Finding the right cosmetic dentist can be an overwhelming and daunting task.  Just do a search for professionals in this field and the results are endless.  Despite the numerous professionals to choose from, their varying levels of expertise are just as great.  However, when requiring these personal services, the importance of skill, ability, and reputation cannot be stressed enough.  Therefore, by doing a little homework in the beginning is the best place to start in obtaining quality results in the future. To begin this search, one must understand what qualifications to be looking for.

Unfortunately, this is where the process becomes complicated.  Because the field of Cosmetic Dentistry is not a legally recognized specialty, anyone who graduates from dental school can claim to be a cosmetic dentist.  Although both professions, general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry, begin in the same place, a cosmetic dentist requires additional education and training.

To become a general dentist, a minimum of eight years of college level education is required.  After completing an undergraduate degree, focused in at least 2 yrs of predental education, the student will be required to take the DAT- Dental Admissions Test prior to applying to one of the 56 accredited dental schools licensed by the ADA- American Dental Association.  After 4 years of dental school, written and practical exams are required for state licensing, known as the National Board Dental Exam. 

At this point a licensed general dentist can handle a variety of dental issues.  Because there are no legal restrictions or regulations, a general practioner can claim to be a cosmetic specialist.  However, the two are very different.  To be a skilled cosmetic specialist, requires additional training and education.  This can include and additional 2-4 years post graduate work, additional education expense, as well as an additional non-earning period!  To become a skilled cosmetic dentist requires a much greater commitment.  However without regulation, it becomes obvious how tempting it would be to categorize oneself as a specialist.

In addition to a significant difference in education and training, general dentistry and cosmetic dentistry are fundamentally very different. A great analogy to these two fields would be that of a general surgeon vs. a cosmetic surgeon.  As a general surgeon one is called upon for their expertise on how to fix something.  However, a cosmetic surgeon’s approach must be very attuned to their patient’s needs and input, with a much greater emphasis on esthetics.  The same mentality applies to dentistry.  General practioners are trained to focus on function with less appreciation on appearance.  Cosmetic specialists must be able to process the patient’s perceptions while creating beauty in appearance.  This creative process is similar to the role of a master artesian.  It becomes clear how different the two professions are.

To become a master at their craft, the cosmetic dentist must dedicate years of education and training to become skilled.  This dedication requires a certain passion that only few will possess. In addition to technical skills, the cosmetic dentist must also possess excellent inter-personal skills.  Good communication skills are imperative in achieving the ultimate results.

The cosmetic dentist must not only access what might be wrong with the tooth, as a general dentist would, but then must interpret the patient’s self-perception of the problem.  If the patient is not satisfied with the results, the cosmetic dentist must then apply his scientific and artistic knowledge to rectify the situation.  It takes a skilled master to interpret and produce results at a personal level.  A different level of communication is a must to satisfy the patients needs.

Beyond interpersonal skills, there are many aspects of cosmetic dentistry that require additional training than what is provided in general dentistry. The materials that cosmetic dentists often use are much different than those used in general dentistry. There are various porcelains, complex bonding agents, luting agents, tints, opaquers, etc. To master the use of these materials one must comprehend the chemistry of bonding, as well as how these materials interact with each other. Only with extensive training can the properties of these materials be mastered. To produce beautiful results, an expert must determine the right strength, texture, polish ability, color, and translucency of the materials to appear as natural as possible.