4 Essentials to Choosing a Cosmetic Dentist

You’ve always put in the work to keep your smile healthy. You don’t have gum disease or cavities, but you’re still not happy with how your teeth look. You won’t entrust your smile to just anyone—you want a cosmetic dentist who knows the ropes!

Did you know that the American Dental Association does not recognize cosmetic dentistry as a specialty? This means you can speak with any general dentist, and they can call themselves a cosmetic dentist, even if they have no credentials in that field. But there are ways you can determine whether they are the right provider to work with. To find an experienced, trustworthy cosmetic dentist, keep the following in mind.

Post-Graduate Training and Associations

In order to practice, dentists must be continuing their education every year after completing their initial schooling for their dental degree. See if they have been trained to perform specific cosmetic treatments, especially ones you were already considering. If they are a part of an association or organization that focuses on cosmetic dentistry, such as the SPEAR study club, this can help give you confidence in their expertise.

Before and After Cases

Any cosmetic dentist with experience should be willing to show off examples of their previous cosmetic work. Just as a writer or artist has written and drawn pieces in their portfolio, a dentist has photos of previous smiles they’ve transformed. All you have to do is ask!

Scheduling and Location

Whether you only need one or two treatments completed or a complete smile makeover to address imperfections in your smile, knowing the office’s location and operating hours is important. If your schedule doesn’t match or their office is far away, it will likely take longer to accomplish your smile goals.

Comfort and Relationship

Pay attention to how you feel in their office. If your dentist makes you feel uncomfortable during your initial appointment, then you will likely continue to have an experience that is less than stellar while you’re being treated. You need to work with someone you can trust, someone who cares about listening to you and helping you have confidence in your smile.

Furthermore, you should always ask about the specific treatments they offer. For example, if they have both porcelain veneers and Invisalign available, it’s important to know that because then you’ll have multiple treatments to choose from.

In the end, when you consider these things and look for the right candidate, you can better determine which provider to trust with perfecting your smile. As a result, you can feel confident that the final result will be as beautiful as you imagine.

About the Practice

At Oceanside Family Dental, we are privileged to have two highly dentists on staff. Each comes from a unique background in the field, but they have training in cosmetic dentistry. In addition to standard cosmetic services like dental bonding, teeth whitening, and porcelain veneers, we offer other more specialized services like Invisalign, gum contouring, and more. If you would like to discuss your cosmetic options, you can contact Oceanside Family Dentistry through our website or by calling the office.