Getting a perfect smile these days seems easier than ever before; every time you turn on the TV you see an ad for a new teeth whitening product or hear about someone's smile makeover. It only makes sense that Americans are turning to dentists for prettier teeth at an increasingly higher rate. According to a 2004 survey conducted by Harris Interactive, 11% of Americans have had some type of in-office cosmetic dental procedure (and that's not counting the millions that have used the at-home whitening kits).

The good news is that if you don't like your smile, you truly can get spectacular results. The bad news is that there is an ever present opportunity for things to go wrong. In fact, the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry estimates that slightly more than one quarter of yearly spending on cosmetic dentistry goes toward redoing unsatisfactory work from a previous dental visit. As New York cosmetic and restorative dentist Dr. Clifford Williams puts it, "properly executed [cosmetic dentistry] can produce wonderful results; poorly executed it can cause a lifetime of pain and problems."

So how do you make sure you're leaving the dentist with a smile you'll be happy with for years?

If you want good results, as with anything else, you're going to have to spend time preparing; do your homework, and don't settle for anything you're not comfortable with. We asked some of this country's most respected cosmetic dentists for some tips on how you can avoid bad results, and put together a list of some of the best advice to help you on your way. 

• Have good communication between you and your dentist and make sure that his/her idea of good results is the same as yours: "There is nothing worse," says Newport Bach dentist Sherri Worth, "as a patient then to get half way through and say 'this isn't what I wanted'…you have to make sure [your dentist is] visualizing the same thing you are."
• Ask to see before and after photos that are similar to your case and ask to speak to past patients: Though it sounds silly, ask the dentist if the work in the photos is really his/hers. The buying and selling of such photos is not uncommon, in fact Dr. Worth says that she has been contacted several times and asked if her photos were for sale. She said "no," of course.
• Bring in photos that illustrate your expected results. "The dentist may ask the patient to bring in pictures of when they were younger, if the patient is trying to restore tooth structure and an appearance that was lost over time," says Academy of General Dentistry spokesperson Dr. Carol Summerhays. "The dentist may ask the patient to bring in photos from magazines of smiles he/she likes, if the patient wants to make a significant change."
• Look for a dentist that commits several hours a year, even above minimum requirements, to continuing education courses that focus on cosmetic dentistry. As much as technology changes, you want to find a dentist that is keeping up with the latest trends: "The things that I am doing in cosmetic dentistry today," says Dr. Williams, "are nothing that I learned in dental school."
• For procedures that may affect your bite and function, such as veneers, be sure to ask how the procedure will change the overall look of your face as well as the functionality of your teeth: "Remember: your results may differ from the smiles in the brochures," says Dr. Kenneth Hilsen. "Your doctor should be clear in predicting how certain procedures will affect your unique facial and jaw structure and which treatments are appropriate for your particular condition."
• Make sure you get a preview of the outcome before any extensive work (such as veneers) is done.  A wax-up is a model of how your teeth will look after treatment and is prepared by the laboratory for your approval: "I would not allow a dentist to start prepping my teeth without a functional wax-up," says Dr. Williams.
• Though millions of dollars are spent a year by companies marketing their dental products, you should not always discredit something just because it is stated by the company itself. You shouldn’t believe everything you see on TV either: When researching a product, says Dr. Worth, "try to look for a non-biased study not funded by the company." (As a side note, Dr. Worth uses Zoom! Whitening for most of her teeth whitening patients. She believes it offers the best and longest lasting results.)

To help you make sure that your results will serve you well for years to come, Dr. Worth offered this easy recap of what to be aware of when choosing cosmetic dentistry. Here are the four major factors that can contribute to a poor outcome:

1. Inappropriate procedure
2. Poor technique
3. Bad aesthetics or aesthetics that are inconsistent with your personal ideals
4. Poor work by the lab that manufactures the veneer, crown, etc.

So keep these tips in mind and ask the right questions and you will be well on your way to a smile that you will be proud of for years.

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