How Do I Find the Best Cosmetic Dentist?

Cosmetic dentistry is not recognized as a specialty. But, it needs to do complete search before you make a decision to rely on a cosmetic dentist. Now, you can easily find the cosmetic dentist online. When you search online for cosmetic dentist, you need to check credentials and reviews as well as experience of a particular dentist. 
It is crucial to rely on a qualified and an experienced cosmetic dentist, if there are complications during a cosmetic procedure, then a well-experienced cosmetic dentist knows well how to handle the situation.

This is much more difficult to do today because every dentist who does porcelain crowns and veneers nowadays calls themselves a cosmetic dentist. What most people want is a cosmetic dentist who has been well trained, who is experienced, who has great artistic ability, who REALLY listens to you, and then someone who follows through and delivers what was promised.

Where do you find such a dentist?  Well, the internet is probably the best place to start searching for cosmetic dentists who you are thinking of evaluating to see if they are a match for you.

I would suggest doing a Google search for "porcelain veneers plus the city or county that you live in."  Look for a dentist who has many examples OF THEIR ACTUAL COSMETIC DENTISTRY, not just stock photography.

Read their bio.  How many years have they actually practiced dentistry?  Where did they get their post doctoral cosmetic training?  LVI or the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies has one of the most highly acclaimed programs for cosmetic dentistry in the world today.  Also, the dentist a member of any of the major cosmetic dentistry organizations, like the AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), ACE (Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics), etc.  Just from the web sites you'll get some good or uncertain feelings about the dentist.  Try to narrow your list to under five and then call their office.  Tell them what you're looking for and see how they respond.  It should be easy to see if they are genuinely concerned and want to help you, or too busy to answer any questions and give you any personalized care.  You should be able to narrow your choice down to 2-4 dentists.  Next make a cosmetic consultation.  Look at the office, how neat and professional is it.  Are there before and after photos demonstrating how proud the dentist is of the treatments he has been providing his cosmetic patients?  Do they see you on time?  Do they carefully listen to your concerns and show the confidence that they can solve your problems and deliver the kind of dentistry that will meet your expectations?  In many areas there are so few great cosmetic dentists that really stand out that it shouldn't be difficult to find one that you trust and and relate to.  Ask to see before and after photos of patients they have treated with dental problems that looked similar to theirs.  Do your homework and be careful whom you choose.  In our practice about one third of all the patients we treat are people who were dissatisfied with their previous cosmetic dentistry and are asking that we redo the porcelain veneers or crowns that were done by their last dentist.  I can't tell you enough how much better it is to do the treatment right the first time than having to redo someone else's treatment who was not able to meet the patient's expectations.

Good luck,

Dr. Norman Huefner