The cosmetic dentistry market was valued at $18.79 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach $32.73 billion by 2026.
Americans have always been obsessed with having perfect, straight, white teeth, and this obsession only seems to be growing.
Cosmetic dentists offer many beneficial services besides teeth whitening, so if you’re considering visiting one, it’s a smart decision. However, before doing so, you need to ensure that you find the absolute best one for you.
Keep reading to learn some questions you can ask your potential cosmetic dentist.
Contents
1. What Are Your Qualifications and Credentials?
When it comes to cosmetic dentistry, you want to ensure the dentist you choose is educated, experienced, and qualified.
Since they’ll be performing dental procedures that could completely change the look of your face and mouth, it’s essential that you find someone who you trust.
You can ask your cosmetic dentist this outright, or you can do your own research online. The American Academy of Dentistry has a database that you can use to find where they earned their degree, whether or not they are licensed and trained, and if they have other board certifications.
While you may assume that every cosmetic dentist that has their own practice is well qualified, this is certainly not the case, so don’t skip this first step.
2. What Dental Services Do You Provide?
Next on the journey of choosing a dentist, you’ll need to make sure they offer all of the dental treatments and services you are looking for.
For example, this local cosmetic dentistry also offers routine cleanings and emergency care, so if this is something you desire from your cosmetic dentist, ask before you commit to them. You can also usually find this information online on their company website.
You may be looking for specific teeth whitening, dental bonding, veneers, or crown procedures. Just because they are cosmetic dentists does not mean they automatically offer these, so before you waste your time traveling to the dentist’s office, ask or do your research ahead of time.
3. What Procedures Do You Recommend?
If you want to get the most out of your visit to the dentist, it’s wise to ask them what procedures they would recommend for you. While you probably already have something in mind, they may have better recommendations than you would have ever thought of.
After all, your goal is to find a cosmetic dentist that is very well versed in dental care, so let them offer their expertise. Ultimately it will always be up to you.
4. Is Financing Available?
Cosmetic dentistry isn’t cheap, so to void being blindsided, make sure to ask about the cost and financing upfront. If you know you want specific treatments, you can call around local offices to get quotes.
If you aren’t sure exactly what you want, you can often get a free or low-fee dental consultation. This will allow the dentist to get a real feel for what the treatment plan would entail, so they can offer you an accurate quote.
Depending on the cost and financing options available, treatments may need to be spaced apart to make them more affordable.
Most cosmetic dentist offices are willing to work with you, just be upfront and ask the hard questions.
5. How Do You Treat Dental Anxiety?
Many people avoid visiting the dentist because they have dental anxiety, which can have a significant adverse effect on their oral care.
Whether it was caused by negative experiences in the past, dental shaming, or just general anxiety, your dentist should have a plan on how they deal with it.
Many cosmetic dentists offer special services such as sedation or spa-like services to help you relax and enjoy the experience as much as possible. If this is important to you, don’t settle for one that offers anything less.
6. Do You Have Availability for Appointments?
While you may think you just found the best dentist ever, if their availability doesn’t match up with yours, it won’t work.
Some dental offices offer appointments for evenings and weekends, but not all. Many offices are booked months in advance. When conducting your initial research, a quick call to the office to check on availability is wise.
7. Are There Potential Side Effects?
When talking with your cosmetic dentist about your potential treatment plan, you should always ask about side effects and any other concerns you have.
If they do not explain something to you thoroughly enough, ask again until you understand. It is your mouth; you’ll have to deal with the consequences, so don’t ever feel like you can’t ask again.
If you feel as if your dentist isn’t answering your questions fully or is rushing you, they probably aren’t a good fit.
8. How Long Should the Treatments Last?
You may think that once you get your treatments and procedures done, you’re good for life.
Yet, not all results will last indefinitely. This is especially true if you don’t take the steps to take care of your teeth.
Your cosmetic dentist can give you tips to keep your smile lasting as long as possible, and they can give you realistic expectations for when the treatments or procedures may need to be done again.
Vet Your Cosmetic Dentist With These Questions
Finding a cosmetic dentist that you can trust is challenging, but it’s not impossible. It takes a bit of research and work, but if you take your time and pay attention to the details, you’ll know your mouth is in the best hands.
Now that you’ve consumed this new information take a break from planning your dental future and read more of our lifestyle articles!
