Did you know that 69 percent of adults between the ages of 35 and 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth in the United States of America? Getting a cosmetic dental procedure offers a ton of benefits for the appearance as well as the health of your teeth and mouth. It’s easy for a cosmetic dentist to make your teeth whiter and replace any missing teeth for a radiant smile.
The most difficult part of this process is learning how to select cosmetic dental clinics to visit for your dental needs. You have a number of avenues that you can take if you want to explore your options for dental clinics that handle cosmetic work.
The good news is that you’ve found the right place to learn more about the most effective tips for finding the best cosmetic dentist in your area. Keep reading this article to learn more today!
Use Referrals
If someone that you know has recently gotten some cosmetic dental work performed then it’s a great idea to ask them where they went. Friends and family members are likely to point you in the right direction to find a clinic that does great work and that treats its patients with kindness.
You’ll also get a first-hand glimpse into the experiences that your peers, friends, and family members had while going to this dentist. It’s a quick and easy way to get a clearer picture of what to expect from your options for dental clinics.
Ask Your Regular Dentist
Odds are that your regular dentist has cosmetic dentists in their network that they can reach out to on your behalf. Checking with your regular dentist is a great way to get pointed in the right direction for whatever cosmetic treatment you’re looking to get.
Even if you trust your dentist’s opinion, it’s still a good idea to do your own research when exploring your options for dental clinics. Make sure that you read online reviews about the cosmetic dentist before choosing one.
Check Their Credentials
Any dishonest dentist can try to sell you on them having certification as a cosmetic dentist, but it’s always best to ask to see their credentials and certifications before agreeing to get your teeth worked on by them. It’s a good idea to make sure that your cosmetic dentist belongs to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Affiliation with a prestigious group of cosmetic dentists doesn’t guarantee that the dentist does the best work. You’ll need to start reading online reviews to get a better feel for that aspect. Still, credentials show that the dentist is serious about learning and growing their career.
Check Their Office Hours
It’s also important, though often overlooked, for you to check the office hours of the cosmetic dentist. You don’t want to get invested in a cosmetic dentist near you that isn’t open when you need them to be. It’s especially important that the cosmetic dentist can work with your work schedule.
Taking a look at the office hours and the distance from your home and your work will give you a better idea of whether or not the cosmetic dentist is a good fit. The better fit with the schedule means that it’s much easier for you to get the treatments that you need. It also makes the process of booking an appointment much easier.
You should also keep in mind that most dentists’ offices have strange office hours compared to other professions. The dentist could have half-days throughout the week, making it more difficult to schedule appointments.
Consider Their Payment Plans
Getting dental work done is not cheap, so you owe it to yourself to take a look at your different options when it comes to payment plans. Once you start narrowing down your options, it’s good to look into the payment plans to ensure that they’re affordable for your financial situation.
The fact of the matter is that most times that you’re visiting a cosmetic dental clinic you’re looking to get elective procedures. These procedures are treatments that the insurance company doesn’t see as necessary for your health.
Still, getting your teeth straightened or whitened has a big impact on your self-image and mental health. Make sure you ask the dentist if they accept credit cards. Combining that with a payment plan will make your treatments much more affordable. It will make your dental treatment cost much more affordable.
Visit the Office
Another great way to get a better feel for your best options when you select cosmetic dental clinics is to visit the offices that you’re looking at. Each office has an atmosphere, and you need to find one that fits you as a person. You won’t have a positive experience if you don’t enjoy the overall atmosphere of the office.
Start by setting up a consultation appointment with the cosmetic Dentist Near Me. When you go in for your consultation appointment you’ll get your first glimpse at the atmosphere of the office.
If you find that the office’s atmosphere isn’t a good fit for you and you have other options for dental clinics then it’s a good idea to get consultations with other offices. It’s one of the most effective ways to find the best options for the dental treatments that you want.
Ask About Their Technology
Dental technology moves at a dizzying pace. When you start looking for an office to perform a cosmetic dental procedure you need to ask them about the technology that they have at their disposal. The best technology will ensure that you’ll have a comfortable and successful cosmetic dental procedure.
They should have an X-ray machine, monitors next to the dental chair, as well as lasers and other forms of technology. If you get nervous about trips to the dentist then it’s also smart to ask about the sedative options that they offer.
Find Out How Focused They Are on Cosmetic Dentistry
Some dentists offer services that include cosmetic procedures as well as more mainstream dental procedures. A dentist that is more focused on cosmetic dentistry will have an easier time helping you with the cosmetic dental procedure that you want. It also shows that they’re invested in continuing their education and learning more about the newest procedures and technologies.
When you go for your consultation with this doctor, it’s a great idea to ask them how much of their practice is focused on the cosmetic side of things. You can get peace of mind from knowing that your dentist handles a ton of cosmetic procedures. They’ll have more experience and you’ll get better results working with these dentists.
Check Out Their Portfolio
You need to look at the portfolio that the cosmetic dentist has from previous patients to get a better feel for whether or not they can help you. Before and After pictures are a great way to see what the teeth looked like prior to the procedures and how they looked after your options for dental clinics helped them.
You’ll also have a much better idea of the types of dental issues that the dentist has helped with in the past. If you want your teeth straightened then it will help your mental health to know that the dentist has helped patients with that. The same goes for patients that wanted to get their teeth whitened.
The before and after pictures are the next best thing to reading online reviews when you’re evaluating your different options. If the cosmetic dentist doesn’t have any before and after pictures from patients then that should be a major red flag.
Map Their Location
One thing that many people end up overlooking when it comes to exploring their options for dental clinics is the location of the dentist’s office. It doesn’t make sense to go with a cosmetic dentist that is multiple hours away. You’re always better off exploring your options that are close to where you live or work.
This is especially vital if the dentist has a schedule that doesn’t match up well with yours. It’s much easier to make it to your scheduled dentist appointments when you have a ten-minute drive versus a three-hour drive.
Cosmetic dentistry is different from other forms of dentistry because you’ll need to get multiple treatments. You’ll make many trips to and from the dentist’s office. You owe it to yourself to make your journey to and from the cosmetic dentist as quick and easy as possible.
Now You’re Prepared to Select Cosmetic Dental Clinics
Taking the time to select cosmetic dental clinics is a great idea if you have a certain cosmetic dental procedure that you want. Many people go to a cosmetic dentist to get their teeth replaced, straightened, or whitened, so make sure that the dentist has plenty of experience.
You should also check the payment options and the office hours for your options for dental clinics before choosing one. Most of all, explore the atmosphere of the office.
In case you’re still having a hard time finding a reliable dental clinic, you can always check out this dentist in Woodbridge. They provide services like Invisalign, veneers, and dental implants.
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Andrea Parker is a reporter for Zobuz. She previously worked at Huffington Post and Vanity Fair. Andrea is based in NYC and covers issues affecting her city. In addition to her severe coffee addiction, she’s a Netflix enthusiast, a red wine drinker, and a voracious reader.