I’m hoping you can give me some guidance. We’ve always been poor. I’ve managed to scrape up enough money to get her teeth cleaned once a year. It’s not been easy. I’ve known she’s been embarrassed by her smile. It needs some cosmetic work. She’s beautiful, but I know her teeth cause her to lose confidence. I’ve finally, after years, saved up enough to I think give her a smile makeover. The thing is my family dentist, who’s always been great to us and let me pay out any time she had a cavity, wants us to get Lumineers. I’ve done some research. I keep hearing Lumineers aren’t the best. I’m worried. I will not be able to do this over if something goes wrong. What should I tell him?
Deanna L.
Dear Deanna,
It sounds like you’re a devoted mother and your dentist cares about your family. However, it’s possible he’s out of his depth. Lumineers are just a brand of porcelain veneers. They’re often marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. Unfortunately, it takes a lot more than good intentions to create a stunning smile, which is what I think you want for your daughter. Your instinct is right. Most of the best cosmetic dentists find that particular brand to be sub par. It has more to do with their lab, which they force dentists to use.
It is perfectly okay to go to one dentist for general work and another for cosmetic work. You’ll want a dentist who has not just the technical skill but also an artistic eye. It’s hard for patients to find that, because there isn’t a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. That means every general dentist who does a cosmetic procedure or two can call themselves a cosmetic dentist.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) realized this issue and began an accreditation program to sort out the artists from the pretenders. If there is a dentist in your area who’s reached accreditation level, you can know they’re an artist. Your daughter’s smile will be gorgeous. In fact, many of them have a beautiful smile guarantee.
But what if you don’t have one in your area? While many patients travel to get the best in cosmetic dentistry, it sounds like it’s a hardship for you to just pay for the procedure. I’m guessing travel would be nearly impossible. In that case, I’d see if there is someone in your area who is recommended by the mynewsmile.com website. They screen the knowledge and skill of cosmetic dentists and only recommend those whom they feel will do a beautiful job.
Your daughter is fortunate to have a mother so devoted to her. I hope you’ll send us a picture of her smile when it’s done.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Michael Morgan.
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