4 Questions to Ask Your Cosmetic Dentist

A cosmetic dental consultation in Homer Glen is an important first step when you want to rid your smile of stains, gaps, and other flaws. Making the most of your smile not only improves one’s self-esteem but is good for your oral health as well. Your initial visit gives the dentist an opportunity to examine your teeth and gums to determine the best treatments; it also allows you to ask important questions about the practice and the services in question. It’s important to be as well-informed as possible about your cosmetic dentist’s qualifications as well as the kind of experience you can expect at their practice. Below are 4 questions that you’ll want to ask during your consultation.

1. How Qualified are You to Perform This Procedure?

Although cosmetic dentistry is not a specialty recognized by the ADA, it is a special category of services and thus it’s important to review the credentials of your cosmetic dentist along with their experience with given procedures. Be sure to look for your dentist to have completed additional training in dental esthetics, as Dr. DeAngelo has done. Ask, do they have experience making the desired type of correction? Feel free to ask for a detailed account of your dentist’s background in cosmetic dentistry so that you have a clear picture of the level of knowledge and skill that you can expect.

2. What are the Advantages and Risks of This Procedure?

Every dental treatment has advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered carefully. For example, an in-house whitening treatment can dramatically brighten your teeth and remove stains that store-bought whitening products wouldn’t be able to correct; however, some people may experience tooth sensitivity afterwards. A top-notch cosmetic dentist will make sure that you’re fully aware of any potential side effects and what precautions should be taken.

3. Can You Show Me Pictures of Past Patients?

Many dentists keep before-and-after pictures of their patients’ smiles to showcase the quality of the treatments they offer. Ask if other patients have seen success with this type of procedure and if you can see pictures of such cases so that you can judge the dentist’s work for yourself.

4. What are the Estimated Costs of These Treatments?

The cost of cosmetic dentistry may vary from practice to practice, so be sure to ask for the relevant prices during your first consultation. You can also explore any options that the practice might offer to make their cosmetic services more affordable, such as financing.

These are just a few examples of questions you’ll want to bring to the table during your initial consultation. You should also come up with a few additional inquiries based on your unique needs. If there’s anything you feel like you don’t understand, you should always make the effort to gather the relevant information before making any sort of decision so that you can make the smartest choices for your smile.

About the Author

Dr. Alan R. DeAngelo has attended many courses in esthetic dentistry and prosthodontics and is thus skilled in using porcelain veneers and other treatments to enhance worn down, dull, and damaged smiles. He is also certified in using Invisalign to straighten crooked teeth. To schedule a cosmetic consultation or ask questions about his services, visit his website or call (708) 301-3111.