Would you pay $20,000 for a ‘Hollywood smile’?

There’s only a handful of people who have been genetically blessed with the ‘Hollywood smile’. 

For most of us, ongoing dental work to improve our teeth is needed to get the desired pearly whites.

So what does it take to get the perfect smile and how much will it cost? 

FEMAIL spoke to leading cosmetic dentist Dr Luke Cronin, of Quality Dental, to find out.

Veneers 

Price $1200 to $3000 per tooth

According to Dr Cronin, cosmetic dentistry is changing rapidly thanks to progress in technology. 

‘With the latest cosmetic smile design technology we can provide patients with a realistic photographic preview of how their smile will look with porcelain veneers in around five minutes,’ he says.

‘From this, using a combination of digital photos and scans, the 3Shape smile design technology generates a 3D model of the patient’s teeth with veneers, and a 3D mock-up of the veneers that patients can try on over their existing teeth at their second appointment. 

My Kitchen Rules judge Colin Fassnidge (pictured with Dr Cronin right) has veneers (before; top left and after; bottom left)

‘This allows patients to ”wear” their new smile, look at themselves in the mirror smiling from different angles, and really see what their teeth will look like.’  

Dr Cronin says treatment is spaced over two appointments and the veneers can last longer than a decade with good care. 

The price of porcelain veneers can vary quite significantly, but generally they range from $1200 to $3000 per tooth. 

‘The price variation can be explained by a number of factors, including the cosmetic experience and expertise of the dentist,’ says Dr Cronin. 

‘I would always ask to see before and after photos of the dentist’s patients prior to committing to treatment.’

Australian soprano Jenny Liu (left) had her teeth whitened, while YouTuber Brittany Saunders (right) had veeners, whitening and Invisalign to correct her teeth 

The patient on the left had clear aligners and whitening; while the patient on the right opted for veneers under Dr Cronin

Whitening 

Price: $799 

At home teeth whitening products and kits have proven to be extremely popular in the past five years, but if you’re looking for instantly brighter smile, then a treatment at a dentist could be for you.

‘The main reasons people want to whiten their teeth is to address discolouration and surface staining of their teeth,’ Dr Cronin says. 

‘The introduction of the Zoom in-chair whitening system has set the standard as the most effective and safest way to professionally whiten your teeth.

‘As a professional treatment the in-chair system uses a higher percentage of whitening agent than the take-home or over-the-counter treatments. The gums are protected during this process and the gel is applied to the teeth by a dental professional. The Zoom patented LED light accelerates the whitening agent and process, which means you can safely achieve up to eight shades whiter in one treatment.’ 

Model Nikki Phillips (pictured) had teeth whitening and Invisalign to get her pearly whites 

While there can be pain and sensitivity during the treatment and in the hours after, the procedure itself only takes 45 minutes to an hour.

However, surface stains can reoccur over time depending on what you eat, drink and how you look after your teeth.

‘The best way to maintain the brightness of your whitening is to have a professional clean every six to 12 months, and maintain a good daily oral hygiene routine at home. This means brushing twice daily and flossing once a day,’ Dr Cronin adds.  

The patient on the left had clear aligners and whitening; while the patient on the right opted for veneers 

Straightening

Price $6000 to $9000 in price 

While braces are still used in dentistry, most people are now opting for the less noticeable option of clear and removable aligners.

These custom-made aligners help to gently move teeth and the bite into the correct position over time.   

‘The clear aligner system provides a highly effective and predictable treatment to straighten teeth,’ says Dr Cronin. 

‘The best way to maintain the brightness of your whitening is to have a professional clean every six to 12 months, and maintain a good daily oral hygiene routine at home,’ says Dr Cronin (stock image)

‘It offers a fantastic solution for adult and teenager patients alike,’ he adds. 

‘The clear aligners are designed for different stages of the straightening process – with each subsequent aligner gently moving the patient’s teeth closer towards the desired position.’ 

Although some people might be used to wearing a retainer for a few hours at night, these aligners have to be worn for 22 hours a day and only should be taken out to eat or drink (except water). 

‘There are three main groups of patients we treat with clear aligner therapy: patients who are unhappy with the current position of their teeth; patients whose teeth have moved after having traditional metal braces as children; and patients who require orthodontics to move their teeth into the ideal position for porcelain veneers treatment,’ explains Dr Cronin.  

Treatment generally takes between three to 15 months to complete depending on the complexity of your case, and the number of hours you wear the aligners each day and can range from $6000 to $9000 in price.