I’m wanting a smile makeover. My preference is porcelain veneers. However, I’ve noticed a big diversity of results. I want a smile that makes people say, “Wow!” But in the good way, not the bad way. How do I get that one? I have a feeling the dentist is the key, but don’t know what separates the wheat from the chaff in this case. Any advice?
Olivia
Dear Olivia,
A gorgeous smile requires a great cosmetic dentist
You have good instincts. Too many people ask about what brand of porcelain veneers they should get, not realizing the dentist you choose matters so much more. Two different cosmetic dentists can do the exact same smile makeover on the same patient and achieve vastly different results.
Think of it like a commissioned painting. You can commission two artists to do the same piece and one will almost decidedly be better than another. They can know the same techniques but have two different levels of artistry.
The same is true of cosmetic dentists. Most patients don’t realize it’s not a recognized specialty. Smile makeovers are not taught in dental school. Dentists interested in doing cosmetic work have to make an investment of time and money to get a post-doctoral education in the skills necessary. To get a smile that wows, you’ll want one who’s not only invested in that education but who has an artistic eye as well.
Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist
You’d have to do a lot of research to find the dentists who can actually give you the smile of your dreams. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) realized the quandary patients were in and began an accreditation program in order to help.
Dentists who want to be accredited have to pass both oral and written exams and present many cases they’ve performed on patients to demonstrate their artistry. It takes many years to reach accreditation. The benefit for dentists is patients can have confidence they need to know they’ll get a stunning smile. In fact, most AACD accredited dentists have a beautiful smile guarantee.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.