In this article we’ll look at the cost of an enameloplasty. Which, as you’ll see, can be a tough question to answer.
If you ask how much does a ring cost the answer, of course, is it depends on the ring.
You could spend $0.25 and grab a cheap plastic one out of the Claw Machine at an arcade or Walmart.
Or you could walk into a store like Tiffany and easily drop thousands on a fancy ring.
Heck, even Costco had a 6.5 karat diamond ring on their website in 2011 for $1 million!
So, when you ask how much does an enameloplasty cost, the answer is it depends. However, we can give you a much better answer here than somewhere between $0.25 and $1 million!
How Much Does an Enameloplasty Cost?
The range for how much an enameloplasty costs runs between about $50 – $300 per tooth. Some dentists even claim they don’t charge their patients for the procedure. However, there’s no such thing as a free lunch so it’s best not to assume there is really such a thing as a free enameloplasty either!
What affects whether you’ll pay closer to $50 or $300?
The complexity of your case and the amount of time it requires is a big one. Also the location of the tooth (or teeth) being worked on will also factor into the cost.
The region of the country you live in is another. Figure you’ll pay more in a huge metro area like Los Angeles than, say, a small Midwestern city.
The skill and experience level of the cosmetic dentist you choose is another big factor that will affect how much you end up paying.
It is usually a cosmetic procedure which means you will probably not get insurance to cover your costs. If you need the procedure to remove tooth decay, stabilize a tooth or it’s due to an injury in the mouth, you may be able to get insurance to pick up at least part of the cost.
What Is An Enameloplasty?
An enameloplasty goes by a number of different names. These include tooth recontouring, stripping or slenderizing as well as odontoplasty.
It’s a fairly non-invasive cosmetic dentistry procedure where the dentist will remove small amounts of enamel (the outer coating of your teeth) to change its appearance. Basically the dentist will sand or file down the surface of the teeth to change the shape of teeth and give you a more beautiful smile.
The procedure is a fairly popular one. It can be a good, non-invasive, cheaper alternative to getting veneers.
Enameloplasty procedures can be used to fix small chips in a tooth, teeth that are slightly irregular shaped or really long canines (well, not really long vampire looking canines – just ones that are slightly longer than desired).
The most common reason people get an enameloplasty is to improve the look of their front teeth. Often it’s done to shorten front teeth that are too long or fix chipped teeth.
The key here is that an enameloplasty can fix minor imperfections in your teeth. And because they’re minor, this procedure is about as non-invasive as you can get in cosmetic dentistry.
Plus, the procedure doesn’t take long at all. Your dentist can take care of it in usually one 30 minute office visit. And they’re completely painless for most patients so anesthesia generally isn’t required.
There is also no side effects or real recovery time necessary after this procedure. You can walk out of the dentist’s office and resume your normal activities (including eating) pretty much immediately.
Since it’s relatively non-invasive, doesn’t take long and doesn’t require drugs to put you in a happy place, an enameloplasty is also one of the least expensive cosmetic procedures around.
Find a Cosmetic Dentist Near You That Does Enameloplasties
The only way to know for sure how much an enameloplasty will cost you is to visit a cosmetic dentist in your area that offers the procedure, have him/her evaluate your teeth and give you a quote. To find a list of dentists near you that offer enameloplasties, search our listings here.