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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / December 2004Q about "cosmetic certified" dentist
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. About the cosmetic dentist who charges $275: "Dr. XXX graduated Ohio State School of Dentistry in 1983. Since then, [his/her] private practice has flourished. S/he received her certificate in Aesthetic Dentistry from Case Western Reserve University in 199X, from Baylor College in Dallas in 199X, and from The Advanced Cosmetic Institute of Las Vegas in 199X." (kind of fudged it up to protect his/her identity somewhat). > I'm thinking about seeing a dentist who is certified in cosmetic dentistry. > [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > of Las Vegas in 199X." (kind of fudged it up to protect his/her identity > somewhat). 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. - dentaldoc >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 [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > >- dentaldoc Excellent reply, we agree 100% Joel > > I'm thinking about seeing a dentist who is certified in cosmetic > dentistry. [quoted text clipped - 57 lines] > > - dentaldoc 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. Rich My very biased comments as a person with a mouthful of porcelain are inserted below. > I'm thinking about seeing a dentist who is certified in cosmetic dentistry. 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. > But she charges $275 just for the first visit (includes xrays). Is this fee > reasonable for cosmetic dentistry? I have no idea. 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. > 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. 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. > 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. 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. > 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. 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? Good luck with your decision and take your time making it. <snip 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. > My very biased comments as a person with a mouthful of porcelain are > inserted below. [quoted text clipped - 69 lines] > > <snip >I'm thinking about seeing a dentist who is certified in cosmetic dentistry. No such specialty. .. Stephen Mancuso, D.D.S. Troy, Michigan, USA Writing on a tablet PC,so forgive me if the PC misreads my poor handwriting. 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. Dave Leader, DMD Malden, Ma. |
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