As much as we want our regular dentist to handle all our dental work, that can’t always happen. General dentists won’t always know how to handle specialized procedures. Because of that, you’ll need to look for a cosmetic dentist to address any non-standard work.

But with over 6,200 cosmetic dentists in the United States, finding someone to handle the job isn’t always easy.

The good news is that there are some things you can look for when you pick a cosmetic dentist. Keep reading to learn how to look through your options for dentists and find the one that can provide you with what you need.

Look at Past Work

Getting cosmetic dentistry work completed isn’t the same as regular dental work. Some of the tools you need to handle the job will differ from those required for a routine checkup.

You need to ensure the dentist you work with has the tools necessary for the job. Make sure you understand the procedure you want to be done when starting your search so you can explain exactly what you need. Doing this will help you understand if a dentist can handle the job.

Once you know someone has the tools you need, you’ll need to look at their past work. See if someone can provide before and after photos of past patients to demonstrate their skill at what they do.

Check Into Professional History

Once you verify that a cosmetic dentist can handle the job, you’ll need to look into their professional history. The first place to start is their membership in the professional dentist association.

There is an organization called the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) for people who practice cosmetic dentistry. This organization is there to provide resources to cosmetic dentists that help them provide better service to patients and get better at their craft.

However, not just anyone can join this organization. The AACD requires its members to continue education throughout the years to maintain membership. When you work with a dentist who’s a member of the AACD, you’ll know that they’re up to date on the latest tools and techniques to provide excellent service to their patients.

Get a Referral From Your Regular Dentist

Even if your regular dentist can’t handle your cosmetic work, that doesn’t mean they aren’t a resource to help you find someone who can help. Dentists are connected and know the specialties of other dentists in your area.

That means your current provider can provide a list of cosmetic dentists who can handle the job you need to be done. Ask your current provider if they have any recommendations for you.

Of course, you may not be able to use some of their recommendations. There’s a chance that your insurance covers your cosmetic procedure. You’ll need to match your recommended list with the list of cosmetic dentists covered by your insurance.

Get Consultations

The next part of looking for a cosmetic dentist is to get a consultation from the dentists you’re considering working with. You need to trust the dentist you work with for your procedure. Unfortunately, some dentists may not give you the level of comfort you expect from someone dealing with your teeth.

You can learn more about how a dentist operates with a free consultation. Use your time to try and connect with a dentist to learn more about them, how they run their practice, and if they are good at communicating.

Of course, some dentists may not offer a free consultation. If a dentist looks like a great fit and doesn’t offer a free consultation, you’ll need to figure out if it’s worth the risk to book an appointment with someone without consulting with them first.

Get Pricing Options

Once you find a group of dentists you believe can handle your job, it’s time to look for pricing. Even if you have a good feeling about a dentist, don’t stick with them until you get pricing from as many people as possible.

This is especially true if you’re paying out of pocket for your procedure. You may be able to find better deals from other dentists you like if you get pricing from multiple sources.

You can also see if a dentist includes any other services with your current operation. Try to get as much value for the money as possible to ensure you have an excellent cosmetic dentistry experience.

Read Reviews Online

You’re only going to learn so much about a dentist by speaking directly with them. Since they’re trying to get you as a patient, they won’t tell you about all the bad parts of working with them. Someone can put up a good front initially but then provide lousy service after getting your money.

You can reduce the chance of that happening by checking online reviews for a dentist. People talk a lot about the healthcare professionals they work with, so you’ll find out online if a dentist has a good relationship with their patients.

You can also check the dentist authority for your local area to see if there were any issues with a dentist in the past. The last thing you want to do is work with a dentist that doesn’t follow the rules. You can learn this by checking into a dentist’s past.

Now You Know How to Pick a Cosmetic Dentist

Cosmetic dentists offer a lot of procedures that you don’t always find at a regular dentist’s office, so you can’t always get your cosmetic procedure done at your normal dentist’s office. You’ll need to pick a cosmetic dentist with the tools and expertise to handle the job. Keep the guide above in mind to ensure you find someone with the right cosmetic dentistry experience for the job.

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