You’ve been dreaming and planning. Now it’s finally time for the smile makeover you’ve been saving for. It will change your life.
For some patients a smile makeover is one of the best things they’ve ever had done. For others, it ended up being a disaster. Sadly, we’ve seen more cases than we can count of the latter. They had a smile makeover done elsewhere and ended up coming to us for help. All those dashed dreams and wasted dollars. If you’re planning a smile makoever, we want to tell you about the single most important decision you’ll make before moving forward.
Choose your cosmetic dentist carefully.
Two dentists can use the exact same materials on the exact same patient and end up with vastly different results. Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty. Any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist, regardless of the level of skill they’ve acquired. Even if they learned all the technical requirements in cosmetic procedures, such as porcelain veneers, that isn’t enough.
It takes an artistic eye too.
We’ve seen patients come in with smiles so bulky they were catching on their lips when they spoke, all because their dentist didn’t prep their teeth. We’ve seen cases where the dentist intentionally stained their new veneers in order to make it look “natural”. Really? If they wanted stained teeth, why would they get a makeover to begin with?
How can prospective patients protect themselves from unskilled cosmetic dentists? First, any cosmetic dentist worth his salt will have a smile gallery. This will enable you to get a peek at some of the work they’ve already done. But, even that’s no guarantee. If you’re not blown away by their results, move on to someone else. Quickly.
There is a near guaranteed way to get the best cosmetic dentist. Go to someone who has attained accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Be aware, there is a difference between membership and accreditation. To attain accreditation requires passing a written and oral exam as well as submitting a number of clinical cases. Only the top dentists in the world reach this level of skill and artistry.
If you’d like to see some of the smile makeovers that Dr. Malone has done, click here to view his smile gallery.
Dr. Mike Malone and his team practice expert cosmetic dentistry in Lafayette, LA. Dr. Malone is the former president and current accredited member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is also the official Cosmetic Dentist of the Miss Louisiana USA and Miss Louisiana Teen USA pageants. Check out his website for more information.