How to Avoid Bad Cosmetic Dentistry

With your smile being one of the first things people see, it's no wonder that cosmetic dentistry is bigger than ever today. In fact, getting that beautiful smile can seem easy when you look at the abundance of adverts today promising perfect teeth. But what about when things go wrong?
The Bad Side of Cosmetic Dentistry
While it's positive news to know that most any aesthetic qualm can be remedied with today's modern dental techniques, the bad news is that there are many things that can go wrong. More often than not, however, things tend to go wrong when the dentist isn't one who has the appropriate expertise in the cosmetic dental technique being used for the procedure.Dental Training
To really understand how it works, you have to consider dental training itself. While 'basic' dental training is still extensive and lasts for years, the training has less of a cosmetic focus and more of a health and function focus.To truly excel in cosmetic dentistry, a dentist will want to partake in extended training as well as interning initially with an experienced, respected practitioner in the field. If you consider that it's estimated a quarter of cosmetic dentistry a year is spent on fixing work from another procedure, you can see how it's worth taking the time to choose the right dentist the first time around. If it's done right, you can have the smile you've always wanted but if done wrong, you could be looking at years of pain and additional costs.
Getting the Best Results the First Time
To get the best results you can the first time around, you have to approach dentistry like research. This means doing your 'homework' by reading about the dentist, checking his or her credentials and finding out about previous work with patients.Before and after photos are a must. Of course, don't overlook your own gut feeling too. If you speak to the dentist and don't feel comfortable, then that's a good enough reason not to continue. While some trepidation about a procedure can be normal, a lack of openness and communication with the dentist can spell disaster.
Tips to Help You Choose the Right Cosmetic Dentist
First and foremost, make sure that you and your dentist are on the same page. This means realistic expectations of what the end result will be for your teeth and mouth. The last thing a dentist wants to hear is that a patient expected something else.You need to take some responsibility for this aspect by being clear and realistic in what you want as well as listening to your dentist's feedback. Both sides should have a clear understanding of what is being done and what results are expected.