Investing in your smile is more affordable than ever. 

Your smile is often the first thing that people notice about you. This means that it can have a major impact on how you’re perceived, both by yourself and by others. Investing in yourself through cosmetic dentistry can help you build confidence, become who you want to be, and achieve success in many areas of your life.

If your finances are stopping you from achieving your dream smile, try these tips for making this worthwhile investment more affordable:

Find the Right Dentist to Work With

The first step to achieving a successful smile makeover is finding the right cosmetic dentist to work with. You need to make sure that you choose a dentist who can create a smile design that works for you and carry out the required treatment to deliver excellent results.

When you’re considering any potential dentist, check to see whether they are a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists (AACD). The AACD maintains high standards for its dentists and ensures that the dentist you choose is a true professional.

Try asking your friends and family for recommendations as well. If you know someone who has gone to a particular dentist before, ask them about their experience and results. You can always check out online reviews as well.

When it comes to cosmetic dentistry in particular, you want to know that your dentist uses the latest technology. Scanning technology, such as the 3Shape TRIOS scanner and other new developments, lets your dentist plan and carry out treatment more effectively than ever before.

Once you have found a dentist who fits your needs, you can then reach out to them to find out more about your treatment options and what they recommend. They can help determine the treatments that suit both your needs and your budget.

Look into Your Insurance Coverage

As you consider the affordability of any dental procedure, a helpful place to look is your insurance. Whether you have insurance through your employment or other programs, coverage can vary widely. The only way to know for sure what may be covered is to look into your policy yourself.

You can reach out to your insurance provider to ask them about specific types of procedures that they cover. They can explain your coverage and what percentage of a particular procedure they might cover, taking into account any deductibles as well.

Some cosmetic dentistry procedures are more likely to be covered than others. In many cases, it comes down to whether your insurance provider considers the procedure to be elective, which can vary depending on your specific provider.

The idea that procedures are never covered is a common myth about cosmetic dentistry. There is a significant overlap between cosmetic and restorative procedures, so some procedures are covered by insurance providers due to their long-term oral health benefits.

Explore Other Financial Options

If your insurance won’t cover your cosmetic dentistry procedure or will only cover part of it, you can explore other financial options. 

Your first option is to save up money to pay for the procedure in question. Many cosmetic dentistry procedures are highly affordable, so saving up in a relatively short amount of time is very realistic. For minor treatments, you may have cash on hand already.

For more involved treatments, such as inlays and onlays or ClearCorrect aligners, you may need to save up over a longer period of time. If you don’t have insurance, it’s wise to regularly set money aside for future dental work, so you have it when it’s needed.

Saving up is far from the only option, as multiple financing options are available. CareCredit is among the most common, providing affordable financing options for dental procedures and other health and wellness treatments.

Speaking with your dentist directly is the best way to find out more about your financing options.

Achieving Your Smile Makeover Is Well Worth it

The challenge of financing your smile makeover can make it seem like it isn’t worth the trouble. But improving your smile can have a significant impact on your life, helping you look and feel your best every day.

While facing these challenges can be difficult, maintaining the motivation to reach your goals is an empowering experience. Being able to commit to goals, such as achieving your smile makeover, helps you grow as a person, with the journey being another benefit to go along with the results.

Find Out More About Your Smile Design Options

Curious about what a smile makeover can do for you? You can visit Oxley Comprehensive Dentistry for a consultation to discuss your options. We use the latest technology to develop a custom treatment plan for your unique smile and provide high-quality aesthetic dentistry. Schedule an appointment with your compassionate dentist in New Bern and Trent Woods, NC, today.