How to Find A Cosmetic Dentist in Gilbert and Mesa

If you read the previous blog entry: “What Is a Cosmetic Dentist”, you’ve realized how hard it can be to find a true cosmetic dentist in Gilbert, or even a Mesa cosmetic dentist for that matter. Of course, the reason is because every dentist calls himself a cosmetic dentist these days no matter how much training they’ve had or how many cases they have actually completed.

So I’ve been thinking about how I would recommend finding a cosmetic dentist to someone moving to a new city. My parents are moving out of state in a few weeks so this is the same advice I would give them.

Get online. Look at their website. You can learn a lot about a dentist by their website. I’ve noticed a correlation in the beauty of a website and the quality and beauty of the work the dentist does. It sounds like an overgeneralization, and it probably is. But the same mindset that pushes a dentist to do beautiful cosmetic work is the same that would cause him to have a beautiful website. Not all beautiful websites represent true cosmetic dentists, but every serious cosmetic dentist will have a beautiful website.
Ask to see pictures of their work. Every top-notch cosmetic dentist will have pictures available of their own work and of the lives they have transformed. And they can show them to you within 30 seconds of asking. If they have to fish around for their “best” case, or they show you a book of cases done by other dentists, you may want to look elsewhere.
The office. Don’t put too much emphasis on the “luxurious” office. I’ve seen some questionable work coming consistently out of some of the most beautiful offices in town. That being said, a cosmetic dentist will have an office that is well-kept with nice décor. Extra amenities like beverages are common as well.
The doctor. Any dentist who will be in charge of transforming your smile should be able to take the time to listen to you. If a dentist can’t take as much time as is necessary to talk about your concerns and expectations, you don’t want him doing your cosmetic work. It’s a road that leads to frustration and anger for the patient.
The staff. Everyone from the staff to the doctor should be friendly, helpful, and available to answer all of your questions. Plus, you should like them and get along. There are some fabulous cosmetic dentists who aren’t easy to get along with. But you want someone who will do great work and who you can enjoy talking to. It makes the whole process much more enjoyable.
Credentials. Find out what organizations and study clubs they belong to. There are some important organizations that indicate someone who is dedicated to cosmetic dentistry. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is a big one. Others include: The Crown Council, Phoenix Esthetic Study Club, and the Arizona Excellence in Dentistry Study Club.

So if you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in Mesa or Gilbert, these are some of the steps I would take. It is not an easy task to find one. And the truth is, that any dentist can improve your smile. But just improving your smile isn’t enough. It needs to sparkle and it needs to look natural. And that is the difference that comes with someone committed to the highest level of cosmetic dentistry. True cosmetic dentists are out there. They may be hard to find but if you keep in mind some of the above discriminators, you can avoid any major mistakes and end up with the smile you have always wanted.

Kris Heap DDS

My next blog will be about "How to Judge A Dentist by His Website "

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