Hollywood smile cost calculator: total, per tooth and per year

"Hollywood smile" is a marketing name, not a clinical one. It usually describes changing the shape and colour of the teeth you show when you smile, most often with veneers and sometimes with crowns. The Australian Dental Association describes crowns, bridges and veneers as elective treatments that can repair damaged teeth or change how teeth look. A crown covers a tooth that has been cut back, while a veneer is a thin shell glued to the front surface. How many teeth are treated is decided with your dentist, not by the name of a package.

Because a Hollywood smile can involve many teeth, the total depends on the number of teeth, the material and the preparation needed. This calculator uses only the figures from your own quote. Enter the number of teeth and the price per veneer, then add one-off charges. If a quote is for crowns rather than veneers, enter the price per crown in the same field, and name the quote so you remember which is which.

Crowns need the natural tooth to be cut back so the crown fits over it, and the ADA explains this in its guide to crowns, bridges and veneers. Veneers are very thin and need little or no tooth structure removed, depending on the case. Tooth structure that is removed does not grow back. Ask your dentist which approach is planned for each tooth, why, and what the alternatives are, such as whitening or orthodontic treatment.

The ADA notes that having a crown or veneer does not mean the tooth will never need treatment again. Teeth can still decay underneath, and the work can chip, fracture or no longer match the colour of your other teeth. That makes replacements part of the long-term cost. If your dentist gives you an expected lifespan, enter it to see a rough cost per year. It is a planning figure, not a guarantee.

• How many teeth are planned, and why that number?
• Veneers or crowns, and how much tooth structure is removed?
• What does a repair or replacement cost later?
• Which alternatives exist for your teeth?

Most dental care in Australia is not covered by Medicare, and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule does not cover cosmetic work. Some extras policies pay a benefit for veneers or crowns as major dental, usually up to a yearly limit. Check with your fund before treatment. The ADA also points out that a dentist cannot be registered as a cosmetic dentist in Australia. A prosthodontist is a registered specialist, and you can check registration on the Ahpra register.

Many people who search for a Hollywood smile also look at clinics in Turkey. Smartraveller says Medicare does not cover you overseas and that basic travel insurance rarely covers medical tourism. The ADA recommends discussing any overseas plan with an Australian dentist first. Enter both quotes here with the same number of teeth and material, then use our Turkey teeth calculator to add travel costs. Think about where reviews and repairs would happen once you are home.