There's no denying that a beautiful smile will get you far in life. And your teeth are the most noticeable – and therefore most important – part of your smile. Whether you're trying to snag a great new job, get a date with someone special, or prepare for an event like a wedding or high school reunion, having a whiter, straighter, more perfect smile will only make you more successful. The difficulty lies in affording it. Even basic dental care is expensive, and optional cosmetic treatments are only more so. Here are a few tips that may be able to help you afford the smile that you've been looking for.

Don't Count Out Insurance

If you have dental insurance, don't immediately assume that it won't cover any cosmetic dental care. While treatments that are entirely optional, like teeth whitening, are not likely to be covered, treatments that have some restorative value often are.

For example, if you need fillings, your insurance will probably at least pay the cost of the least expensive type of filling – usually silver amalgam. However, it's possible that you could opt for more aesthetically pleasing tooth covered fillings made from composite or ceramics and just pay the difference in cost between those and the cheaper fillings. A dental treatment like porcelain crowns may be entirely covered because in addition to improving the look of your smile, it also restores the function of your teeth. Push your insurance coverage to the limit before you give up on it.

Ask Your Dentist to Spread Out Your Treatments

Do you want a cosmetic procedure that has to be done in several different stages? Ask your dentist how far the appointments for each stage can be spread out.

For example, if you're getting your teeth whitened, your dentist should be able to give you an estimate of how many treatments it will take to achieve the level of whitening that you're looking for. If you can have one treatment per pay cycle or per month without losing ground between appointments, you may be able to reach your goal at a pace that you can afford.

Apply For Financing

You may be able to take out a small loan to cover the cost of your desired dental treatment. Some dentist's offer their own in-house financing, while others may direct you to finance companies that specialize in providing funds for dental and medical procedures.

The requirements to qualify for a dental loan are usually less stringent than for a typical loan; you may qualify even if you don't have perfect credit. You'll get your dental work right away, then make small, affordable monthly payments on the cost of the dental work, plus interest, until the loan is paid off.

If all else fails, your dentist may be willing to consider working out a payment arrangement with you directly, especially if you're a long term client. Don't be afraid to explore all the possibilities for affording cosmetic dental treatments. Having a great smile is worth it. To learn more, contact a company like Bristol Dental Group with any questions or concerns you have.