Check with the appropriate dental licensing board in
your state to see whether the dentist is licensed and whether disciplinary action has been
taken against him. (We provide you with their contact information later in this section)
Check medical malpractice suits filed with the clerk
of the county or circuit court in your area. This may require a visit to the courthouse to
review files. Malpractice suits don't necessarily mean a doctor has problems, but consider
three medical malpractice judgments against a doctor within five years to be a warning
sign.
Verify credentials and training. Many dentists
advertise they are "cosmetic dentists." There are many dentists that simply call
themselves a cosmetic dentist, even though their practices perform very little of this
type of dentistry. While before and after photos will give you some indication as to a
dentist's skill, ask probing questions about how long they have been a cosmetic dentist
and what steps they've taken to become a cosmetic dentist.
A dentist who is focused on cosmetic dentistry will
have additional education and training in cosmetic procedures and techniques, may be a
member of an organization for cosmetic dentistry (such as the The American Academy of
Cosmetic Dentistry click here, the American Society of
Dental Aesthetics click here,
P.A.C.-Live click here, and the Las Vegas Institute
for Advanced Dental Studies click here) and will have
a practice that is primarily devoted to cosmetic dentistry patients. Make sure your doctor
is experienced in the type of procedure you are considering. Use the two above links to
learn what it takes for a dentist to become a Member, Accredited Member or Fellow of these
organizations.
Ask the dentist how often he or she performs the
procedure you want and what the complication rates are.
Ask for references from trusted family physicians or
other doctors knowledgeable about the local medical community.
Ask whether the dentist carries medical malpractice
insurance, and if not, why not? Malpractice insurance coverage can be verified by checking
with the licensing board.
Don't feel pressured to agree to more procedures than
you want without a second opinion, regardless of the price.
If you require anesthesia, ask if the person giving
the anesthesia is properly certified.
Read the patient consent form carefully before
signing it. Ask what steps the dentist will take if complications occur or further
treatment is needed and what type of follow-up care will be given. Be thorough when
discussing your expectations with your doctor. Proper communication before the procedure
tends to result in greater satisfaction.
Before and after photos of a cosmetic dentist's work
is a great way to see if they are as good as they say they are. But they are by no means a
sole determining factor. These photos will show what they've done for others, which means
they can probably do the same for you. Dentists that do not have a practice performing
mostly cosmetic procedures are not likely to have these photos. When you review the
photos, don't hesitate to ask the dentist what procedures were performed, how long it
took, or how many steps were involved. If a cosmetic dentist offers pre-treatment imaging,
ask to see the pre-treatment image of one of their before and after photos. This will give
a good idea as to how accurate your pre-treatment image will be with this dentist.
