Did you know that great looking teeth are markers for social and professional success? Some of the most famous people in the world, from Tom Cruise to Miley Cyrus to Zac Efron, have sought out the help of cosmetic dentists to help restore, improve, and, in some cases, completely rebuild their smiles, as Huffington Post details. In doing so, they’ve improved their ability to find jobs, command the love of millions, and hold on to their sex symbol status.
Realizing this, an increasing number of Americans are looking to cosmetic dental procedures to help them enjoy some of the same benefits. Not every cosmetic dental procedure, a procedure meant to restore the look of one’s teeth, is the same. Anyone looking to put the sparkle back into their chompers will want to at least know the difference between the more popular, effective procedures out there, such as:
Teeth Whitening: The Most Popular Cosmetic Dental Procedure in the Country
Teeth whitening, the method of chemically restoring the luster to stained, discolored teeth, is the top cosmetic dental procedure in the United States. As Boston University writes, Americans are estimated to spend $1.4 billion a year on teeth whitening. With the ability to make your smile more memorable without an invasive procedure, it’s hardly any wonder why this continues to be such a popular way of bringing the pearly shine back to your teeth.
The Ancient Practice of Dental Implants is Moving up the Ranks
One of the oldest cosmetic dental procedures is also one of the most popular. Dental implants are thought to have first been invented by the Mayans around 600 AD. At that time, broken pieces of shells were hammered into the jaw as a way of implanting a makeshift tooth.
Luckily, dental implants have come a long way in the last 1500 years. Able to fit mouths of any size and boasting a success rate of 98% — a number the Mayans’ rather crude method likely couldn’t offer — dental implants are now the main alternative to traditional dentures.
Dental implants are the only type of tooth replacement that provides people with the natural look, feel, and experience of real teeth. With three million people estimated to seek out dental implants each year, it shouldn’t be any surprise that the U.S. market for dental implants is currently valued at $1 billion, with all signs pointing to rapid expansion over the coming years.
