Excellent Cosmetic Dentistry: or how do you find a great cosmetic dentist?

Cosmetic services are highly personal. Cosmetic dentistry can not only improve smiles, but also improve personal confidence and even careers. It can make a smile beautiful, healthy, and strong. It can also be a disaster. Bonding and cosmetic techniques are very creative and technically demanding. Done well, they are fabulous. Poor technique and quality can lead to premature failure of the restoration and disease to the surrounding supportive gums and bone. There is an old saying. You can usually get cheap, fast or good; but one at a time. Fast and cheap often have briefly hidden long term costs.

How Do I Find a Great or Excellent Cosmetic Dentist?

Check out websites. Look for dentists that show their own work and not just stock photos from some marketing group. Look also for customized sites that have some measure of artistry that appeal to you. The website’s aesthetic is an indication of the dentists artistic sense. Is it a custom look or just “off the shelf?” That may tell you about how the dentist picks a lab to make your teeth.

Excellence in technical laboratory work is paramount to excellent cosmetic dentistry. Ask about the dentist’s lab support. Is it a big commercial lab or small and custom or in office? Ask to see examples of cases. Does the style and look match what you want? There may even be a link on their website.

Look for patient testimonials on the dentist’s site. We all love to read those. Get testimonials or talk to patients. Fine dentists have extremely pleased patients that would be glad to talk to you. Call the office you are interested in and ask.

Try calling your local gum specialists and ask them. Gum specialists (periodontists) like excellent dentistry because it makes for healthy gums. They hate bad dentistry. Things like “Lumineers” make a lot of us just cringe.

When you meet the dentist, is he/she interested in helping you get what YOU want or just selling you a bunch of dentistry? Fine dentists try to give patients enough clear information so the patient is empowered to make their own best choice. Well informed patients are also usually the happiest.

Credentials and organizations are helpful but not a guarantee of excellence. Advanced degrees and continuing education speak of training background and commitment. Belonging to organizations is important for a dentist engaged in his/her profession. Unfortunately, some organizations can be more about marketing than real quality care. I recommend that you look for good qualifications without having them thrown in your face as the means to impress you.

Use your own common sense and gut feeling. Treatment should fit your desires and into your lifestyle. You should be very comfortable with the dentist caring for you. A little homework will help you get what you have been hoping for. There are few things more beautiful than a light fresh healthy and happy smile.

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Donaldson & Guenther provides excellent cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry and more. Our focus is always on fulfilling our patients' individual needs, preferences and priorities. We are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

We are experts at merging the science and fine art of today's dentistry. But don't take our word for it. Look at the smiles of our patients.