How far is too far when it comes to cosmetic dentistry?

It’s all too easy to think of examples of people who’ve gone too far when it comes to cosmetic treatments. Celebrities who’ve tried way too hard to recapture the looks of their youth make easy targets for media speculation. The good news is that the same kind of excess is not possible when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. Can you think of anyone – celeb or otherwise – who flashes the kind of smile that makes you think ‘nah, they should have quit at least two procedures ago’? We didn’t think so!

Everyone wants to have a perfect smile, and in the past few years cosmetic dental treatment has improved no end. Cosmetic dental procedures such as teeth whitening, invisible braces and veneers have become more affordable and more acceptable in recent years, meaning you no longer have to be a celebrity to enjoy a celebrity smile.

Cosmetic dental treatments are a way of making your teeth look straighter and whiter while maintaining the natural look. Whether you opt for the non-invasive Invisalign teeth straightening, or the more complex procedure of veneers, there’s only so much you can do. Granted, occasionally you might think that someone’s teeth whitening treatment might have made their teeth look a bit too bright, but it’s only a matter of time before the teeth will settle down thanks to the natural staining that we’re all subject to every time we eat or drink. 

Bad cosmetic dentistry procedures are the real culprit when it comes to looking like you’ve taken aesthetic dentistry too far. Unfortunately there are a lot of examples to prove the point – just Google ‘turkey teeth gone wrong’ to see what we mean. 

‘Turkey Teeth’

We recently took a closer look at so-called ‘Turkey Teeth’ which have been causing many people a lot of problems. It has become a money-saving trend to get cosmetic dentistry treatments done in Turkey. Sadly, some have come to the realisation – too late – that this was a false economy. And not just in monetary terms. The problem for many has been the poor standards of workmanship which has left some people in constant pain. 

There are other patients who have had a better experience and are delighted with their results now. However, due to the unnecessarily extensive procedures they had to undergo, they’ll now have a lifetime of expensive dental work that could’ve been avoided. It’s a common story that people who thought they were getting porcelain veneers were actually given a full set of dental crowns – a hugely invasive procedure in which almost three-quarters of the natural tooth is removed, with the crown being affixed to the stump. In the vast majority of these cases, the teeth were perfectly healthy, meaning the treatment was superfluous. 

The long term costs of unnecessary treatment

With good oral health, dental crowns should last on average 10-15 years. As the majority of the people who have opted for Turkey Teeth are young, they could end up replacing their crowns at least three or four times in their lifetime, each time losing a bit more healthy tissue. Although with the extensive damage that has been done to their natural teeth, they are highly likely to lose teeth altogether. All of which makes the lifetime cost of ‘cheap’ cosmetic dentistry add up when a much simpler, cheaper and less invasive option recommended by UK dentists – such as teeth straightening and teeth whitening – would have produced great results and have had little or no effect on the lifetime’s health of your teeth. 

Cosmetic dental treatments done right

Whether you are looking for a particular cosmetic dental treatment or a complete smile makeover, you must take into account far more than just the initial cosmetic dentistry costs. One important lesson those who have had Turkey Teeth have learnt the hard way is to choose a dentist who is willing to fix anything if it goes wrong, and they therefore need to be within close proximity..

Whether you want to fix crooked teeth, cracked teeth or get teeth whitening, always use an experienced and accredited dental practice. It is always a good idea to check out testimonials and ask for recommendations as part of your research. 

And if cost is a problem, ask about financing options – almost all cosmetic dentists in the UK offer payment plan options and 0% financing, so your Hollywood smile may be more affordable than you think. And a lot closer than Turkey!