When you are considering cosmetic dentistry, you may be a bit impatient about getting to your results. You’ll end up having a perfect smile you love, but maybe you are a bit antsy and have been wanting it as soon as yesterday! However, as excited as you are, you may wonder how long it’ll take for you to get these types of treatments. Here’s a quick breakdown on what affects your timeline and what you can expect from certain popular services.
What Determines My Cosmetic Treatment Timeline?
Before you can dive into cosmetic dentistry, you will need a consultation. This visit is crucial in making sure your mouth is a healthy foundation before starting. Oral health issues, like cavities and gum disease, can cause complications or get in the way of you enjoying your results. To ensure you don’t have sensitivity or discomfort afterward, these will need to be treated first, leading to minor delays in your results.
The specific goals you have for your dream smile are also taken into consideration. If you only want minor changes, then you might only need one or two treatments to reach them. More in-depth ones will take longer; that way, the journey to an aesthetically pleasing set of teeth is safe and effective.
Last but not least, any recovery periods might influence how long it’ll take to get to your results. Some services can be done at the same time, while others need you to heal fully before continuing.
What Can I Expect from Certain Cosmetic Treatment Timelines?
While many factors can help you better understand how long cosmetic dentistry will take, you may be curious about the timeline for certain treatments. Here’s typically what you can expect from popular ones:
- Professional teeth whitening is about an hour-long in-office visit or about two weeks with a take-home kit to get results up to eight shades brighter.
- Veneers take two appointments, two weeks apart, as a dental lab makes this cosmetic work custom to you.
- Dental bonding takes about an hour to fill in minor chips.
- Invisalign isn’t technically in this type of dentistry, but correcting malocclusion can take 12 to 18 months, depending on the severity.
- Dental implants are a restorative treatment, but they take three to six months as a post has to fuse to your jawbone to have a stable, full smile in the end.
The best way you can get an estimate for how long it’ll take to get to your dream grin is by talking to your dentist. They can help you learn more about what to expect on your journey to a gorgeous set of teeth.
About the Author
Dr. Justin Garner earned his dental degree from the UMKC School of Dentistry. He is happy to help transform smiles in the Independence community using a wide range of cosmetic, restorative, and orthodontic services. Using state-of-the-art technology, you can preview your results before committing; that way, you feel confident choosing certain treatments for your oral health. If you have any questions, schedule an appointment or call (816) 252-0055.