I’ve been saving for a smile makeover for many years. I want to do it right. I’ve been going to the same dentist since I was just a child. I love him dearly. He’s a sweet man. He’s offered me a very reasonable price. I told him I’d likely do it, but I wanted to call around to some other dentists who specialize in cosmetic dentistry first. He understood, of course, because he’s so awesome. There’s a particular dentist that people travel to from all over the world to get their smile makeovers done. I went to see him. He’s a little over $10k more than my dentist. In all honesty, is that price difference really worth it?
Amanda L. – Florida.
Amanda,
Well, depending on his training and skill, then, yes. One thing I need to warn you about is there isn’t actually a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. Any general dentist can call himself (or herself) a cosmetic dentist. However, there are some dentists who are much more serious about the cosmetic side of things. They pursue extensive training after dental school which trains them not only on the technical skills of the procedures, but the artistry and aesthetics needed too.
In fact, you can have two dentists do the same smile makeover on a patient and have completely different results. There are many smile makeover horror stories of people who’ve spent thousands of dollars only to end up with a smile worse than the one they were trying to fix.
If you’re looking for a gorgeous smile, then the extra money may be worth it. Here’s what I’d suggest. Ask both dentists about their cosmetic training. Then ask to see before and after pictures of actual cases they’ve done. If everything is equal, go with your family dentist. But, you’re likely going to find the other dentist’s work far superior.
Some dentists even have a beautiful smile guarantee.
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