When it comes to choosing the right kind of dentist for improving your smile it’s really important to make sure that you not only do some research but that you are completely happy with the choice. After all, for some kinds of treatments such as missing teeth or advanced gum disease you may need more than one visit, so good rapport is everything to a successful outcome and pleasant experience.
When you make the decision to have work done on your teeth to improve the aesthetics it’s a great step towards having the smile you have perhaps always craved for and with many people feeling that an attractive smile makes an individual more appealing to people generally, a step towards a great future.
With this in mind, it’s important to note that there are a host of dentists that will claim they can perform advanced aesthetic dentistry (also known as cosmetic dentistry) but like all things you must discern who is being genuine and who has the skills and experience to back up any claims.
So what follows is a list of tips to help you make the right choice…
Is advanced dentistry their main focus?
This may seem like an obvious question, but remember, it’s very easy to make claims that you’re good at something. What you need to be sure of is that the dentist you choose specialises in the field. The more cases that the dentist has successfully completed means there is a stronger likelihood that you will get consistent and professional results.
Before and After photos.
This is a very important tip to note. A dentist with considerable experience will have a massive portfolio of cases to show you. This is the classic ‘before’ and ‘after’ photos, as seen on our website. These kinds of photos can help you evaluate performance levels and of course skills.
Level of Post-Graduate Dental Education
Aesthetic dentistry is a specialism and takes many years to master, so you should make sure that any dentist you choose for work on your teeth has great qualifications and who even teaches his or her skills to others. This shows that the dentist is a leader within the specialism.
Testimonials
This is a great way to check the credentials of a dentist. However, be aware that some people who have had extensive treatment may not provide one because they do not want their peers to know they’ve had work done.
Technology and techniques
Make sure the dentist you choose has the latest technology and techniques to carry out work. A dentist that specialises in the field will have much more advanced treatment options and rooms. You can and should ask about these at an initial consultation.
Do you feel relaxed with the dentist?
This is a really important aspect of treatment. You must feel relaxed and feel able to ask questions. Any good dentist will be happy to answer the questions you have and will also be able to put your mind at ease if you have any worries.
Ask about the treatment options
The multitude of treatments available within specialist dentistry should be diverse but also be designed to give you lots of options in agreeing treatments.
Again, this all comes back to experience and time spent within the profession. A dentist with lots of experience and advanced skills will know a considerable amount about the different treatments and therefore, how they should be done for the best results.
The most important thing to remember is that you are not obliged to get treatment if you feel unsure of anything. If you are worried or don’t feel the dentist you’ve chosen is being as up front as they should be, simply look elsewhere.
It’s also really important to be wary of dental services that focus solely on the aesthetics. Good dentistry is about maintaining great oral health for results that will last in the long-term and therefore, that won’t need rectifying at a later date.
