Cosmetic Dentists – Helping You Smile, But Who to Choose?
A Little Information Goes A Long Way: To find the right dentist for you, you’ll need to learn about the different fields within dentistry. Once you have a better understanding about the differences between the dental fields, you will be much more successful and productive in your search.
Often recommended as the first place to start, try consulting your family dentist for any referrals he or she might have. Your general surgeon has obtained a license for diagnosing general dental issues and oral conditions, developing treatment plans and then providing them. If it becomes necessary to find a specialized surgeon, you may be referred to someone else that your original doctor trusts. Designated as either DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine), qualified dentists will have one of these titles attached to their name.
As you may already know, dentists don’t do all the work on their own. Most of the time, you will see a hygienist before you see your dentist. These people perform professional tooth cleanings, and they may or may not have RDH (Registered Dental Hygienist), or RDHEF (Registered Dental Hygienist with Extended Functions) at the end of their names.
Another common role found in the office is the assistant. He or she may assist a surgeon during a procedure with locating tools, set up the anesthesia for a surgery, expose and develop radiographs or perform other general tasks to get you ready for a particular procedure. Do not be concerned about your safety among these professionals, as both hygienists and assistants are required by law to work under the supervision of a licensed dentist.
The Search Begins: The first thing you should ask is how long the practice has been in operation. Also, you’ll want to know about the dentist’s qualifications and real-world experience in performing the actual procedure you’re going to have done. Remember that not all dentists have received the some amount of training in every area of cosmetic dentistry. You will need to make it your top priority to seriously investigate which dentists have the best training and most experience to perform the procedure that will truly meet your needs.
The referral process can be somewhat confusing, but if the doctor you originally had in mind does not regularly perform your procedure, don’t hesitate to ask for a referral.
Be absolutely sure that this is the way you want to solve your teeth concerns. Do some research over all the available options, and then check the pros and cons of each option for the best results.