Cosmetic Smile Gallery

    Cosmetic


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How To Choose a Cosmetic Dentist

"There is no legal definition of a cosmetic dentist, and too many dentists, seeing the promise of huge profits, are venturing into the field without a single seminar on the subject,' warns Michael Apa, DDS, a cosmetic dentist in New York City. Both the American Dental Association (ada.org) and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentists (aacd.org) have stringent credentials programs and provide lists of local doctors on their Web sites. 'You're looking for a dentist that does cosmetic work on a regular basis, not someone who does veneers or bonding occasionally,' Zase says. Here are the key things to consider.

Ask to see before and after photographs of dentist's patients to make sure you like the results. Specifically ask whether the doctor took the photos and didn't just download them from the internet. 'If all the photos are similar 8-by-10 glossies, they may have been purchased,' Galob-Eyans warns.

Ask which lab the doctor uses for creating crowns and veneers, and ask to see several samples. 'The dentist can create the final product on his own,' Apa notes. 'Its also his ceramicist, the one who makes the restorations, who makes a difference.

Inquire whether or not the dentist has performed cosmetic restoration on anyone in the office staff, so you can see the results. Or ask if any patients who had procedures similar to the ones you're considering would be willing to talk with you.

When you go to your consultation, bring photos of smiles you like and smiles you don't like. Ask the dentist for his or her opinion, it's all about collaboration. 'Everyone had different tastes and culture biases,' Golub-Eyans notes. 'In cosmetic dentistry, success for the patient is as much style as it is fit and comfort.'