When it comes to choosing the right cosmetic dentist, it is important that you leave nothing to chance. Cosmetic dentistry procedures require a great degree of precision and quality to improve the appearance and function of your teeth; poorly executed repairs may be worse than no repair at all. Whether you are dealing with tooth …
When it comes to choosing the right cosmetic dentist, it is important that you leave nothing to chance. Cosmetic dentistry procedures require a great degree of precision and quality to improve the appearance and function of your teeth; poorly executed repairs may be worse than no repair at all. Whether you are dealing with tooth decay, cracked teeth, crooked teeth or missing teeth you will want a dentist with the skill to fix them right the first time.
Ten Questions To Help You Find The Best Cosmetic Dentistry Practice
To make sure you find a dentist who is capable of administering the treatment that you need and will do it with the least inconvenience and expense, it’s important to search around and find multiple options. Consulting with a few cosmetic dentists will give you a range of possible choices, ensuring that you can make an informed decision. Ask these ten questions of every cosmetic dentist you consult to ensure that you have all the relevant information that you need.
Do You Accept My Insurance?
This most basic question may also save you the most money. Insurance participation opens up more possibilities by making more procedures affordable.
If you find the perfect cosmetic dentist and they do not work with your insurance, you may still want to work with them depending on your budget, as properly executed cosmetic repairs may be worth the price of not having your procedures covered.
Do You Have a Location Convenient to Me Where the Procedures Can Be Done?
Some dentists work at different practices on different days of the week, and even have different equipment at different offices. Make sure the treatment you want can be done at the location you prefer. If the dentist can do dental veneers but are only equipped to do them at their other office two hours away you may be better off at a different practice.
What Are The Most Effective Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures For My Condition?
Some conditions that impact the appearance of your teeth may have multiple possible cosmetic dentistry procedures to correct them. For example, crooked teeth can be resolved with orthodontics, but if they are too crooked you may be better off getting bridges or crowns. Talk with multiple dentists to see if you can find agreement on the best course of action for your specific needs.
Will My Insurance Cover The Most Effective Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures for My Condition?
Your insurance may only cover one or two of several options to resolve your cosmetic dentistry issue. Unfortunately, the most effective procedures may not be among those that your insurance will cover. The cosmetic dentistry practice’s payment structure may become very relevant to you if you find that your insurance won’t cover the choice that best meets your cosmetic goals.
How Long Have You And Your Staff Been Doing These Procedures?
Different dentists have different specialties and some may be more experienced and qualified for a certain repair than others. Finding out the practice’s history with your specific situation will help you gauge what your expectations should be. Having the staff be as familiar with the treatment as the dentist will be helpful as well, as a knowledgeable assistant can offer solutions that the doctor may not have considered.
How Has Your Method Of Performing These Procedures Evolved over the Years?
Every year dentistry advances in many areas, from materials to tools to best practices. Sometimes a common cosmetic dentistry procedure is rendered totally obsolete by new procedures that do the same job in a faster, easier or more effective way.
If the dentist can give an example of ways that your procedures were done years ago versus how they would be done now, you can get a good idea of whether the dentist is keeping up with new advances and striving to stay abreast of the best in dental technology. Especially if you are making a major investment in something like dental implants, you will want the best that modern technology has to offer.
Can I See Your Practice’s Customer Testimonials About the Outcome of This Procedure?
You will probably be able to find customer reviews online in order to check on other patients’ outcomes, but you can learn a lot about a practice’s business model by finding out how forthcoming they are about their customer satisfaction. Cosmetic dentistry relies heavily on good aesthetic outcomes, so if they act like they have something to hide they probably are a bad choice.
What Can Go Wrong With This Procedure, And What Do You Do to Prevent It?
This question may seem pessimistic but it is actually very important in order to discern who is the best cosmetic dentist for you. If they can list a few possible problems that can occur with your procedure, and tell you how they actively work to prevent it, you may find that instead of worrying about possibilities you feel empowered by your new knowledge. From discolored teeth to tooth decay, there are hazards involved in treating every dental problem, no matter how common. A good dentist should know ways to avoid the most prevalent potential issues.
How Does Your Practice Differ From Other Cosmetic Dentists?
A cosmetic dentist should have a fair idea of their local competition and be able to give you some inkling of how other cosmetic dentists differ from them. Perhaps they may tell you that a competitor uses a less prestigious dental lab to make their crowns and implants, or that they make use of outdated materials that are now known to have long term side effects.
They may also make slanderous accusations that are easily falsified by reading reviews online. In the latter case they will have let you know that this cosmetic dentistry practice is less than scrupulous and should be avoided.
If I Have Trouble After My Dental Procedure, Will You Be Able to Help Me Resolve It?
Follow up care after any major dental procedure is very important, so make sure your dentist includes at least one visit after the procedure to make sure that everything is functioning properly. If you find that your new dental appliance is wearing on your other teeth, attracting food, or just uncomfortable, your dentist should be happy to make whatever adjustments are necessary. Cosmetic dentistry is a major investment and should be expected to last a lifetime, so if something goes wrong you need recourse.
Choose the Right Cosmetic Dentist For Your Restorative Dental Procedures
As you are choosing a dentist bear in mind that many dentists are leery of repairing another dentist’s work, so if you find yourself having chosen a bad dentist you may struggle to find someone who can fix it. Good teeth are vital to health, beauty and enjoyment, so set yourself up for success by selecting the very best cosmetic dentist for the job.
Whether you need porcelain veneers, dental implants or just teeth whitening, a poorly executed result is worse than no treatment at all, so make sure you have all the information to choose your cosmetic dentist wisely.
