How to Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist: Your Complete Guide
Are you looking to get a cosmetic dental procedure done? If so, check out this guide to learn how to find the best cosmetic dentist.
You feel like no matter what you do you can’t get your teeth as white as you need them to be. One of your friends suggested getting a cosmetic dental procedure done. It could be a bit pricy but would work better than the whitening kit that you’ve been using.
The thing is, you’ve never gotten one of these procedures done so you don’t even know where to begin. There are a few things that you should be looking out for when trying to find the best cosmetic dentist.
To help you in your search, here is a quick guide on the top things that you should be aware of when making your choice.
1. Are They Accredited by the AACD?
Photos aren't the only way to judge someone's skill. You should also look at their credentials. Find out if the cosmetic dentist that you're looking at is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
The road to getting accredited by this program is a long one. They have to pass a detailed written exam, get reviewed by a panel of experienced cosmetic dentists, attend seminars, and pass an oral exam.
The entire process takes around 5 years. If a dentist has gone through all of this, it's safe to say that they're good.
2. Ask Your Dentist
One of the best ways to find a good cosmetic dentist is to get a referral. You can ask a friend who has had the same sort of procedure that you want or you could ask your dentist.
Your dentist may be able to perform the procedure if it's something that isn't too complicated. If they can't do it then they will be knowledgeable enough to recommend someone who can.
3. Contact Your Local Dental School
If you want to get work done but don't have a lot of money to do it then you can contact your local dentist school. You will have the procedure done by students who are being supervised by professionals.
While you may be a bit antsy about doing this, you can get the work done for a way cheaper price than you would if you went to a private practice.
4. Meet With More than One Dentist
You'll have to pick a cosmetic dentist at some point but that doesn't mean that you can't speak with multiple dentists. This being said, you want to schedule a consultation at more than one practice.
Going through with that won't lock you into a dentist and you'll be able to compare their approaches and prices. You can tell within one meeting if someone is trying to sell you a service or if they actually care about your needs.
While you're there also access the office space. Is it clean, does the equipment look updated, do the nurses seem nice? These are things that you should be worried about when making your choice.
5. Quality of Materials and Dentist
Cosmetic procedures can be expensive so you may be tempted to go with the cheapest option available to you. The problem is that this price is usually a reflection of the dentist and the equipment that they use.
An experienced cosmetic dentist will fill their office with the best, top of the line equipment and this causes a price jump. Still, even a professional dentist may cut corners.
Whatever you do, when you're calling around to talk to dentists ask them about the quality of the equipment that they use.
6. Commitment to Continued Education
A passionate dentist will never stop in their progress for knowledge. Every year new equipment comes out and they will be sure that they know all about it. You need to ask them about their past education like where they went to school this is true but you also want to ask them about their present education.
How many hours of training do they do every week? What kind of classes are they taking right now if any? A good practice will also go out of their way to supply their staff with continued education so talk to them about that as well.
7. Pretty and Functional
You want your smile to be pretty but what use is it being pretty if it's not functional? You want to be able to bite down without feeling pain. If your teeth aren't aligned correctly not only will biting hurt but you'll suffer from massive headaches as well.
This is why you should ask any cosmetic dentist what sort of occlusion training that they've been through. If the answer is a lot and they can give you examples then you should be fine.
Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist for You
If your smile isn't where you want it to be right now then you should consider seeing a cosmetic dentist to fix it up for you. All dentists aren't built the same though so you're going to want to be careful with what practice you choose.
Keep this guide in mind during your search so you can find the best cosmetic dentist for you. Get the smile you deserve with no regrets.
Are you ready to set up your dentist appointment? Contact us to schedule an appointment or ask any questions involving our services.