Are you looking for a cosmetic dentist to whiten your smile or perform some other cosmetic dental surgery or procedure? It is important that you choose a cosmetic dentist carefully, because your smile is one of your most important assets. Here’re things that you should look for when choosing a cosmetic dentist and the practice before you call to schedule an initial consultation.

Check the Professional Affiliations : An experienced cosmetic dentist will belong to at least one professional association, and preferably several, including the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Such memberships are useful in many ways: they help the dentist stay in touch with his or her peers, keep up with the latest technology and techniques, and keep to good ethical and professional standards. Many established cosmetic dentists also belong to one or more local organizations, or sponsor local events. Even try calling your State Licensing Board to see if anyone has filed a complaint against the dentists you’re considering.

Experience is Key : You won’t want to choose a dentist who’ll be experimenting or practicing on your teeth. Look at how long the dentist has been in practice. Ask how many times he or she has performed the procedures you’re interested in having done. Cosmetic dentistry is a mix of art and science. It requires something of an artistic eye, from judging the right shade of porcelain for your veneers to the best way to recontour your gums. An experienced cosmetic dentist will be looking at your entire face, your personality, even your coloring, and making dental decisions that will enhance your total appearance.

During Your Initial Consultation : Schedule several of these consultations, and take a written list of questions to each one. As you talk to the cosmetic dentist, briefly write down his/her responses. If you don’t understand a response, ask more questions until you do. You want to choose a dentist who has time for you, who listens to your goals and concerns, and who wants you to fully understand the procedures you are interested in having done. The cosmetic dentist should be willing to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of any cosmetic procedure as well.

Code of Ethics: In your search for the right cosmetic dentist, if anything makes you pause and wonder about a dentist’s ethics, move to the next name on your list. Remember how important your smile is in your daily life, so take time in choosing the cosmetic dentist who seems most qualified on every count. We need to do our research and trust our instinct when it comes to choosing a cosmetic dentist who can help us achieve a new smile.

Being the best cosmetic dentist in Washington DC with over 20 years of experience, they help patients from all walks of life transform their appearance through modern smile enhancement. Seeing a patient view their new smile in the mirror for the first time is the most rewarding moment a cosmetic dentist can experience.
Washington DC Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Charley Varipapa offers a wide array of esthetic procedures that focus on improving your smile. There have been many advancements in cosmetic and restorative dentistry that can enhance the appearance of your smile. Cosmetic Dentistry can not only transform your smile, but it is an opportunity for total oral health as well. You can learn more about cosmetic, implant and neuromuscular dentistry. They also offer teeth whitening, dental implants and Invisalign.

Cosmetic Dental Services including:

* Dental Implants
* Porcelain Veneers
* Invisalign
* TMJ Treatment
* Smile Makeovers
* Sedation Dentistry
* Teeth Whitening

If you are looking for cosmetic or implant dentistry or are interested in invisalign or tooth whitening, contact them for a consultation. Your journey to a new smile begins with your very first call to the finest dental arts facility DC has to offer.

Each individual is largely responsible for caring for their own teeth. There are times, however, when you will need to rely on a professional. Dentists are highly trained medical experts. They specialize in the care of teeth and gums. Dentists fall into two broad categories. General dentists are typically known as family dentists. Most individuals will only need the care of a general dentist. Specialty dentists focus on one particular area of dentistry. They will receive an extra two to six years of training in order to become specialized.

The most common thing a general dentist does is routine checkups. General dentists usually see patients twice a year. At these visits they will evaluate the health of the patient’s teeth and gums. They will often do x-rays to make sure there is no tooth decay. After evaluating the patient, they will clean the teeth thoroughly. General dentists also work to prevent dental disease by teaching patients how to properly care for their teeth. They also might help patients eliminate risk factors such as smoking.

If there is a problem with a patient’s teeth, a general dentist can sometimes correct it themselves. Many general dentists can do fillings, tooth extractions, root canals, bridges, crowns, sealants, and dentures. Many also see pediatric patients. If a general dentist does not perform a service, they will refer the patient to a specialty dentist.

There are more than a few specialties in dentistry. Pediatric dentists are those whose practice is focused on patients under the age of 18. They sometimes might care for those who have mental illness or a diminished mental capacity. Orthodontists see a lot of young patients as well as they are the ones who apply braces to teeth. Adults can also see orthodontists if they have crooked or misaligned teeth. If a patient has an injury to their mouth or jaw, they would see a oral and maxillofacial surgeon. These dental surgeons also work on defects of the mouth and jaw. They perform extractions of teeth that are difficult to remove as well.

Endodontists work on the inner portion of teeth. They do root canals and treat the pulp and nerves of the tooth once it becomes diseased. They might work with an oral pathologist, who treats diseases in the mouth. A periodontist is responsible for treating gum disease. They also work on the bones in the mouth. If teeth need to be replaced, a prosthodontist will make a plan for dentures, bridges or implants.

Obviously, there are other specialties as well. You don’t really need to know them as you dentist will refer you to the appropriate person.