If you've spent almost your entire life shying away from photos because of your unsightly teeth, then maybe it's time to do something about it.
A great smile can do wonders for your life - from getting your dream job to getting your dream man, a smile is significantly influential as far as helping you achieve your goals are concerned.
It is no surprise, therefore, why many people like your favorite Hollywood celebrities and even your cousin Frieda will go to great lengths to get a great smile, even if it means spending a bit more than they can afford.
With today's many popular cosmetic dental procedures - from a simple teeth whitening to re-shaping your gum line, there is a wide array of tools and techniques at a dentist's disposal that can help you achieve the smile you want.
The first step towards that great smile is of course, knowing where to go.
Most people often go to general practitioners because it is less expensive or maybe because they feel comfortable having these dentists treat them.
This is fine but the thing is, general practitioners often have a limited knowledge of actual cosmetic dentistry and may not be able to address your problems in the best way possible.
Also, there are many questions that you need to ask yourself like should you choose based on price? Is the location important? Or are you just looking to go for a cosmetic dental procedure or actually trying to find a new dentist? These days, it is easy to find cosmetic dentists, particularly online but the real question is which one of them is the best for you? Again, there are questions you need to ask of your potential dentist in order to determine their suitability for you and they are as follows: - How long have they been practicing cosmetic dentistry? - Do they have before and after pictures of cases similar to yours that they can show you? - Are they accredited members of dental organizations like the AACD or ADA? In addition to delving into their professional background and expertise, another thing you must ask from your potential dentist is if they offer any flexible payment plans or discounts that can help you afford the treatments.
Depending on the procedure you want done, you'll want to make sure that you can afford to pay for your treatments or that they will at least fit within the budget you set.
Ask as well what is included in the fees you pay or what separate charges are there that you need to know about.
There are cosmetic dentists who document their work so that they have something to show potential patients.
Some will take photographs of their own work or hire someone to document their work for them.
Be sure to ask if the photos you are seeing are really their own work and not just "similar to what we do" photos and be sure that it's not from a book bought at some trade fair.
And lastly, ask for personal references.
Speaking with previous patients and asking about their experiences with the dentist will help you make informed decisions and give you an idea of the quality of that dentist's work.
A truly experienced and expert cosmetic dentist will be more than happy to provide you with the information you need.
Remember that it all comes down to what you want to achieve - if you feel that this dentist is good enough then go for it.