A cosmetic dentist is not just your usual dentist who cleans your teeth and checks them for cavities. Dont get me wrong. They perform the same procedures and any dentist can become a cosmetic dentist but they need the additional training and the experience before they can really establish their careers. In fact, there are what we call orthodontists who specialized in reconstructive works on the teeth but cosmetic dentists are different because they are more focused on making your teeth beautifully aligned. These dentists are experts in fixing your teeth and giving you a great smile.
So what exactly do we look for in a cosmetic dentist? Here are some pieces of advice that will hopefully help you in your search.
License to put a smile
One of the most important thing that you need to consider when looking for a dentist is to check their license. Make sure that they have the license to do all these procedures. This is important because without the license, a dentist is a bogus practitioner. This means they are either not trained well enough or were stripped off their license. Check this first before deciding to have your procedure.
Training and Education
Although most cosmetic dentists have the same training and education as other dentists, they have more in terms of cosmetic dental procedure and reconstructive techniques. Besides the knowledge of how to take out a tooth or how to put in a brace, dentists also need to know why they are doing such procedures. Dentists who are trained in cosmetic dentistry know how to align the teeth and what to do to make it happen at the fastest possible time. These dentists have probably trained under skilled professionals in the same field.
Experience
This is another important factor in choosing your cosmetic dentist. Before signing up for a procedure, check his or her credentials. How many years has the dentist been doing cosmetic dental procedures? What kind of reconstructive work has he done through the years? Are they good? Usually they have pictures of past works that they have done. Check these pictures out. You can also ask around and see if they have served their previous patients well. There are also some who dentists who specializes on certain areas. It will be worth looking into this too especially if your case is unique and complicated.
Price
Of course, this should be a primary consideration. Cosmetic dentistry can be very expensive especially if the dentist will be doing a lot of different procedures on your teeth. Make sure that you have the budget before you sign up for anything. Scrimping is not recommended because cosmetic dentistry can become dangerous when in the hands of dentists who do not have the necessary training and experience. Remember that they will have free reign in your teeth. They can extract a tooth just because they feel that it will block the movement of the other teeth. If you scrimp, you might end up losing your teeth.
