3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Cosmetic Dentist

Are you tired of looking at your teeth in the mirror and seeing a yellow smile? Are you interested in tooth reshaping, veneers, bonding, dental bridges, gum lifts or bite reclamation? If so, you are among many individuals who seek out cosmetic dental procedures in an effort to adjust or correct their teeth and/or smile. Realizing that you would like to enhance the appearance of your teeth or smile is one thing; doing something about it is another. Finding the right dental care provider for your cosmetic procedure requires more than just research on the computer, you also have to visit prospective dental care providers and probe them with effective questions to help you determine which procedures are indeed right for your situation and budget. It is the intention of this article to discuss 3 questions you need to ask a potential cosmetic dentist before undergoing a procedure.

The first and perhaps most obvious question you need to ask your cosmetic dentist is: how long will the procedure and recovery process last? Whether you know which procedure you want or not, unless the dental care provider offers up information in your consultation with regards to the specifics of a procedure, it is quite possible you can leave the doctor’s office without knowing how long it will be before you can resume your normal activities. Another question you need to ask your cosmetic dentist is: is there a safer or less invasive procedure available that will give the same or similar results? While a good dental care provider would automatically offer to give information pertaining to similar procedures that may be less invasive or extensive, in the event that this information is not provided, you should ask. Not only could said information open a dialog about comparisons among procedures, but it could also potentially save your life; especially if the discussion revolves around materials that you may have an allergic reaction to. The third question you need to ask your cosmetic dentist is: how long can I expect to benefit from the results of this procedure? Some cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening have a relatively short length of time in which you can enjoy the benefit, before you have to reschedule a subsequent visit. As a result of such, it would serve you well to find out if the procedure requires subsequent visits for upkeep prior to having the procedure performed.

Depending on which cosmetic procedure you plan on having done, being informed with regards to the specifics of your procedure should always be a top priority. While this can include a significant amount of research on your part, it should also include asking pertinent questions to your cosmetic dentist. Specifically, you should ask how long will the procedure and recovery process last, is there a safer or less invasive procedure available and how long can I expect to benefit from the results of this procedure, in an effort to aid you in your decision making and planning process.