Your smile is one of the first things people notice about you. If you’re looking to make some improvements to your smile, wouldn’t you want someone working on you who is the best, with all the right skills, experience and expertise? Choosing a cosmetic dentist is a vital part of maintaining your smile, and you should take care when you’re searching for the right person. More and more dental offices are offering cosmetic dentistry services, and not all dentists share the same qualifications. You’ll want the best dentist for your cosmetic dental work.
One of the best ways to find a skilled cosmetic dentist is through referrals from friends, family or coworkers. Getting a poor recommendation can be just as important as the good ones, because it tells you which doctors to avoid.
Find out what kind of experience a dentist has by looking into his or her accreditation. A truly skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist will be an accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Any dentist may become a member of the AACD, but accreditation is only offered to those dentists who complete specialized training in the cosmetic dentistry and who pass a difficult examination.
Keep these things in mind when you’re looking for a cosmetic dentist:
- Look for a dentist who promotes cosmetic dentistry as a large part of his or her practice.
- Ask to see before and after photos that are of actual patients the dentist has performed the procedures on that you are considering.
- Ask how long the dentist has been practicing and if he or she has an AACD accreditation.
- Look into the dental technology used in the office. Is it up-to-date? Will it benefit you and your procedure? Are computer imaging models available to help you visualize your individual results?
- What continuing education has the dentist obtained?
- What is offered to help patients in the form of sedation dentistry?
- What does the dental office plan to do in case of any emergency during your procedure?
Get the answers to the questions you have about each cosmetic dentist candidate to ensure that you are making the right decision for your smile goals.
