I am tempted to pick someone who takes my insurance plan. Are there better ways to find someone good at cosmetic dentistry vs. general dental work?
I have found that the members of the American Academy Of Cosmetic Dentistry are the best clinicians.
Cosmetic procedures are very demanding. In providing these services one has to fine tune their diagnostic skills, analyze the occlusion, etc. Be sure to view before and after photos and make sure he or she is a good listener and addresses your concerns.
DON'T respond to the flashiest ads.
There are many questions that should be answered before choosing a dentist. Some should include:
The list of questions could go on and on. But when real technical issues are important, some homework should be involved.
Beware of simply choosing someone that is a member of a group. It is one thing to pay dues to an organization, it is quite another to have training and skills (both of which are not required for many memberships). While the AACD is a great organization, simply being a member isn't much to speak of.
If you are considering cosmetic procedures, ask to see photographs of that dentist's own work, especially with cases similar to yours. The more experienced cosmetic dentists either take their own photos (and may even have a small studio in their office) or hire someone to document their work. Be sure to ask if the photos you are seeing are their own work, and not "just like we do here" or simply a book purchased at a trade fair.
Talk with your friends and colleagues. Some have some great things to share about their dentist.
Meet and interview a few dentists and their staff. If a warm, caring environment with pleasant people is important to you, you may need to kiss a few frogs to find your prince. If you find an office that you think is a good fit, but can't quite pull the trigger, ask if there are some patients you can speak with or read their testimonials. You may find that many others were just like you and really did find the best dentist for them.
It all comes down to your individual goals. If "good enough" is good enough, then it shouldn't be too hard.
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