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Finding the Best Cosmetic Dentist

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I’m hoping to start work on a cosmetic smile makeover soon. I’ve been doing a lot of research. I want to do my front six teeth. I have a medium (closer to fair) type of skin tone with auburn hair. Can you tell me what type of color would look best on me. I want to know what to tell the dentist when I go. I did find a good dentist. He is listed in the top two cosmetic dentists in my area on Yelp. The other one isn’t taking any new patient appointments for six months and I want to get started on this faster than that.

Joyce


Dear Joyce,

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I can tell you have invested time in this. That is great. I just want to shift your focus just a bit. What you want to do is find the best cosmetic dentist possible and then tell him the type of smile you are looking for. He or she will know the best coloring, shape, and size to make that dream smile come true.

I can also tell that you tried to do that by checking Yelp!. While that is a great resource to get recommendations for something like a plumber, it doesn’t do as well when it comes to something like a cosmetic dentist. Here is why. As an example, I did a search for “Best Cosmetic Dentist” in a mid-sized city. Of the top three, only one of them even listed any cosmetic procedures on their website. Next, I did some digging into the dentist who did list cosmetic procedures on his website. He had no post-doctoral training that I could see. There wasn’t a smile gallery on his site, which told me he wasn’t very serious about cosmetic work. It also meant there was not way to evaluate the artistry of his work.

How to Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist

Because cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty, any general dentist can all themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the lack of skill and artistry they have. That makes it rather difficult for patients to figure out who to go to in order to get a beautiful smile. As a result there are a ton of cosmetic dentistry horror stories. So, how is a patient to find a skilled and artistic cosmetic dentist?

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) recognized the problem patients faced. Because of that they started an accreditation program. In order for dentists to get accredited, they have to pass demanding technical exams. However, the AACD goes even further than that. Accreditation candidates also have to demonstrate their artistry by giving visual evidence of a large number of cases they have done. These are looked at by an examination board and have to pass demanding standards of technical proficiency along with real beauty.

If I were investing in a smile makeover I would look for an AACD accredited dentist. The are the best cosmetic dentists in the world.

One other thing. You mentioned doing six teeth. That is fine, but be aware that unless you have a very narrow smile, you will have non-veneered teeth showing when you smile. Most smiles are eight to ten teeth wide. If you can’t get porcelain veneers done on that many teeth than I suggest you have your teeth whitened first to the color you want, then match the porcelain veneers so you have a uniform smile.

This blog is brought to you by Franklin, TN Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Christopher Weber.

 

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