Tara Hardin, DDS

I had a consultation at Hardin Cosmetic and Family Dentistry to inquire about bonding on my two upper front teeth. The facility was very nice and everyone was really friendly. A little background on me, my teeth were very crowded and I used invisible aligners for about 8 months. From my teeth being crowded, my front teeth were worn unevenly so I was interested in getting them shaped up using bonding.

They start the taking several photos of your smile and you talk with a hygienist (I think that's was her title) about your treatment options. I was a great candidate for bonding on my two upper front teeth. They showed me some of Dr. Tara Hardin's, which was all great and very impressive. I did get to briefly get to meet with Dr. Tara Hardin, who was very sweet and knowledgeable as well.

But when I inquired about pricing, I was really not prepared. I wasn't expecting a cheap price, but when I was told $2,000 for 2 (yes TWO teeth). I was actually taken aback by that number. I felt like that was a more realistic price for veneers maybe.. They were very polite when I'm sure the look of shock was all over my face, they let me know about financing programs and such.

I completely understand that you get what you pay for, but $1000 per tooth...? For this 26 year old that's saving up to buy my second home, it's just not a realistic option.

Updated on 11 Apr 2019:
As I've been scouring the web for reputable cosmetic dentists in the Cincinnati area, I've found that Hardin's costs really are not as astronomical as I originally thought.

I think I was using Google results as a reference, which said the average cost of bonding is between $200-$1500 a tooth. Living in Ohio, I fully did not expect to see prices on the higher end of the scale. But with the more skilled cosmetic dentists in the area, $1000-$1500 per tooth for bonding is average.

I called Dr Fred H Pecks office and was told the initial consultation would cost $300, and $1500 per tooth for bonding. I researched his office, while his results are great, Dr Hardins were incredible.

I'm slowly adjusting to the idea of dropping two grand on two teeth, I'm investing in myself. And front teeth are very important, so I think I might take the plunge. I'll continue to post updates as I go.

Updated on 2 May 2019:
I had another consultation at Hardin Cosmetic dentistry to discuss bonding and whitening my teeth. The discussion made me feel a lot more comfortable with my decision.

So after my Smile Direct Club treatment, I went from decently crowded teeth to straighter teeth with a gap in the front. I was approved for "refinements" through Smile Direct Club, but you have to go in for another 3D scan and wait for your smile plan to be created and if it's not up to your standards, you'll have to send a request to have it remade and it ends up taking a month. Then once you're finally happy with the projected end result, you approve and they're sent to production which in my experience takes 5-6 week minimum.

To avoid the frustration of dealing with Smile Direct, I opted to go with Smart Moves clear aligners offered by Hardin. I needed two sets of retainers to get my two front upper teeth better aligned and to get rid of the gap. Each set is worn for two weeks and cost $370 total and are made and received within 2 weeks.

But once my teeth no longer have a gap, the price of the bonding gets cut down to $570 rather than $1000 per tooth. So with the aligners and bonding, I'll spend ~$1500 rather than the estimated $2000. I'll take whatever savings I can get, haha.

I have my appointment on 5/6 to pick up my aligners from the office. From there, I'll have to wear them for a month, then we can revisit bonding.

In the mean time, I have been working on whitening my teeth at home using the gel that Smile Direct provides and I've had pretty good results.

I'm just happy to be done with Smile Direct and on my way to a happy, healthier smile.

I have been a patient for quite some time and can say that Tara and the whole Staff are like family. Phenomenal quality, service and dedication to their clients. Feel free to contact me or any of her patients and you'll hear the same

The reason the dental office gets 5 stars is because they have you fill out the rating in front of them. So when you are seeing how great the office is, that is because they are standing in front of you pressuring you to give them positive reviews. If the office was that great, you wouldn't have to beg for reviews. The worse experience I had. I asked office staff if they took insurance and was told yes but they refused to submit it to my insurance. Not only was I charged for advance treatments. when I canceled they refused to give me the money for the visit I canceled, after receiving an email stating they would. What they did was added a bunch of charges for the "consultation" and took my money!!