Posted on: 03 May, 2021
Do you want to change something about your smile? Get ideas of cosmetic dentistry costs and finance options to help make a smile makeover more affordable.
5 minute read
A well-balanced smile isn't just for show. Some aesthetic concerns with teeth and gums can also cause physical discomfort or affect your oral health or general health.
Whatever your reasons for considering a smile makeover, one of the first things you should know is how much you can expect to pay. Average costs for treatments vary greatly from $5,000 to $30,000, but this varies for everyone depending on the type of treatments you choose and what changes you want to make.
Book your consultation to understand all of your options and have all the information you need to make an informed decision about treatment. Read this short guide to find out how much a smile makeover may cost and what you may be able to claim back.
A smile makeover is a personalised treatment plan developed with your dentist. It can address as many issues with your dental appearance and oral health as you choose, and often involves a combination of both cosmetic and general treatments.
An experienced cosmetic dentist will consider your facial proportions, lips, tooth shape and colour, gum contours and smile expressions when planning every stage of your smile makeover for naturally beautiful results.
Watch Lewis explain Smile Makeover Costs & Options, below:
A smile makeover usually includes two or more treatments working together to address your smile concerns. These treatments can include:
Sometimes, an existing health condition or other issue could mean that certain cosmetic treatments won’t suit you. Your dentist will recommend the best options to help you set realistic expectations for what your smile could look like and to achieve your smile goals.
They will also make sure you understand any possible risks involved, how much treatment costs and the type of ongoing care is needed before you agree to a procedure.
Read the sections below to get an idea of what these different treatments involve and average costs.
Yellow, dark and stained teeth are the most common reasons people choose cosmetic dentistry in Perth. Teeth whitening treatments use a specially-formulated gel that can be applied to teeth.
At Mount Lawley Dental, our experienced cosmetic dentists use the #1 patient-request whitening brand, Philips ZOOM! Our take-home kits are uniquely designed with smile makeovers in mind, ensuring that even those with sensitive teeth can be whitened.
Of course, there are plenty of cheap teeth whitening products over the counter in stores, but these products typically contain less active ingredient (no more than 6% hydrogen peroxide) and can be used incorrectly without professional supervision. Chancing the cheaper options can often lead to inferior results and greater risks compared to a professional whitening kit designed specifically by your dentist. DIY teeth whitening risks include increased teeth sensitivity and chemical burns if the trays don’t fit properly and the gel touches gums and other soft tissues.
Not all types of staining can be treated with teeth whitening. For patients with intrinsic stains, our dentists may recommend alternative treatments such as porcelain veneers or new crowns and fillings.
The cost for a Philips ZOOM! Teeth whitening kit is $400. This includes custom-made trays, 2 x whitening syringes and 2 x mini toothpastes.
Teeth that are crooked, don't fit together properly or have gaps that can affect more than just your appearance. They can cause teeth to wear down faster, put stress on your jaw or make it difficult to eat, speak or brush and floss your teeth, which can increase your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
If you want to straighten your smile, your dentist can discuss orthodontic options such as braces or Invisalign® clear aligners. Teeth straightening costs at Mount Lawley Dental can be anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000, depending on the type of treatment and how complex it is.
Modern braces are designed to be smaller, lighter and less noticeable than those of the past, with discreet options including tooth-coloured 'invisible' braces made from ceramic.
If you’re not keen on the idea of braces, Invisalign and Invisalign GO clear aligners can be alternatives for minor to moderate teeth straightening. These treatments use removable plastic aligners that are custom made to fit comfortably over your teeth and worn over a period of time to slowly shift teeth into alignment. The best part is, they are practically invisible.
Full Invisalign treatment costs at Mount Lawley Dental range from $7000, which includes your clear aligners, scans and regular appointments with a dentist. We don't recommend buying cheap aligners online, as your teeth could suffer without careful planning and monitoring by an experienced dental professional.
When you complete full invisalign treatment at Mount Lawley Dental, you'll also receive a complimentary teeth whitening kit (valued at $400) to whiten your new smile from home!
Chipped, cracked and worn down teeth can leave your smile uneven and more prone to tooth pain, sensitivity and other dental problems. Depending on the extent of the damage, your dentist might recommend repairing or restoring your teeth with tooth bonding, white fillings, crowns or bridges.
Porcelain (ceramic) tooth restorations such as inlays, onlays and crowns tend to cost more than composite fillings and bonding due to their size and shape, but they should also last longer before needing to be replaced. Both porcelain and composite repairs look more natural than their metal counterparts.
Dental bridges replace one or more missing or badly damaged teeth, when the tooth structure isn’t healthy enough to be restored with a crown.
Since these treatment types address both cosmetic and functional concerns, it may be possible to claim part of your smile makeover costs on your private health fund (subject to appropriate dental cover, yearly limits, waiting periods and policy rules).
The cost of tooth bonding starts from $500 per tooth.
Veneers are thin coverings that can replace the existing front surface of a tooth to give the appearance of whiter, straighter teeth. Veneers can play many roles in a smile makeover, from whitening to minor straightening and covering gaps and small flaws.
Veneers can be made from two materials: porcelain or composite resin. Porcelain veneers cost more than composite veneers and are hand-crafted by an experienced ceramist in a dental lab. They are aesthetically superior to composite veneers, highly durable, do not stain and may last 12-15 years on average with good care. They also take slightly longer than composite veneers which can be applied in one visit, rather than two to three visits.
The cost of veneers depends on the tooth material, how many are being placed and how large they are. Porcelain veneers at Mount Lawley Dental start from $1560 per tooth, with composite veneers starting from $520 per tooth.
Smile makeovers don't just involve teeth. If you’re not happy with shape or size of your gums, these may be addressed with a gum contouring treatment.
A 'gum lift' can involve removing excess gum tissue and sculpting a new gumline around the teeth or grafting on new tissue to rebuild the gums. It’s a treatment often used in combination with crowns or veneers.
The cost of gum contouring can vary considerably, as it depends on the treatments chosen and the time required to complete treatment. It's not usually possible to claim gum contouring on health insurance.
One of the most common questions people have about smile makeovers is what they can claim the cost on their health fund.
The bad news is that cosmetic treatments are not generally covered by health insurance or government benefits, but you can expect something back if a treatment is also considered to be for functional purposes and beneficial for your health.
Some treatments you may be eligible to claim for include fillings, crowns and tooth bonding. Orthodontic treatment using fixed braces may also be included on general dental cover depending on the health insurance provider.
We accept all health funds at Mount Lawley Dental and we can offer added benefits for eligible Bupa and HBF members.
You may not be able to claim your treatment on insurance, but you could reduce upfront costs with a flexible payment plan.
At Mount Lawley Dental, we offer interest-free payment plans through trusted providers Openpay and Zip Pay. These can be tailored to your needs and budget so you can pay your smile makeover cost in bite-sized amounts. Contact our team to find out more about our payment plan options.
If there's something you want to change about your smile, call our dentists in Mount Lawley on (08) 9227 8777 to find out more about our treatments and costs or book your cosmetic consultation with Dr Moore at our dental clinic.
We'll provide you with a comprehensive quote when we develop your treatment plan so you can decide if it's right for you.