There are many different types of dental options that patients have depending on what’s being treated. This is a relatively new treatment and often falls under the topic of cosmetic dentistry, which many times is not covered under regular dental insurance. The Snap on Smile is often compared to veneer dentistry, and involves not only repairing any damage, but in this case makes the teeth appear far more beautiful and aesthetically pleasing than before. This system has even been displayed on some day time TV shows like “The Doctors.”
Dental patients need to have Snap on Smiles customized to fit their particular teeth, which means dentist appointments and follow ups. These are designed to grip onto existing teeth, as the name suggests, but can be shaped to hide gaps, uneven tooth growth, or other abnormalities that can occur. This leads to a mouth full of good looking teeth which many people want. The idea behind going the Snap on Smile route is that it offers a relatively inexpensive way to get that look compared to some of the other alternatives out there. As an added benefit, these are not bonded on, meaning they can be worn throughout the day and removed at meals or at night, and they are expected to last several years.
Snap on Smiles cost anywhere from $600 to $1,500 an arch on average, with the higher end being more accurate in most locations. Other websites and resources put the average cost right at about $1,000 per arch. It’s important to realize that the cost is per arch, and this means if multiple teeth need this type of touch up that your cost is going to increase significantly. The cost of the Snap on Smile for one arch might only be $700 or somewhere in that average range, but if you need this for two or three teeth than the cost goes up significantly and this is especially important to keep track of if
Since this is a cosmetic dental procedure, in all likelihood you will have to cover most if not all of the cost. This isn’t like a filling or getting a wisdom tooth pulled, it is a cosmetic application and some insurance companies would argue that since there is no permanent work done, none of it should be covered by an actual dental insurance policy. So the question then becomes obvious: is Snap on Smile worth the cost?
This is where opinions really come into play. Some people would rather have a more permanent type of work done, while for others the convenience that comes with being able to snap on or snap off the cosmetic dental appendage is a major positive. The issue could also be just how well your customized Snap on Smile matches up on your teeth. If it’s a good fit, that really helps. If it’s not, then obviously it’s not going to work as well. Then there’s the permanence issue once again. These are not one time payments. Snap on Smile costs can be well above the numbers mentioned in this article when you consider that they do need to be replaced every three to five years, and that can definitely change your opinion of them for the long run.