Choosing a Dentist
How to Select a Cosmetic Dentist
Choosing a cosmetic dentist is a very important task. Oddly, however, many people put more time into looking for the right home, car or hairdresser than they do in looking for the right doctor or dentist. If you are looking for a cosmetic dentist, there are certain factors that should be considered when conducting your search. After doing a thorough search for a cosmetic dentist, we hope you feel confident that you have made the right choice by visiting the our website the home of our expert Lawrence cosmetic dentist.
View Dental Websites
Most people will use a search engine such as Google to find cosmetic dentists in their area. When you type your phrase into the search bar, you want to be clear. For instance, if you type in “dentist lawrence,” you will get thousands of hits; however, if you tweak your search to something more manageable, such as, “cosmetic dentist lawrence“, you will get a much more focused list of cosmetic dentists . Begin your selection of a new cosmetic dentist by examining some of the websites for dentists in your area. Many people prefer seeing photos of their prospective dental provider as this makes the dentist seem human and personable. It’s also good to look for websites that look custom made not cookie cutter or with lots of product advertising.
Many websites provide short videos of the dentist and his staff in action. These videos will give you an idea of the dentist’s demeanor and personality, and it will also let you get a clear picture of what the office looks like. Some people choose a cosmetic dentist based on the office environment. A warm, comfortable and professional setting usually puts patients at ease right away. While atmosphere is important there are other factors to consider.
You can also check the dentists’ websites for testimonials or before and after photo galleries. Most dental websites today have before and after photos of actual patients who have had teeth whitening, tooth-colored fillings, porcelain veneers, dental bridges and other cosmetic dental procedures. By seeing the actual results, you can view the dentist’s handiwork before having any work performed on your own mouth. By reading patient testimonials you can find out about the level of service and care provided by the dentist and his or her team. Be sure to ask if the images you see are their actual patients un-retouched photos.
Ask Questions
Once you have selected a cosmetic dentist, you will schedule your first appointment, which is typically a consultation to assess your cosmetic dental needs and to discuss various treatment options. Some cosmetic dentists offer a no-cost consultation; a free consultation gives you the opportunity to make a judgment about the dentist without having to spend any money. Here are some questions you may want ask to in a consultation with a cosmetic dentist:
- How many times have you performed the treatment I am going to have?
- Why did you decide this option was the best of all the options avaiialble and can you perform all the options available at an expert level?
- What will the result be?
- Can I preview the treatment in my own mouth?
- May I see before and after photos of this treatment?
- How much will it cost?
- Will it involve other specialists?
- Will it be painful? If so, how is pain treated/managed?
- Do you offer sedation dentistry?
After viewing prospective dentists’ websites and meeting with them to discuss your dental concerns, you should have a pretty good idea if that particular dentist is right for you. Just as you would not settle for a car you are not happy with or a home you don’t love, please don’t settle for a dentist especially for unimportant reasons like convenience or insurance contracting. Take your time, do your homework and carefully select the dentist that will be transforming your smile into the dazzling one you have always wanted.
Our Lawrence cosmetic dental office is now accepting new patients. Please contact us today to schedule a complimentary, confidential consultation so we may assess your dental needs and get started on your treatment plan right away. You are under no obligation to us; we just want to show you how dazzling your smile can actually be.
More Questions to Ask:
Does your dentist care about you? I mean, REALLY care about you – like family?
Establishing rewarding and lasting relationships with our patients is important to us here at your dentist’s dental practice. We pledge excellence in all that we do, and we look forward to helping you make the most of your smile now and for many years to come. The comfort and satisfaction of our patients is of utmost importance. We want to impress upon our patients that, in this dental office, the patient comes first. We encourage open communication between our patients and our staff.
Make sure you choose a dentist that does the same.
Education
It takes four years for an undergraduate degree and another 4 years for a dental degree. This however is really just the beginning of a dentist’s journey! What happens from here is what really determines the competency of your dentist.
Ask your any dentist about his/her continuing education. This is where you will find the dentist that matches your needs. If you have minimal dental needs then most dentists will be good candidates for you. If you have more extensive, possibly complex dental needs then look for advanced, hands-on training type courses. Most states require about 30 hours of continuing education per year for license renewal. The best dentists take 4-5 times that much in serious courses– not ones that are combined with vacation!
Dr. Otten has spent many years and thousands of hours taking hands-on advanced care training to deal with anything from making fillings look like natural enamel to replacing missing teeth with dental implants to full mouth Individualized Restoration. We are ready to help you – whatever your needs!
We believe that life is better when you have a healthy smile . That’s why we do what we do and take the extra steps needed for your comfort.