A good cosmetic dentist has the eyes of an artist and the precision of a microsurgeon.
With the increase in demand for cosmetic dentistry, it is more important than ever to choose your specialist carefully. Your cosmetic dentist's qualifications are critically important when making this decision.
Following are the 7 important points to consider when choosing a Cosmetic Dentist.
1) Are they Accredited?
Cosmetic dentists who are accredited by the American Society of Aesthetic Dentistry - who are members of the American Academy of Facial Esthetics, American Dental Association (ADA), and Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), have undergone rigorous training while being evaluated by their peers on their practice of cosmetic dentistry from both a technical and ethical perspective. The American Society of Aesthetic Dentistry (ASDA) is the first established internationally known cosmetic dental society of its kind, and is committed to excellence in the field of cosmetic and restorative dentistry. For decades, members of this society have facilitated the exchange of best practices and shared innovations in cosmetic and restorative dentistry.
2) Are the before/after photos real?
Be sure to ask your dentist to see before and after photos of actual patients, and ask how many makeovers[MC1] they have performed. Avoid photoshopped after photos. If the faces and smiles in the photos seem too perfect then they are probably Photoshopped and not real.
3) Have they offered to Photoshop your after picture?
Your cosmetic dentist must be able to show you what you will look like after your cosmetic dental work is performed. This can be done with a “smile preview” procedure. During the smile preview appointment, a bonding is used directly on your teeth. After about 30 minutes, this allows you to “test drive” your future smile.
Avoid any dental office that offers photoshop services. For example, they might ask you to send them your photo so they can photoshop an after version of you. Photoshoping is just a dishonest sales technique, and is not a real reflection of what can be done to improve your smile.
4) Are they using the best materials?
The material that is used to make the teeth is important. Be sure to ask if the veneers will be machine-made or handmade. Machine-made restorations are generally very opaque and denture-like. Handmade porcelain, on the other hand, is made one drop at a time and looks natural. You want your cosmetic dental office to be using a local master ceramist.
5) Will there be a try-in appointment before the veneers are bonded in place permanently?
Ideally, you’ll want the ability to meet the ceramist for a try-in appointment before the restorations are permanently bonded in place. Generally, dental offices take molds of the teeth to have veneers created, and send it to a dental laboratory (sometimes the laboratory is out of the state of even out of the country). A ceramist designs and makes the teeth without having seen the patient.
Proper cosmetic dentistry is done with a separate try-in appointment. Your cosmetic dentist and the ceramist will temporarily place your new porcelain restorations in, and plan to make the necessary changes for a gorgeous smile before the final restoration is permanently bonded.
6) How was the cost presented to you?
You need to have a complete understanding of the total cost for the procedure before it is done. The fees should be presented to you without any sales tactics or pressure. AVOID any dental office that quotes you a fee on the phone. Quoting a fee without seeing the patient and giving a full examination is treating cosmetic dentistry as a cookie-cutter procedure. Cosmetic dentistry is individually designing and custom making each smile. The fee will depend on the condition of the existing teeth, including the harmony and symmetry, and the desired end-result of the makeover. A “smile-preview” will determine all the above.
7) Will you be getting exclusive attention while having the procedure done?
Cosmetic dental procedure is very technical, requiring that your dental team give you exclusive attention while designing, preparing, and/or placing your veneers. You want to look for a cosmetic dental office that ensures these procedures happen without interruptions from other patients or procedures in the office. You need to have the complete attention of your dental team during your time in their dental chair.
The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions .
