We have made our new patient forms available to you as Adobe
Acrobat files. For your convenience, we recommend printing and
completing these forms at home.
Please remember to bring your completed forms with you for your
first appointment. If you have any problem getting these files
to print properly, please call our office and we will gladly
send or fax them to you.
Changes in Health: If there has been a change in your
health since your last visit, please tell the doctor or hygienist
before any treatment. This includes recent over-the-counter medications,
hospitalizations, new or changes of medications and new treatments
or ailments.
Choosing
the RIGHT Cosmetic Dentist
Today more than ever, the choice of a cosmetic dentist is a critical
decision that should be made with the utmost care. So how do you
choose a cosmetic dentist? After all , in today’s marketplace,
many general dentists perform at least some types of cosmetic dental
procedures. Over the past few years, there has been a dramatic
influx of “cosmetic dentists” into the field so much
so that in the industry, being a “cosmetic dentist” is
almost a cliché’. Why? Because these days, any general
dentist who does things as simple as whitening teeth can claim
to be a cosmetic dentist. So when someone is look in to get a Hollywood
smile, what should they expect? Are all dentists the same?
Choosing the right cosmetic dentist for you, one with substantial
experience in complex cases, extensive hands-on training, and a
gentle approach that compliments your needs and wants is critical
to achieving the most successful outcome---your gorgeous new smile.
Educated and discerning people will realize that most “cosmetic
dentistry”, if done properly, is a complex and precise set
of operative procedures that will dramatically affect their lives
for years to come.
Selecting a cosmetic dentist can be a difficult and confusing
process. In the end, it is a personal decision that each person
must make for himself or herself. We can however offer some advised,
which our patients have found helpful during the selection process.
From discussions with our patients, we believe the most important
of these tips include the following:
1) TAKE YOUR TIME
Most cosmetic dental procedures are elective procedures, not
emergencies. Time spent learning about the dental procedures,
different techniques and materials will pay great dividends in
terms of your understanding. If in doubt, see a couple different
accredited cosmetic dentists for a consultation. This will clarify
in you own mind those personal characteristics that you would
like you cosmetic dentist to have.
2) POST GRADUATE COSMETIC DENTAL TRAINING
To perform cosmetic dental procedures at the highest level,
technical skill, an artistic eye, and a rigorous program o post-graduate
training in cosmetic dentistry is needed. It may surprise you
to learn that the vast majority of dental schools don’t
teach any courses in cosmetic dentistry. For the few that do,
they are usually limited to only a few introductory courses.
Your mouth is not the place for on – the – job –training.
Therefore, it is crucial that the cosmetic dentist that you select
continually completes hands-on-training courses in cosmetic dentistry.
The field changes rapidly and keeping abreast of what was state-of-the –art
five or ten years ago is not anymore. The significance lies not
only in developing the dentist’s clinical judgment and
technical skill, but also in demonstrating his/her commitment
to practicing cosmetic dentistry at the highest level of excellence.
3) A CARING APPROACH AND GREAT COMMUNICATION
Find a doctor with a good chair side manner who conveys to you
that they care about you as a person as well as a patient. Cosmetic
dentistry is a process not a single operation. Find someone with
whom you can talk to easily. It is just as important that he
understands what you desire as that you understand what they
are describing. To accomplish these goals, the first thing the
somatic dentist should do is listen and make sure he understands
all of your concern, needs and desires as they relate to your
dental health and the look of your smile. Only then should they
spend time diagnosing and consulting on the recommended treatment
plan, which should be individualized for each patient.
4) PERFECTIONISM
Find a cosmetic dentist who is accurate in his evaluation of
your needs, precise in the execution of their operative plan,
and in their craftsmanship. Although perfection is in the eye
of the beholder, this doctor will do whatever it takes to do
the best job possible without cutting corners, not only to satisfy
you, but also to meet their own personal standards of excellence.
Make sure the dentist addresses not just the teeth but also gums,
lips, facial structure and your specific requests.
5) AN ARTISTIC EYE
While technical virtuosity is necessary to produce a great clinical
result, it is not sufficient. Excellent cosmetic dentistry demands
a highly sophisticated artistic sense. In order to achieve an
optimal aesthetic result, one must have a clear vision of what
is artistically possible and appropriate. In this regard it helps
greatly if the dentist has a master ceramist that also understands
the requirements of the patient. Great cosmetic dentistry is
an art.
