subject: The Importance of Finding the Right Cosmetic Dentist [print this page] The Importance of Finding the Right Cosmetic Dentist
There is a world of difference between a general dentist or even a specialist and a cosmetic dentist. The former are mainly concerned with treating or preventing oral disease and other dental problems. The latter offers what is called elective treatment and services for people who want to improve how their teeth, mouth or smile look. You could say it is similar to the difference between a plastic surgeon who works to restore damage to physical appearance and a cosmetic surgeon whose focus is improving the aesthetics of the body and face.
Call it vanity, but the truth is, a person's satisfaction or lack of it in his or her looks can actually affect confidence and self-esteem but mental health too. To such people, the costs of cosmetic dentistry, while admittedly high, are worth it.
No official recognition
Now, here's the crux. Technically speaking, there is no such practitioner as a cosmetic dentist. This is because cosmetic dentistry is not recognized as a formal specialty by the American Dental Association or ADA. This means that any dentist can legally claim to be engaged in cosmetic dentistry. And this explains why there are literally thousands upon thousands of dentists and dental clinics offering cosmetic dentistry services in the US alone.
So, if there is officially no such thing as a cosmetic dentist, anyone wanting a better-looking smile ought to ignore the labels and just see any old dentist, right?
Wrong.
There is the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), founded in 1984, the largest organization in the world of dental professionals who specialize in cosmetic dentistry. A dentist needs several years more of study and proven competence to be accredited by the AACD. The thing is, the AACD has only over 7,000 members in the US and worldwide. This isn't even a drop in the bucket of the more than 155,000 dentists in the US alone.
The same goes for the even older American Society for Dental Aesthetics, which provides continuing education on cosmetic and restorative dentistry. Its members are nominated and then recommended and have been in practice for at least five years or taken up two years of postgraduate training, among other requirements.
So there do exist "real" specialists in cosmetic dentistry, even if you'll never see a parchment saying so hanging on their wall.
Choosing the right cosmetic dentist
With so many dentists offering cosmetic dentistry services, the importance of choosing the right cosmetic dentist cannot be overstated enough. Many established practitioners report that up to half of the procedures they perform are to correct the mistakes of others.
The best way is to visit the AACD website for a referral to an accredited dentist or clinic near you. Other good referrals may come from your regular dentist or relatives and friends who have had satisfactory cosmetic dentistry.
Even when you think you have found the right dentist, don't stop there. Ask about experience and the extent of the practice. Inquire about the technologies available, the treatments for dental anxiety, emergency provisions and aftercare costs. And since dental cosmetic procedures are expensive, inquire about costs and possible financing.
Come to think of it, a good cosmetic dentist may not even wait for you to ask these questions but will walk you through everything you need to know, including not just what can or cannot be done but, more importantly, what is necessary or not for you.
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