Many people have damage to their teeth which makes them feel self-conscious about their smile, and create a series of negative health effects like pain, sensitivity, infection, bone loss, tooth decay, root decay, and more.
A smile makeover can be the solution that these patients are looking for. However, getting a smile makeover is not a decision to be taken lightly. Before you agree to a smile makeover plan, make sure you’ve considered these five important aspects of your decision, which will help determine if you’re making the right choice in terms of your oral health practitioner and in the smile makeover plan you pursue.
1. Board-Certified Prosthodontist
The first thing that patients should look for when considering a smile makeover is the person who will be helping determine the best steps and performing the needed procedures. The best choice for a smile makeover is a board-certified prosthodontist. There are a number of benefits to choosing a board-certified prosthodontist.
The first benefit to selecting a board-certified prosthodontist for your smile makeover is the amount of experience and training they have. In addition to the standard four years of dentistry school, a board-certified prosthodontist must undergo an additional three years of intensive and closely monitored residency. While in residency an aspiring prosthodontist will learn about and practice with the latest dental technologies and techniques.
Additionally, a prosthodontist has specialized training in making smiles look just like the patient wants, as well as ensuring a patient’s mouth and smile are as healthy as possible. This combination of cosmetic and physiological knowledge and training makes prosthodontists uniquely suited to designing and executing smile makeovers.
2. Before/After Pictures
Another important consideration for choosing your oral health specialist is before and after pictures for the types of procedure that you are considering. Before and after pictures let patients inspect the work that a specialist can do, helping them in a number of ways.
The first benefit to before and after pictures is that it allows patients to get an idea of what kind of experience an oral health professional has. They can tell a patient if the doctor has worked with individuals with similar conditions, and lets the patient see the difference they can expect should they choose to use that professional.
Another benefit of before and after pictures is that they show the dentist stands behind their work. This lets patients inspect the quality of the work, and ensures that they know what their smile will look like when the procedure is over. They also allow a patient to be more specific when describing their desired results, increasing the chance that they will get just what they’re looking for from a smile makeover.
3. Detailed Procedure Information
Detailed procedure information is another thing that patients should look for when considering a smile makeover. A detailed description of the procedures lets patients understand the procedures at their own pace, and gives them the information they need to ask informed and important questions during their consultation. A lack of detailed procedure information indicates that the oral health professional is not as concerned with patient information and education as the patient might want.
4. Proven Track Record
The final thing that patients should look for regarding the person they choose to design and execute their smile makeover plan is a proven track record of success. Patient reviews, years in business, years of experience, and a host of success stories can help patients distinguish between a good oral health professional and a great oral health professional. Moreover, things like patient reviews and success stories demonstrate the level of customer satisfaction and service, as well as the quality of care, that a patient is likely to receive.
5. Perfect or Natural?
The last thing to consider for a smile makeover is what you want your smile to look like when everything is finished. Some patients may want a more natural look, where the teeth aren’t as white or straight, which helps them feel more discreet regarding their oral health. Other patients want their teeth to be as straight and white as possible.
There is no single right answer, but being aware of the different possibilities and clearly communicating your wants to your chosen smile makeover specialist will go a long way in ensuring that you have the smile you wanted when everything is finished.
As you can see, a smile makeover is not a decision to be taken lightly. However, finding the right oral health specialist and knowing what you want the results to be can help make the process a bit less stressful. Using a board-certified prosthodontist with detailed procedure information, before and after photos, and a proven track record is the best way to get the results you want from your smile makeover.
