Creating Your List
Before selecting a cosmetic dentist, plan on first consulting with two to three. To start, you’ll want to develop a short list of dentists. Here are some ways you may create a list:
1. Get recommendations from your family dentist
2. Get recommendations from friends, colleagues and co-workers who have had cosmetic work done
3. Search the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry member list: http://www.aacd.com With more than 5000 members, this is the largest and most reputable cosmetic dental association.
4. Search the web. Cosmetic dentists are increasingly offering informative websites with much more information than you’ll find in a yellow pages ad.
If you’ve come up with more than three dentists, you’ll want to narrow it down based on the level of education and accreditation of the dentist and the strength of their referrals.
Consultations
Cosmetic dentists typically offer free consultations for prospective patients. This is your chance to interview the dentist and ask any questions you may have such as:
1. What is the recommended procedure and what are the results that you can expect?
2. What is anticipated recovery time?
3. Are there any possible complications and are there things that the dentist will not be able to improve upon?
4. What before and after pictures are available? You’ll want to make sure the pictures are of work that he himself has performed and that they are of procedures similar to what you plan to have done.
5. How much will it cost and when will the payment be due?
6. Are former patients available as references?
Your rapport with the dentist is important and you should feel comfortable asking the dentist questions and should be confident that the dentist has answered them thoroughly.
The Decision
After 2-3 consultations, you should have had the opportunity to ask many questions and should thoroughly understand the recommended procedure. At this point, you may be leaning heavily toward a dentist. If not, and you are left with several good options, let the dentist’s experience and education be the tie breaker for you. These are the most difficult to achieve and most likely factors to predict the best outcome for you. Good luck!
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