Question:
I'm thinking about seeing a dentist who is certified in cosmetic dentistry.
But she charges $275 just for the first visit (includes xrays). Is this fee
reasonable for cosmetic dentistry? I have no idea.
I'm currently in braces and wanted to just take them off and remove the
teeth / get a bridge (as per my dingbat brother's advice) but have decided
to keep my teeth (as per the professional advice given on here). Now I'm
wondering if the teeth can just be re-shaped or something, since they all
have to get veneers/crowns /rct anyway when the orth work is completed.
Would I be ok going with just a regular non-certified cosmetic dentist?
Have wheels, will travel. Please recommend someone if the price sounds too
high.
Any thoughts on this? The only tooth I'm wondering about is one on the
bottom that is crowded inwards. I can post x-rays but will take me 'till
next week to get them from my dentist.
Answer:
Complete your orthodontic treatment first. You'll be glad you did. Once
you finish the ortho, it's easy to get at least two opinions from
different dentists -- and be sure that at least one of those dentists
doesn't claim to be "certified" in cosmetic dentistry.
Note that so-called "cosmetic dentistry" is NOT a recognized specialty
in the prefession of dentistry. The vast majority of general dentists
are capable of performing cosmetic dental treatment. I'm more trusting
of dentists who don't puff up their "cosmetic credentials" when every
dentist knows darn well that is no such specialty.
As in all fields, some dentists will be more capable of rendering
beautiful results than others, but I would look skeptically on anyone
who spends more effort on self-promotion than on promoting the dental
health of the public.
Good point, makes sense. I wish there was a way to get rid of these braces
and take a short cut, because I have to get up and talk in front of a lot of
people once a month for here until eternity. They would be ok if I didn't
have to speak in front of people.
Try not to think of a certificate of study in a field as the same as being
certified in a field. For example, in my field, someone with a degree in
something other than accounting can go back to school and get a certificate
in accounting, but that is not the same thing as being a Certified Public
Accountant. In the latter case, there are uniform requirements that usually
involve some type of government regulation.
It may help to ask yourself if it is worth it to you. My own bias is that I
would prefer a lower fee for a kind of a get aquainted visit first.
Cosmetic dentistry is a big decision, and I appreciated it when dentists
allowed me to inexpensively gather information. Some of the arguments for
charging higher fees for these visits are that they are professionals and
deserve to be paid for their time and knowledge, and that they don't want to
waste time with people who aren't ready to commit. I agree with the first
argument, but sometimes a brief visit can help you to know if you are
comfortable with the doctor and if what you are asking is even possible. I
don't agree with the second argument, because I don't believe a patient can
really be ready to commit until s/he has more information about the
procedure from the doctor.
JMO, but I would want to go as far with the ortho as I could. You would
probably be able to preserve more tooth structure if you do decide to go for
porcelain in the future.
Rather than looking at one credential, look at the big picture when choosing
a dentist for cosmetic work. What kind of continuing education has the
dentist had in cosmetics? How many cases has the dentist completed? What
kind of pictures does the dentist have of his or her work? Do all the
smiles look the same, or do they seem to fit the individuals?
When dealing with cosmetics, don't be afraid to let some of your own biases
enter the decision. Try to get a feel for some of the intangible things.
Do you get the feeling that the dentist really enjoys doing cosmetic
dentistry or is just doing it because it can be a money maker?
There were a couple of things that were important to me, but might not
matter to other people. I wanted to find a dentist who would be my general
dentist for the long-term rather than someone that only does big smile
cases. I wasn't even willing to consider anyone who was big on
neuromuscular dentistry.
Remember that cosmetic dentistry is a life-long commitment. Depending on
your age, you could need to have it replaced more than once. It's also very
expensive (at least it is to me). Are you going to want the expense again
in the future?
I agree with everything that was said.
There is no official specialty for cosmetic dentistry. Some doctors are
better at it than others some also have more experience in it.
I am concerned that this patient is undergoing ortho without having an
overall treatment plan for the teeth. The treatment plan needs to be
under the direction of a restorative dentist. You can't start making a
film and then hire the director. This surely is a sign of possible
trouble.
There may be certain existing conditions not yet diagnosed and would be
masked by the orthodontics.
Cerified or not, your dentist should take a full set of radiographs
(x-rays), mount models of your teeth, take photographs, and do a
thorough examination before recomending a course of cosmetic treatment.
In my neighborhood, a working class community near Boston, Ma, $275 is
a reasonable fee for those services. These services are necessary to
help the doctor and patient diagnose the cosmetic problem and determine
the general health of the teeth and gums before starting treatment. Of
course, the models and radiographs can be toted around to different
dentists to get multiple opinions.
