Second-year dental student Jake Turner wants the dentures he's working on to be just right. It's one of many cosmetic procedures he'll need to be prepared to do when he graduates.
"I think cosmetic dentistry is an emphasis in just about everyone's practice these days. So it's something that all general dentist do to one degree or another. But I think the demand has grown dramatically," said Jim Broome, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs at UAB School of Dentistry.
Broome says, in his 30 years of dentistry, he's seen people become more "image conscious". That explains why patients like Melissa Bryant spend several thousand dollars on veneers to achieve the perfect smile.
"Without a healthy and pretty smile you just don't have the confidence that you should have it can hurt you socially," said Bryant.
And professionally.
"It helps me in a sales position to not be so awkward just dealing with clients and seeing people on a daily basis," she said.
Bryant's dentist, Trent Buchanan, says cosmetic dentistry took off in the 90's with a boom in teeth whitening. Whitening is still the number one cosmetic procedure. However, implants, bonding, and veneers are in high demand.
An estimated 5 million of those procedures are performed annually. But what about the cost?
"The tier of cosmetic dentistry is basically teeth whitening at one end of the spectrum, and then invisalign would be in the middle,and then the veneer smile makeover would be the top of the line," said Buchanan.
After all the consultations, and drilling, and money, Bryant and thousands of others with similar cases say the end result is priceless.
"We see immediate transformation of people. They come in with their hair done, lipstick, make up, all of that just from their smile. And that just shows what a big change the smile can make," said Buchanan.
Buchanan says having a pretty smile can do a lot for self esteem. But a "perfect smile" should not be prioritized above a healthy smile.
