What is a smile design and how much does it cost?

Today I would like to answer these two questions that many of my patients ask me and that I know many of you also have.

What is a smile design?

To begin with, I would like to talk a little bit about what a smile design is. A smile design is a term that has been used to define a set of dental techniques and procedures of aesthetic and functional type (e.g., bite, occlusion, worn teeth, etc.), which allow to improve the color, size, shape, and position of the patient’s teeth, making the appearance of the smile more attractive and harmonious with the person’s physiognomy.

Generally, most people think that a smile design is just teeth whitening or the use of veneers. But no, the term smile design can also refer to orthodontics, dental crowns, implants, dental fillings, trimming, gum depigmentation, inlays, etc. Therefore, we can say that a smile design is a 100% personalized treatment, which will depend on the patient’s initial conditions and also on the results he/she/they wishes to achieve.

It is also important to keep in mind that the length of time it takes to complete a smile design will depend on the number of procedures to be performed, the need for surgical procedures, among others. Thus, each smile design treatment must be treated as an individual situation.

Clinical assessment: The first step to a smile design

A smile design should always start with a detailed assessment and complete diagnosis of the patient’s oral health. In my case, if the patient is a foreigner, we can perform an initial virtual assessment via Zoom. However, upon arrival in the country, the assessment must be done in person, to define the treatment plan and make a projection of the total cost of the treatment according to the wishes and needs of the patient.

Clinical assessment’s cost:

As mentioned above, the first step is to have an evaluation performed. In Colombia, an in-person assessment can be free or it can cost up to $500,000 (Colombian pesos).

In my case, the face-to-face assessment has a cost. Why? Because in order to provide the patient with detailed and truthful information about the state of their oral health, I must put into practice my knowledge and academic training. In addition, I use the latest technological equipment in my assessments, such as the Facelight Fluorescence Detector, dental microscope, etc., which most dentists in Colombia do not have.

Now, how much does it cost to have a smile design in Colombia?

I will tell you a little bit about the most common procedures used in a smile design and their approximate cost in Colombia. You must keep in mind that prices will vary drastically depending on the treating dentist or the clinic you select.

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Prophylaxis or dental cleaning cost

Before any type of smile design is performed, a deep dental cleaning must be performed, the cost of which can range from $100,000 to $500,000.  There are particular cases, where if the patient has some type of gum disease such as gingivitis or periodontitis, the amount may increase above $1,000,000.

Cost of teeth whitening in Colombia

This is a procedure in which the patient can lighten one or more shades of the color of their teeth. There are several types of teeth whitening treatments in the market: Laser, LED, with a system of covers as Opalescense, etc., which can be performed in one or several sessions. Its cost can vary from $250,000 to $2,000,000. In my case, the whitening that I recommend the most is a complete dual whitening that includes in-office sessions and the use of customized caps at home.

Cost of dental veneers in Colombia

This is the most common procedure when it comes to smile design. The cost of the smile design will depend on the number of veneers desired or needed by the patient, they can be 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20 or 24. The number of veneers for each patient will depend on their budget, the number of teeth that show when smiling, the number of teeth needed for the correct functionality of chewing, etc.

Three types of materials are commonly available on the market for the production of veneers:

• High esthetic composite (resin): mid-range veneers
• Ceromer: medium-high range veneers
• Porcelain (ceramic): high-end veneers

The approximate costs are as follow:

• Composite veneer from $250,000 to $950,000 per tooth (unit)
• Ceromer veneer from $400,000 to $1,500,000 per tooth (unit)
• Porcelain veneer from $780,000 to $3,000,000 per tooth (unit)

Cost of edge design or mini design

There are patients who do not require the use of veneers, but only need to improve the shape, edges and incisal angles of the teeth. The cost of the edge design will depend on the number of edges to be made and the material selected.

The cost of the edge design for one tooth (1 unit) can vary from $200,000 to $1,000,000, being composite the most economical material, and porcelain (ceramic) edges the most expensive.

Orthodontics’ cost

There are cases of dental malposition and bite problems that must be solved with orthodontic treatment. There are different types of braces on the market (mini, self-ligating, ceramic, sapphire, etc.) whose cost will depend on the material in which they are made and whether additional procedures such as exodontia, mini implants, etc., are needed. Most orthodontic plans are financed in installments depending on the duration of the treatment (24 to 30 installments generally).

In conclusion, the cost of a smile design will depend on the current state of your oral health, the results you want, the concept of the dentist and above all, your budget. Let’s mention some examples:

• Juan can have a smile design with six composite veneers in the upper jaw and teeth whitening.
• Lucia can have a smile design with 20 porcelain veneers (includes upper and lower jaw) but requires prior gum trimming on all teeth due to a periodontal disease
• Pedro went for an evaluation with the objective of having a design with ceromer veneers. However, in the evaluation I found out that the patient had serious bite and occlusion problems, which would put the integrity of the veneers at risk. In this case, the patient started his smile design treatment with the extraction of wisdom teeth and orthodontic treatment.

Do you see how in each particular situation the duration and cost of the smile design would change drastically? The only way to know the exact cost is to go to the dentist for an evaluation.