What makes a dentist a cosmetic dentist?

I just did a search for cosmetic dentistry on google and was amazed that there are 3,430,000 results. Cosmetic dentistry + Illinois came up with 289,000 and cosmetic dentistry + Wheaton came up with 21,200 results. Granted, there is some duplication of listings but in the small town of Wheaton, there cannot be even 1000 dentists. Probably not even 100 dentists.

So my question is - what makes a dentist a cosmetic dentist?

My understanding of the true definition of a cosmetic dentist is one that does procedures that are NOT paid for by the insurance. A cosmetic procedure is done because YOU want the procedure completed and are willing to pay for it out of pocket. Veneers are a good example of a cosmetic procedure. Most insurance companies do not pay for them because they assume they are placed for cosmetic purposes only. A white filling can be used to replace a decayed tooth, but the insurance will not pay for a veneer.

Veneers are usually placed on front teeth, so you definately want them to look good. Are you going to trust your dentist to prepare your teeth properly and place veneers that everyone will see if you have not seen the cosmetic work he has done on others? Just like any attorney can call themselves a real estate attorney today, and an estate attorney tomorrow without any further education, a dentist can go from being a general dentist to being a cosmetic dentist without further education. Does that make it right?

I like my estate attorney. I like my corporate attorney. I like my personal attorney. They are all different. They have specialized training.

Ask your dentist what type of specialized training they have for cosmetic dentistry. Look at their work on THEIR patients, not a stock book of photos.

At Wheaton Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Beri has 100's of continuing education hours in Cerec technology, Invisalign, treatment planning, management and cosmetic procedures. Ask questions before beginning your smile change.