Pros and Limitations of Cosmetic Dentistry
Cosmetic dentistry can make a dramatic difference in how your smile looks and feels, often in just a few visits. Many treatments also protect and strengthen your teeth.
It's important to know the limits, too:
- Some treatments are permanent. Veneers usually require removing a thin layer of enamel, so they'll always need to be covered.
- Restorations need maintenance. Veneers, bonding, and crowns may eventually need repair or replacement.
- Whitening isn't permanent. You may need touch-ups to keep your shade.
- Healthy teeth come first. Cavities and gum disease need to be treated before cosmetic work begins.
- Insurance usually doesn't pay for purely cosmetic treatments.
We'll walk you through the trade-offs of each option so you can make the choice that's right for you.
Your Cosmetic Consultation
- Talk about your goals: Tell us what you'd like to change and show us photos of smiles you like, if you have them.
- Exam and photos: Dr. An checks the health of your teeth and gums and takes photos and X-rays.
- Your options: We explain which treatments will help you reach your goals, how long each one takes, and the trade-offs involved.
- Your plan and estimate: You'll leave with a personalized treatment plan, a cost estimate, and your payment options.
Paying for Cosmetic Dentistry
A smile you love is an investment in yourself. We'll give you a clear estimate before any treatment begins, and help you find a way to fit it into your budget.
What Insurance Can and Can't Do
Most dental insurance plans don't cover purely cosmetic treatments, such as whitening or veneers placed solely for appearance. But when a treatment also restores a damaged tooth, such as a crown on a cracked tooth or a filling to replace a failing one, your plan may cover part of the cost. We're in-network with Aetna, Ameritas, Assurant, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Delta Dental, GEHA, Guardian, Humana, MetLife, Principal Life, and United Concordia, and we accept many other PPO plans. Our team will review your benefits and tell you what's likely to be covered before you decide.
Monthly Payments With Sunbit
Sunbit® lets you break the cost of your new smile into monthly payments, with terms from 6 to 72 months. There's no hard credit check to see your options. We also accept CareCredit® and offer in-office installment plans.
*Subject to credit approval. Minimum monthly payments required. Visit www.carecredit.com for details.
The Dental Savers Plan
If you don't have dental insurance, our Dental Savers Plan offers savings on many dental services for one annual fee: $94 for an individual or $188 for a family, including children under 18.
HSA and FSA Funds
Health Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can generally be used for treatment that restores your dental health, such as crowns or fillings, but not for purely cosmetic treatments like whitening. Check with your plan administrator if you're unsure.
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Ways to Pay
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, debit cards, cash, and checks.
Your Cosmetic Dentist: Dr. Jae An, DDS
For Dr. Jae An, a beautiful smile is about balance: how your teeth, gums, lips, and face work together. That perspective comes from his advanced training in facial aesthetics and facial injectables, which shapes how he plans every cosmetic case.
He also brings a strong foundation in restorative dentistry. Dr. An completed the RSDM/AAID MaxiCourse in Implant Dentistry, so if your smile makeover includes replacing a missing tooth, he can plan the whole treatment himself.
Dr. An earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from NYU College of Dentistry and completed a general practice residency at Jersey City Medical Center. Before dental school, he received his Bachelor's in Biology from the University of Maryland.
Giving back is part of who he is. In 2007, Dr. An founded the SOMA Dental Mission of New York, a nonprofit that travels to provide dental care through mission trips. He is a devoted husband and father to his daughter, and an enthusiastic musician who plays piano, guitar, drums, and cello.
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