Countdown to Perfection: How Long Does Cosmetic Dentistry Take?

You want to enhance your smile with dental cosmetics, but you’re a busy person. To plan accordingly, you’ll need to know how long your treatment will take. Or, if you don’t have a packed schedule, maybe you’d simply like to know what to expect! Both mindsets are completely understandable. Keep reading so you can start your countdown to perfection.

Average Timelines for Popular Dental Cosmetics

Timeline averages are a good way to get a ballpark estimate of how long your cosmetic dentistry treatment could take. Your dentist will be able to give you a more specific schedule once they get a closer look at your teeth, but for now, here’s a quick list you can reference at your convenience:

• Veneers and Lumineers: 2 to 3 weeks
• Dental bonding: 1 appointment
• Invisalign: 12 to 18 months
• In-office teeth whitening: 1 appointment
• Take-home teeth whitening: 3 to 4 weeks
• Gum recontouring: 1 appointment

Factors That Can Impact Your Schedule

It’s important to understand that everyone’s smile is different. Depending on your treatment goals and the severity of your cosmetic issues, it may take more or less time than average to complete your countdown to perfection. Preliminary treatments (treatments that are meant to take care of issues like gum disease and cavities to promote a successful smile transformation) and recovery time should also be factored into your considerations.

Want to Stay on Time? Listen to Your Dentist!

No matter which cosmetic dental treatment you’re interested in, your dentist will give you several aftercare instructions to follow. It’s in your best interest to carry out these instructions as closely as possible! Failing to listen to your dentist could very well prolong your treatment timeline.

It’s trickier than you might think to pin down a specific schedule for cosmetic dental treatments, but rest assured. This will be one of the things you and your dentist will talk about during your consultation. They want your experience to be as smooth as possible and will do their best to work with your availability. Together, you’ll be able to find space in your calendar for your ideal cosmetic dental treatment!

About the Author

Dr. Darrick Castleberry is well known for his skills in cosmetic dentistry. You might recognize his name from H-Texas Magazine, where his office was named one of the top cosmetic dental practices in the nation. If you’d like to learn more about your dental cosmetic options and how long your personalized treatment plan might take to complete, Dr. Castleberry is the dentist to call! To reach his office and schedule your consultation today, contact 281-971-3440 or request an appointment online.