Finding a good cosmetic dentist is not as easy you’d think. Much of the difficulty comes from the fact (surprising to many!) that there is no official certifying body for cosmetic dentists. Any dentist that provides teeth whitening or porcelain crowns and veneers can call themselves a cosmetic dentist.
So if you’re looking for a highly qualified cosmetic dentist in your area that can provide you with the perfect smile and set of teeth you desire, where do you start? How do you find the best cosmetic dentist for you?
Here’s a simple process we recommend…
1. Start by asking friends, family and colleagues if they’ve used a cosmetic dentist. See what recommendations you can get from them.
Also, search the internet using sites like this one. Use our easy to use cosmetic dentist search tool to find dentists in your area.
If you are looking for a specific procedure/treatment like dental implants, narrow your search to practices that specialize in dental implants. Do a Google search for “dental implants + {your city name}” and look at the websites that show up.
2. As you review cosmetic dentist listings on sites like this and visit the websites of cosmetic dentists in your area, here are some of the things to look at…
- Do they perform cases similar to the type of treatment you are looking for? If you want dental implants and the dentist doesn’t list that as a service on their website, move on. On the other hand, if their site shows they specialize in dental implants, they’re a good candidate to go on your short list of dentists to contact.
- Look at their bio and look at their training and credentials. Does it appear they stay up to date on the latest technology and procedures by taking advanced courses and continuing education? It’s a big commitment of time and money to take advanced courses so the dentists who do demonstrate a true commitment to providing the best care for their patients.
Memberships to industry organizations like the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry) and ACE (Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics) are nice to see too. These organizations are great, however, simply paying dues to belong to one is not much of an accomplishment so should not be the sole way of judging a cosmetic dentist’s credibility.
- Look at before and after pictures on the site, particularly ones for the procedure(s) you are interested in. Look for dentists who use real photos of actual patients on their sites and not stock photos they bought online. You want to see examples of their actual work.
- Read their reviews and testimonials. Many cosmetic dentists will have testimonials for clients on their site. And there’s also no shortage of review sites on the internet. Read what other people are saying about the dentist and how they describe their results and experience.
3. Just because a dentist has a good looking website, it doesn’t mean they are a good fit for your needs. So pick 2-4 dentists who you think would be a good option for you and call their office and book a consultation.
When you go for your consultation, pay attention to the office and how you feel when you are there. How does the staff greet you? Do the people there seem happy? Are you seen at your scheduled appointment time?
And during your consultation, here are some questions to ask…
- What percentage of your practice is devoted to cosmetic dentistry?
- How many years have you been practicing?
- What training do you have in cosmetic dentistry?
- Can you show me examples of your work and let me speak to some of your patients?
- What treatment options do you recommend for me?
- Will insurance cover this treatment/procedure?
- If not, what financing options do you have available?
If you take the time to go through a process like this, by the end you should be able to find a cosmetic dentist who is experienced, does great work, listens to you and you feel comfortable with.