How do I find the best dentist?

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.

To find the best dentist that would suit your needs, who will give you all options, look for one that does a lot of cosmetics and has been properly trained in cosmetic dentistry. Also find one that has a lot of before and after pictures of actual patients.

There are many questions that should be answered before choosing a dentist. Some should include:

• Am I choosing based on price?
• Is location important?
• Am I expecting something specific, as in cosmetics, or is the goal simply a new dental home?

The list of questions could go on and on. But when real technical issues are important, some homework should be involved.

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.

There are many referral services, which are useful. Some are new, especially on the Internet. Some have been around for years.

1-800-Dentist is one of the older and more reputable ones. Dentists are inline for month/years to get into this referral service.

Some referral services screen the dentists they recommend; some just collect money from the dentists to be a member. Like anything, one needs to be responsible for oneself to verify info.

The best way to find the dentist, I feel, is to ask your friends what dentist they are seeing, and would they recommend him/her.

• Ask to see actual before and after photos of their work
• Meet with several dentists to see who is right for you
• Talk with other patients.