How do I select a
cosmetic dentist I can trust?
Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Oakland, Vallejo - California
A Layperson's Guide
It is lawful for any dentist who uses cosmetic dental materials to put the word "Cosmetic Dentistry" within their ads and signage. The American Dental Association has not seen fit to declare cosmetic dentistry as a specialty field, leaving the word aptly or inaptly applied to any dental office sign or ad of a dentist who uses adhesives and resins in the production of white fillings or bonded restorations. However, what does it mean to find a cosmetic dentist who is truly a cosmetic dentist? Does that dentist become a cosmetic dentist merely by using the materials for cosmetic dentistry? Here are some tips that can assist you as you travel down cosmetic dentistry discovery lane!
Continuing Education and Involvement in Education
One mark of a cosmetic dentist will be seen in the amount of time invested in hands-on training in cosmetic dentistry techniques. The minimum required amount of continuing education required per year to renew a general dental license is 25 hours. Does your dentist stick very close to the minimum? An indicator of qualifications and interest in cosmetic dentistry is directly linked to the amount of time invested taking specialized training. An interested dentist is an educated one and aims to provide the best technical and artistic skill— going beyond the usual and customary standards of care to provide ideal solutions.
Does the dentist have any additional certifications since dental school? The certification process gives a dentist all the essential coursework and clinical experiences of a specialty degree. However, since a general dentist does not do the specialty procedure solely, he therefore is certified rather than specialized. Certifications, for example, may be in the areas of periodontics, orthodontics, oral surgery, and so on.
The Tone of the Practice
What does the office feel like when you first walk in? Are you greeted warmly and acknowledged in a friendly way? Are staff members helpful or harried? Do they take the initiative to either ask questions or answer yours? Or, are they bothered? Is there an emphasis on comfort in all ways, i.e. physically, emotionally, psychologically? Are instructions clear? Do you feel valued as a client? Is time taken to meet your needs in a satisfactory way? Is there a conditional guarantee on the dentist's work?
The Absence of Insurance Providerships and Contracted Alignments with Insurance Companies
A difference between a insurance-driven traditional practice and a value-driven general and cosmetic practice has to do with time allocations for appointments. Due to the technique-sensitivity of cosmetic procedures, more time is necessary in order to perform a procedure. That brings us to the next question to ask that will clue you in to whether the doctor. will have time to do all the fine-tuning necessary:
Is the cosmetic dentist a contracted provider of any HMO, PPO, or capitation plans? If so, how many? The more insurance companies he is in contract with, the less time he will have for you. In order to make his business productive and because insurance plans do not coincide with the cost of doing business for cosmetic procedures, the doctor will now need to see more patients, which means shorter appointments and less time for discussion and closure.
The cosmetic dentistry practice can function optimally when fewer patients are seen per day. It is the nature of the process to spend time finding out what a client wants and to spend the time necessary to get the case right. More time will be left for clients to interact with the dentist while the process is moving forward. There will be more interaction, which means a higher likelihood that you will be happy with the final result.
Value-oriented Fee Schedule
Beware of dental wheeler-dealers when looking for a cosmetic dentist. Do NOT be fooled. You get what you pay for. The astronomical costs associated with the provision of cosmetic excellence at its base, is high. For instance, the average lab cost for an average crown is about $90. The high-end, quality lab work that shows luster and quality, runs in the $250+ price range! Add to this the facility overhead per hour, plus profitability... Standard of industry for value-driven cosmetic practices for a single-unit crown can be in excess of $1,000. What dentist will charge you $650 and give you the quality you want? While price can be an indicator of quality, please make sure you do your homework by checking the dentist’s qualifications AS WELL AS skill level.
Straight-forward Financial Options that are Fee-for-Service
A successful cosmetic dentistry practice has dentists who are unencumbered about the business part of their business. They are not worried about how they are going to pay their bills. Patients who have the best dental experiences realize that their relationship with their dentist is two-way. The dentist gives his best and in return asks clients for their best. The financial arrangement enables the dentist to focus his attention on the most important job at hand — in your mouth.
Standard practices in the more astute cosmetic dentistry offices request fee-for-service payment arrangements. The patient pays the dentist directly, insurance is billed for the patient, and the reimbursement goes directly to the patient. Most patients doing comprehensive care find that maximizing benefits is a piece of cake.
Most cosmetic practices have outside, low-interest financing options that are available at the time when scheduling arrangements are being made. The low interest available through these options is lower than a credit card, some even at 9-12% and can range from 3 months to 5 years. Same as cash options may be available for those who qualify for up to one year.
Organizational Involvement
Does the dentist align himself with organizations which emphasize technical excellence in the field of cosmetic dentistry? Is he a dues-paying member or does he also have status as an accredited, a fellow, or masters-level dentist? It takes more effort and discipline to achieve an academic status. Being a member means the dentist pays his dues and may be working toward status through additional continued education and training. Check the website for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry at www.aacd.com. Pacific Aesthetic Continuum-Live is another aesthetic dental organization that is a highly recognized academy along with Las Vegas Institute of Advanced Dental Training.
The Opinion of Patients
A thorough approach to finding a cosmetic dentist does not just include the dentist’s opinion of himself/herself, but those opinions of his clients, as well. Get some references from the dentist’s front office receptionist and call them. Better yet, meet them and have them show you in person what has been done. Are they happy with the artistry? How has the work held up? Does the dentist listen well? How involved is the patient in the process? Does he demonstrate consistent cosmetic dentistry work over time from patient to patient?
Check Local Society and Professional Sources for the Professional Reputation of the Dentist
Every region has a dental society that monitors a cosmetic dentist’s professional track record. The Redwood Empire Dental Society is available for consumer information in The Sonoma County area and may be contacted at (707) 546-7275. It is also a superior source of reference to contact dental specialists in the area to gain the scoop on the particular dentist you are interviewing. Specialists serve all dentists. They see the work of all dentists coming through their offices and will know who is and who is not a cosmetic dentist. A certain "WOW" factor will be present at the mention of the dentist’s name if he is well known for consistent skill and ability in cosmetic dentistry.
Dr. Klim is pleased to serve patients in the Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Sonoma, and Vallejo, California areas.
