When I was younger I wore braces, but didn’t wear the retainer afterward like I was supposed to. Now my teeth are shifted and not centered. I also have chips and dings and some teeth are worn down from grinding. I know you have to go to an expert cosmetic dentist for this. My neighbor recently had a smile makeover and his dentist did a fantastic job, but the cost was $35,000. I can’t afford that. Is there a way to get an attractive smile makeover without it costing quite so much?
Aaron
Dear Aaron,
A smile makeover is generally done with porcelain veneers, though because of your teeth grinding you may need some porcelain crowns as well. The most important aspect of any smile makeover is the skill and artistry of the dentist who does it. Each dentist’s prices vary depending on a great deal of factors including property and salary costs in their area.
There are two resources I can give you where you can safely price shop. Do NOT just call around to random cosmetic dentists looking for a cheap price. You will end up with a cosmetic dentistry horror story. Just use the dentists on these two lists I’m going to provide. The reason I say that is each of these cosmetic dentists have been screened for their training, technical knowledge and skill, as well as their artistry. Any one of them can provide you with a beautiful smile makeover. In these cases, you can go with the most affordable.
The first resource has a list of AACD accredited dentists. You will go to AACD.com and click on “find a cosmetic dentist”. Make certain you check the box for AACD accredited. Accreditation is completely different from membership, so that is vital. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.
The second resource is mynewsmile.com. The dentist that runs this website is a retired accredited dentist. He prescreens dentists who want to be listed. They can’t get on there without massive skills. While many are accredited on his list, some are still in the process of accreditation, which takes years, but have the skills necessary now.
I hope this helps!
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.