Over the past two decades, cosmetic dentistry has seen remarkable growth in the United States, driven by advancements in technology, shifting demographics, and increasing awareness of the benefits of a healthy, attractive smile. Dental implants, for example, have become significantly more common, with millions placed annually to replace missing teeth. As more people seek dental treatments to improve their appearance and oral health, the industry continues to evolve, embracing cutting-edge techniques like digital smile design and guided implant placement.
Beyond functional restorations, cosmetic dentistry has expanded to include comprehensive smile makeovers, veneers, and whitening treatments. Social and professional pressures have fueled this trend, with surveys indicating that an attractive smile enhances confidence and career opportunities. Newport Beach Dental Center is here to help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, today.
This report presents key facts and statistics for several cosmetic dental services in the United States from 2000 to 2025:
Over 150 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, indicating a large potential need for implants. However, only about 1 million people receive dental implants each year, corresponding to roughly 2.5 million implants placed annually in the U.S. (pre-pandemic, e.g., 2019)
The number of implants placed has grown rapidly – over 3 million implants were placed in 2019 alone. By 2022, annual U.S. implant sales reached 3.7 million (after ~6% growth per year since 2010) , according to iData Research, a healthcare market research firm.
Among adults with missing teeth, the prevalence of having at least one implant jumped from 0.7% in 1999–2000 to 5.7% by 2015–2016. In other words, implants have become much more common over the past two decades, though still used by a minority of those who could benefit.
The following are the most common demographics for dental implant treatment:
Dental implants have high success and survival rates. Clinical studies show about a 95–97% success rate at 10 years post-implant placement. Even at 20 years, roughly 75% of implants remain successful. These outcomes make implants one of the most predictable tooth replacement methods. While generally very successful, implants are not risk-free. Possible issues include infection of the surrounding gum/bone (peri-implantitis), implant loosening or failure (which was ~3% in one 5-year surgical study), or technical problems with the crown/abutment. Proper case selection and maintenance (good oral hygiene and regular check-ups) keep complication rates low.
A single dental implant (implant post, abutment, and crown) typically costs around $3,000 to $5,000 in the U.S., though prices vary. More complex cases (e.g., needing bone grafts) or premium materials can increase cost. Full-arch implant solutions (such as “All-on-4”) cost tens of thousands of dollars for one jaw. Nonetheless, as implants have become more common, some dental benefit plans have slowly started to offer limited implant coverage or higher annual maximums to help with costs.
Since around 2010, the U.S. implant market has grown ~6% per year, resulting in the volume of implants placed annually more than doubling by the early 2020s. This growth is driven by an aging population and increasing dentist expertise with implants. By 2030, Americans aged 65+ will outnumber those under 18, which means more people will experience tooth loss. This demographic shift is expected to keep implant demand strong as seniors increasingly seek fixed tooth replacements instead of removable dentures.
Implant dentistry has seen major technological advancements. 3D imaging and digital planning (CT scans/CBCT) allow for precise implant placement and custom prosthetics. CAD/CAM technology creates perfectly fitted abutments and crowns. Guided implant surgery and even robotic assistance help improve accuracy.
New materials like zirconia implants (metal-free, tooth-colored) have emerged as an alternative to titanium. These innovations have improved success rates and expanded the range of patients and cases that can be treated. In the coming years, continued growth is anticipated. Researchers are also developing improvements like antibacterial coatings on implants to reduce infection risk further.
Smile makeovers have seen booming demand since 2000, often combining multiple treatments (e.g., orthodontics, whitening, veneers, gum recontouring). Americans place great value on an attractive smile – in surveys, 99.7% say a good smile is an important social asset. Consequently, more people have been seeking treatments like whitening, veneers, bonding, and porcelain crowns to improve their smile aesthetics.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry found that in 2006, there were about 2.69 million cosmetic dentistry patients treated, a 12.8% increase from the previous year. Growth continued the following year with a projected 10.9% increase for 2007.
Cosmetic procedures grew particularly rapidly in the mid-2000s, fueled by media and “extreme makeover” reality TV trends. By the 2010s, virtually every general dental practice was offering some cosmetic options. Surveys by the AACD indicate people believe an improved smile yields tangible benefits. 74% of Americans feel an unattractive smile can hurt one’s career success. This perceived social/professional advantage drives demand for smile makeovers among working-age adults who want to boost confidence and appearance.
The following are the most common demographics seeking smile makeover services:
Smile makeover procedures typically have very high patient satisfaction. A new smile can be transformative – a consumer study noted people with nice smiles are viewed as more attractive and more successful in life. After cosmetic dental treatment, patients often report improved self-esteem and confidence in social or professional situations. In fact, adults who completed orthodontic or cosmetic treatments report positive impacts on their personal and work lives.
Procedures like veneers, bonding, and whitening are considered low-risk and highly successful when done by experienced cosmetic dentists like Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM. For example, porcelain veneers (a common element of many smile makeovers) have over a 90%+ survival rate beyond 10 years, making them a predictably long-lasting way to enhance a smile.
Cosmetic dentistry primarily addresses appearance. It’s most effective on healthy teeth/gums that need aesthetic improvements. It may not fix functional issues (e.g., severe bite problems) without orthodontics or surgery. Also, some procedures, like aggressive prepping for veneers are irreversible and require maintenance (replacement veneers) in the future. Overall, however, modern techniques (like minimal-prep veneers and conservative bonding) balance aesthetics with tooth preservation.
Surveys specifically on cosmetic treatment satisfaction find that the majority of patients are pleased with the results. In one study, over 90% of patients were satisfied with their veneer or aligner results.
These treatments are not covered by insurance, so patients pay out-of-pocket. Americans spend substantial sums on elective dental improvements. On average, an AACD survey found that a typical cosmetic dentistry patient spends around $3,700 a year on cosmetic services (as of 2021). High-end smile makeovers involving multiple veneers, implants, etc., can cost tens of thousands of dollars. There is a broad range of cosmetic treatment costs. For example, a single porcelain veneer can cost $900–$2,500 per tooth, according to the American Dental Association estimates.
Professional in-office teeth whitening might cost around $300–$800 per session, whereas take-home whitening trays are a few hundred dollars. Cosmetic bonding of a tooth can cost a few hundred dollars, while a full set of 8–10 veneers can easily exceed $10,000.
Cosmetic dentistry tends to track with the economy – when the economy is strong, people are more willing to spend on elective care. For instance, during the mid-2000s economic expansion, cosmetic dental revenues grew notably. There was a dip around the 2008 recession when some discretionary spending slowed. By the 2010s and into the 2020s, cosmetic dentistry recovered and continued to grow. Even the COVID-19 pandemic had an interesting effect: after an initial shutdown, some dentists reported a surge in cosmetic requests – possibly due to people seeing themselves on video calls (“Zoom”) and wanting to improve their smiles.
Technology has enhanced cosmetic dentistry planning. In the late 2010s, Digital Smile Design software was introduced, allowing dentists and patients to preview proposed cosmetic changes on a computer. 3D printing and CAD/CAM enabled same-day veneers or crowns in some cases. These advances shortened treatment times and improved the customization of smile makeovers.
As techniques become more advanced and minimally invasive, and as societal emphasis on aesthetics continues, smile makeover services are expected to grow. Cosmetic dentistry is now a significant aspect of general dental care, with dentists continuing to adopt new materials (e.g., stronger porcelains and improved composite resins) to deliver durable and natural-looking results.
Sedation is sought by patients who are anxious or undergoing long procedures. While exact numbers of how many patients receive IV sedation are not readily tracked, professional surveys indicate a growing adoption. For instance, among dental practices that offer sedation, about 70% use nitrous oxide (the mildest form), and many also offer oral or IV sedation as needed.
Driving the demand, a substantial share of the population experiences dental anxiety. Approximately 36% of people have some dental fear, and about 12% have extreme anxiety that might cause them to avoid dental visits. Anxious patients are prime candidates for sedation-assisted dentistry. It’s estimated that about 5–10% of adults are so fearful that they avoid care entirely; many of them could benefit from sedation to get necessary treatments.
The following are the common demographics of patients who seek sedation dentistry:
With sedation, patients who otherwise would avoid or delay treatment can comfortably get necessary dental work, preventing more serious problems. This leads to better overall oral health outcomes for that population. Dentists report that offering sedation increases patient compliance with treatment plans – for example, someone with extensive decay might complete all their appointments under sedation rather than dropping out.
When performed properly, IV sedation in dentistry is safe and has a low incidence of complications. It is typically termed “moderate sedation,” where the patient remains breathing on their own and can respond to prompts. Dentists who administer IV sedation undergo specialized training and must have emergency equipment on hand. The outcomes from a safety perspective are excellent in trained hands – adverse events are very rare.
Sedation adds additional cost to a dental visit. For mild sedation like nitrous oxide, fees are relatively low (often $50–$100 extra, and some dentists include it free for anxious patients). Oral sedation (taking a pill like triazolam) may add a similar modest charge, mainly for the evaluation and monitoring time. IV sedation, however, can be a few hundred to over a thousand dollars in additional fees, depending on case length. For example, an office-based dental anesthesiologist might charge $500–$1,000 for the first hour of IV sedation/general anesthesia, then ~$250 per additional 15 minutes.
Most dental insurance plans do not cover the cost of sedation dentistry for routine cases. They deem it a convenience or luxury in most instances. There are exceptions: insurance might cover sedation (including IV) for extractions of wisdom teeth (often under the patient’s medical or dental plan’s surgery benefit) or for patients with documented medical needs (for instance, inability to be treated without sedation).
Also, children under a certain age or people with certain disabilities may get sedation covered as medically necessary. By and large, though, sedation is an out-of-pocket expense. This can be a barrier; some patients elect not to have sedation due to cost and try to cope with just local anesthetic.
Since 2000, there’s been a clear trend of more dentists incorporating sedation in their practice. In the past, if you needed sedation, you primarily went to an oral surgeon or a dental school’s clinic. Now, many general dentists obtain sedation permits. Organizations like DOCS Education (Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation) have trained tens of thousands of dentists in oral and IV sedation in the last two decades.
Looking forward, trends indicate possibly even greater use of combination therapies – for example, combining minimal oral sedation with nitrous oxide (dual modality) for safer yet effective sedation without IV, which could become popular in general practice. There’s also interest in new sedative drugs that have shorter recovery times. The overall trajectory is that sedation in dentistry has moved from the fringes to the mainstream between 2000 and 2025, greatly expanding the ability of dentists to treat patients who might otherwise remain untreated.
From essentially 0% of ortho patients in 1999, by the early 2020s, orthodontic aligner therapy (OAT) accounted for an estimated 30–45% of the caseload in a typical orthodontic practice. Recent reports confirm that aligners represent roughly one-third or more of all orthodontic treatment.
A huge driver of clear aligner demand is adult orthodontic treatment. Between 2010 and 2014, the number of adults seeking orthodontics jumped over 16%, reaching a record high of 1.44 million adult patients (18+) in the U.S. and Canada in 2014. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) noted adults made up 27% of all patients by the mid-2010s. Many of these adults specifically chose clear aligners as a discreet way to straighten teeth.
By 2020, millions of individuals had been treated with clear aligners worldwide. Align Technology alone reported over 9 million Invisalign patients treated globally by 2020 (with a significant share in the U.S.). In the U.S., well over a million people start aligner treatment yearly. In general, orthodontic treatment demand has grown, with aligners taking a substantial share rather than just cannibalizing braces. Many orthodontists and even general dentists (in limited cases) now offer aligner therapy, making it widely available.
The concept of “invisible braces” strongly appeals to people who avoid orthodontics. Surveys of dentists indicate that nearly half of the dentists reported that 10–20% of their patients show interest in clear aligner therapy for aesthetic reasons.
The following are the demographics of patients who opt for aligners:
Clear aligners have proven effective for a wide range of orthodontic cases, though not all. For mild to moderate crowding, spacing, and some bite corrections, aligners can achieve results comparable to braces. A number of studies and reviews have found that for appropriately selected cases, outcomes of aligners vs. traditional braces are similar in terms of tooth movement achieved. For very complex cases (severe malocclusions, large jaw discrepancies), braces or even surgery are still required. However, technological improvements (attachments, elastics with aligners, etc.) have expanded aligners’ capabilities.
One of the strongest points of clear aligners is high patient satisfaction. Research indicates that patients generally find aligners more comfortable and less painful than braces. In a satisfaction survey, 91.2% of patients were satisfied with their clear aligner therapy results. Patients particularly appreciate the near-invisibility and the ability to remove aligners for eating and cleaning – leading to fewer dietary restrictions and easier oral hygiene compared to braces.
The effectiveness of aligners heavily depends on patient compliance (wearing them ~22 hours a day). Outcomes can suffer if compliance is poor. Interestingly, some research comparing long-term outcomes found no significant difference in compliance rates reported between aligner patients and braces patients – aligner users wore them ~6.7 nights a week versus braces worn ~6.8 nights (essentially full-time). This suggests many patients do follow instructions, and when they do, the treatment goals (e.g., correcting moderate crowding) are typically met.
The cost of clear aligner treatment is comparable to traditional braces. On average, in the U.S., comprehensive aligner treatment ranges from $3,000 to $7,000, depending on case complexity and region. This overlaps with the average cost of braces (ADA surveys in 2018 showed braces averaging about $4,800–$7,100). Mild cases with aligners (needing only a few months of treatment) might be as low as $2,000–$3,000. Some orthodontists actually charge the same for aligners or braces, leaving it to patient preference.
Orthodontic coverage through dental insurance often applies to clear aligners similar to braces. Typically, dental plans that cover ortho have a lifetime orthodontic benefit (e.g., $1,500) that can be used for either braces or aligners for a dependent child (and in some cases for adults, if the plan allows adult ortho). About 50% of patients with orthodontic coverage use it for aligners if they choose that route. However, many insurance plans only cover ortho for children under 18, leaving adults to pay fully.
In the early 2000s, Invisalign introduced the idea of using 3D digital models and CAD/CAM to create sequential aligners – a radical innovation. Over 2000–2025, the technology behind aligners has continuously improved. 3D scanning replaced traditional impressions in many cases, improving accuracy. Software algorithms for tooth movement became more sophisticated, increasing the predictability of outcomes. By 2025, many orthodontists will plan treatment virtually with advanced software and 3D-print models or aligners in-house in some cases.
People now expect that many orthodontic issues can be corrected without braces. Orthodontists report that some patients only want aligners and are averse to braces. Aligners have essentially become a norm rather than a niche, changing how orthodontic treatment is planned in many instances.
AACD surveys showed that the volume of porcelain veneers increased by 250% since 2006 in cosmetic practice volume. By the 2010s, veneers had become very popular for achieving “perfect” front teeth in smile makeover cases. While exact numbers of veneers placed per year aren’t tracked nationally, it’s clear that tens of thousands of Americans get veneers annually. Many cosmetic dentists report veneers as one of the top revenue-generating procedures.
Veneers are sought by individuals unhappy with tooth color, shape, or alignment who want a relatively fast transformation. A notable segment includes people with intrinsic staining (tetracycline stains, etc.) that whitening can’t fix – veneers are the go-to solution. Another segment is those with chipped, worn, or mildly crooked front teeth who prefer veneers over orthodontics + bonding. The “Hollywood smile” often involves 8-10 upper veneers, and this aesthetic has filtered to the public.
The following are the typical demographics of patients who seek veneers:
Veneers are highly effective at creating a “perfect” smile appearance. They can instantly change the color (to a stable shade of white that doesn’t stain), shape (lengthen/reshape chipped or small teeth), and alignment (by masking minor rotations or gaps) of teeth. When properly done, veneers have a natural translucency and form that mimic real teeth, and patient satisfaction is very high. Many people report increased confidence and smile more often after getting veneers. It’s a near-instantaneous transformation compared to braces, which take years.
Porcelain veneers are expensive, typically $925 to $2,500 per tooth in the U.S., according to the American Dental Association estimates. The cost depends on the dentist’s expertise, lab used, and region. An average fee might be around $1,200–$1,500 per tooth. Thus, a set of 6–8 veneers can cost anywhere from $7,000 to $20,000. Some patients do a few veneers at a time (staggering treatment for affordability), while others go for a full smile in one go.
Dental insurance does not cover veneers. Veneers are considered a purely cosmetic procedure, not medically necessary (even though they can restore form, insurers classify them as elective if a less costly alternative like bonding could be done).
Veneers became widely popular in the early to mid-2000s, correlating with TV makeover shows. People saw dramatic “before and after” reveals where stained, crooked teeth were transformed by veneers in days, and this drove interest.
Initially, veneers required significant tooth reduction to avoid a bulky look. Advances in ceramic materials (stronger porcelains, etchable ceramics) and bonding techniques allowed for minimal-preparation veneers by the late 2000s. Some patients specifically sought out minimal-prep options around 2010–2020 to preserve enamel, even if it meant slightly less dramatic changes.
Around 2021, dentists began using digital scanners for impressions, and some even milling veneers in-office out of high-quality ceramics. This potentially shortened treatment time (no need for temporaries in some cases if same-day veneers are possible). However, many high-end cosmetic dentists still prefer hand-layered porcelain by skilled lab ceramists for the best esthetics. Still, digital design has enhanced the planning of veneer cases – mock-ups can be digitally done and shown to patients (digital smile design), improving case acceptance.
Your dream smile is within reach. At Newport Beach Dental Center, we offer advanced cosmetic dentistry treatments designed to enhance your confidence and improve your overall oral health. Whether you’re looking for teeth whitening, veneers, or a complete smile makeover, we use state-of-the-art technology and a personalized approach to deliver stunning results.
Don’t wait to achieve the smile you’ve always wanted. Schedule a consultation with us today to explore your options. Call us at (949) 649-7564 or reach out through our contact form to get started.
1441 Avocado Ave, Ste 606 Newport Beach, CA 92660
