tooth with a large filling
  • To hold a dental bridge in place

Depending on your interests and your dentist's recommendations, you could opt for any of the following types of dental crowns:

  • Gold crowns
  • Metal crowns
  • Porcelain crowns
  • Base metal crowns
  • All-resin crowns

Depending on the specific material you choose, a dental crown could cost anywhere between $328 and $776. For instance, the average cost of a resin crown is $328. Fortunately, your insurer could cover some or all of these costs, depending on their unique policies.

Root Canal Therapy

Also known as root canal treatment, root canal therapy is the procedure a dentist performs to treat the inner part of your tooth (pulp chamber). Your dentist may recommend this procedure if the pulp chamber of your tooth is compromised or infected. During this procedure, the dentist will remove the damaged or infected pulp, which comprises blood vessels and nerves.

Then, he/she will clean and disinfect it thoroughly before sealing it with a tooth-colored composite resin. While many assume root canal therapy is painful, it is not because the dentist will use local anesthesia to numb the affected tooth and the skin surrounding it. You would be an excellent candidate for root canal therapy if:

  • You have teeth discolorations
  • You have swollen or tender gums
  • You have a severe toothache
  • Your tooth is sensitive to cold or hot temperatures

The cost of the root canal therapy procedure will depend on how difficult it is to remove the infected pulp materials from the pulp chamber of your tooth. Generally speaking, the average cost of removing the infected or compromised pulp materials is $250 for each tooth.

Dental Implants

Undoubtedly, a missing tooth could affect the aesthetic appearance of your smile, especially if it is a front tooth. Aside from affecting your smile's appearance, this gap can make your teeth shift out of position. However, you do not have to live with this gap between your teeth for the rest of your life.

A dental implant could be a perfect permanent solution to a missing tooth or set of teeth issues to achieve the appealing smile you deserve. A dental implant is a titanium or ceramic-made post that a cosmetic dentist surgically placed into your jawbone to act as tooth roots to hold an artificial tooth.

Aside from improving your smile appearance, a dental implant can also help improve your speech. Fortunately, most people are eligible for a dental implant as long as they have healthy gums and jawbones. Below are some of the common causes of tooth loss among most people:

  • Cavities
  • Bruxism
  • Facial injury
  • Congenital missing teeth
  • Gum disease
  • Tooth root fracture

Since dental implants can be expensive, you should speak with your insurance provider to know whether you have coverage for the procedure. Generally speaking, a dental implant costs anywhere between $1500 and $7500. Most dental insurance providers will be reluctant to cover these expenses.

However, if your dental implant has restorative or preventative benefits, your dental insurer could consider offering some financial assistance.

Routine Check-ups

Routine dental check-ups and exams can also qualify as cosmetic dental treatments because, during these appointments, your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth to remove discolorations and plaque build-up on the surface of your teeth. However, it is typically a preventative procedure because it lessens the possibility of developing cavities and gum disease.

Although it is advisable to visit your dentist every six months or twice a year, you could need to visit within a shorter timeframe if you have recently received cosmetic dental treatment.

Cosmetic Dental Procedures With No Insurance Coverage

While your dental insurance provider could cover the costs of some cosmetic dental procedures, other procedures could require out-of-pocket expenses. Most dental insurance providers consider the following cosmetic dental treatments “elective,” meaning you will pay for their cost when you opt to undergo any of them:

Tooth Contouring

If you have crooked, chipped, or irregular teeth, your dentist could recommend removing some parts of the enamel to change their shape and length. Also known as dental contouring, tooth contouring can improve your teeth' appearance for a brighter smile. If your dental imperfections are minor, tooth contouring could be an excellent substitute for braces.

Before the procedure, your dentist will require dental X-ray pictures of the affected tooth to determine the location and size of the pulp and ensure there is sufficient space between the teeth to provide anchorage and support. Then, he/she will begin removing a small amount of the enamel using a drill and laser to improve your teeth' appearance.

If you have excessively long teeth, your cosmetic dentist will shorten them for proper alignment and bite. After the procedure, the dentist will polish the teeth to give you a natural-looking smile. Depending on the extent of contouring that your dentist recommends, tooth contouring could take one appointment, lasting about thirty minutes.

Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most sought-after cosmetic dental procedures and the least expensive. Over time, our teeth can become stained and discolored due to foods, drinks, medications, old age, or bad habits like smoking.

Regardless of the cause of your discolored or stained teeth, you do not have to live with a smile you do not like. If you have stained or discolored teeth, consider visiting a cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening.

While you can use at-home teeth-whitening products, teeth whitening performed by a dentist can help you achieve the bright smile you deserve faster because the bleaching solution he/she uses is stronger. Also, your dentist can use curing light to speed up the whitening process after applying the bleaching gel to the surface of your teeth.

Braces

Braces are dental appliances that help straighten your teeth over time and correct several orthodontic problems, such as:

  • Gapped teeth
  • Crowded teeth
  • Crooked teeth
  • Malocclusions like overbite, underbite and open bite

While dental braces are commonly associated with teenagers, any person, including adults, could benefit from these dental appliances as long as he/she has healthy teeth. Depending on the specific type of misaligned dental issue that you have and the severity of the condition, your dentist could recommend any of the following types of braces:

  • Ceramic braces
  • Metal braces
  • Clear or invisible braces
  • Lingual braces
  • Self-ligating braces

How much you will pay for dental braces will depend on the type your cosmetic dentist recommends. For example, metal braces, which are the most common, could cost you anywhere between $3,000 and $7,000.

Gum Contouring

Another common cosmetic dental treatment that can improve the appearance of your smile is gum contouring. During this procedure, a dentist will remove any excess tissue and reshape your gum line to improve the aesthetic appearance of your smile. Unfortunately, many dental insurance providers do not cover the expenses of this procedure.

Before the gum contouring procedure, you will meet up with your dentist to discuss your cosmetic goals. The dentist will ask what you like about your smile’s appearance and what you would like to improve. If you have a “gummy” smile and are not happy with it, gum contouring is a cosmetic procedure worth considering to improve your smile’s appearance.

Dental Insurance Claim Process

It could seem easy to have the cost of a cosmetic dental procedure covered by the dental insurance provider, but there are many aspects you must bear in mind. Below is a brief overview of how a dental insurance claim process works:

Filing a Claim

When you give your cosmetic dentist your insurance details, he/she will file the claim with your dental insurance provider electronically or by snail mail. To strengthen the compensation claim, the cosmetic dentist will attach X-rays, MRIs, and receipts indicating the costs of the medical services offered.

Your cosmetic dentist could calculate your possible out-of-pocket expenses and include them in the claim. That means you will have to cover some costs and have your insurance provider cover the remaining costs for the cosmetic dental procedure your dentist will recommend.

Waiting for Your Payment

After receiving the claim, the dental insurer will check to determine whether your cosmetic dental treatment falls within the coverage you signed for. Your insurance provider will provide the requested payment to the cosmetic dentist. However, the specific treatment you received must fall within the policy limits to receive the payment.

If your insurance coverage plan does not provide coverage for some of the expenses for the cosmetic dental procedures you received, the dentist could ask you to pay the costs.

Find a Cosmetic Dentist Near Me

As you can see above, paying for the costs of your cosmetic dental treatments using insurance could be a complicated process. However, with a skilled and reliable cosmetic dentist on your side, this process should not be an issue to worry about. At Ganji Dental, we are here to help if you need cosmetic dental treatment to improve the appearance of your smile.

Call our reliable cosmetic dentists at 310-643-8045 to discuss your cosmetic goals and available payment plans wherever you are in Hawthorne.