Per the AACD website, “The AACD is dedicated to advancing excellence in the art and science of cosmetic dentistry and encouraging the highest standards of ethical conduct and responsible patient care”. This might be the perfect time for another acronym: WTF?

If I may be so bold as to restate their mission statement in layman’s terms, I’d say their goal is to provide their members with the necessary tools so we, their patients, will receive the best possible care. The AACD wants to make sure we walk out of our dentist’s offices with winning smiles instead of a snaggle-tooth grin. By becoming a member of the AACD, cosmetic dentists gain access to a wide variety of resources and benefits to assist in their professional growth. Some of these benefits include:

• Annual conferences where all the members meet at some fancy shmancy resort that I could never afford to stay at and proceed to be instructed by the top educators in their field. They also get an opportunity to do some fun hands-on training. Who’s up for Veneers?
• Availability of a forum where experts can bounce ideas off of each other and share their knowledge with their peers. Sort of like an AOL chat room, except a lot less fun. And for dentists.
• The most up-to-date dental journals with information regarding the latest research and results.
• Discounts on a variety of dental publications. Who doesn’t like to save a buck?
• So why should you care if your cosmetic dentist is an AACD member? You should care because there are cosmetic dentists out there who graduated from dental school and then made no effort to keep up with the latest technologies and advancements. That could translate into a cosmetic dentist making an abstract art piece out of your mouth instead of a Picasso.

Here is a video of some great cosmetic dentistry before and afters.

By choosing a dentist who belongs to the AACD, you can rest assured your cosmetic dentist has been required to meet the highest standard of service and that they’re committed to continually improving their knowledge and skill set. In other words, no disfigured mouth for you!

Now that one less acronym is a mystery to you and you understand what being a member of the AACD means, you’re better equipped to evaluate which cosmetic dentist is right for you. YMMV.

Myth: All silver amalgam fillings should be replaced for fear of mercury poisoning.

Fact: There are many things that may cause mercury poisoning, but according to the American Dental Association, silver amalgam fillings ain’t one of ‘em.

Like most controversial topics, there are two sides to this story. Some dentists believe the mercury from silver amalgam fillings can leak out of the filling and into your body causing health problems. If you search youtube you’ll find there’s no shortage of dentists (or actors who play one on TV) trying to convince you that silver amalgam fillings are harmful and need to be replaced. The ADA, the watchdog of dental practices, is in agreement with most major health agencies and scientific bodies that silver amalgam is safe and reliable. The ADA states, “…the mercury in amalgam combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth”. In addition, research has failed to show any link between amalgam restoration and health problems.

Of course, there will likely come a time when an amalgam filling needs to be replaced due to it being old and cracked or worn. When that day arrives, you’ll want to find a well reviewed dentist who makes certain to use safe practices when replacing these fillings. Dr. Eccles, located in Livermore, California, is one of many dentists who specialize in health-centered dentistry.

Be sure to listen with a cautious ear when a dentist urges you to replace your silver fillings because they are a health risk. If the fillings are still in good condition, it’s quite possible it’s not your fillings that need replacing, but your dentist’s BMW.

According to Wikipedia:

“In dentistry, a veneer is a thin layer of restorative material placed over a tooth surface, either to improve the aesthetics of a tooth, or to protect a damaged tooth surface. There are two main types of material used to fabricate a veneer, composite and porcelain. A composite veneer may be directly placed (built-up in the mouth), or indirectly fabricated by a dental technician in a dental laboratory, and later bonded to the tooth, typically using a resin cement such as Panavia. In contrast, a porcelain veneer may only be indirectly fabricated.”

What is the Dental Veneer Procedure Like?

How Much Do Dental Veneers Cost?

The cost does vary depending upon the part of the country you are in but a good average is $1500 per veneer at the time of writing this where the lowest being just under $1000 & the most expensive being around $2000. Be wary of bargain hunting; you should not find too “cheap” a Dentist.

Where Can I Find a Good, Well Reviewed Dentist that Offers Veneers?

We thought you would never ask. Try here.
Email the author with a question, seriously I don’t mind, it’s what i’m here for. If I don’t know the answer, I know a lot of dentists, i’ll get you an answer.

Before hitting the yellow pages or searching for a San Francisco dentist online there are a few criteria you should be wary of.

Reputation

All dentists, as with any profession, were not created equal but you will be glad to know that the general level of technical capability of San Francisco dentists is quite high for the most part. Searching for dentist reviews online can help as can word of mouth from a friend but remember that it can be difficult for a layman to tell the difference between good, bad and average. Professional referral is a slightly better gauge as a dentist will know a good, bad or average dentist.

Facilities

Did you know there are tools to get rid of or reduce that gagging feeling, or a machine that can build a dental implant immediately on site removing the need for multiple visits or that there is a shot that halves the time you have that numb feeling after you visit? Well, there are and not all San Francisco dentists have all. Some people have such levels of fear when visiting the dentist that full or partial sedation is a definite need – not all San Francisco dentists do this, but some do. If you have an idea of what work you will be doing, ask about the appropriate equipment the dentist will be using or ask him what is available to combat any concerns you might be harboring.

Cost

Depending on the procedure the cost of a visit to the dentist in San Francisco can become somewhat expensive. Factors that determine cost will be primarily reputation or experience, equipment (he has to pay for the machines some way), location (San Francisco rent is not cheap) and of course the procedure being delivered.

Insurance

For most, dental insurance is quite basic so if you are getting more than a check-up or a filling, do not bank on insurance protecting your wallet. I am including this here so sticker shock is somewhat reduced if you are seeking something like cosmetic dentistry.

Convenience

In some cases, you may be required to make multiple visits in a short amount of time so thinking with location, parking and even traffic may be an important factor. What is the point of driving to a cheap part of San Francisco (if there is one) to save a couple of hundred dollars when the time to get off work, drive and park negates that saving.

So there you go. Don’t worry, your odds are good. We at Doctorbase would like to humbly offer our listings of quality dentists in San Francisco as they have been checked for reviews and facilities with many having peer reviews too. They wouldn’t be on our listings if they had a bunch of bad reviews. If you choose not to, you obviously know how to use Google – you found us – so good luck.

E-mail the author with a question, seriously I don’t mind, it’s what i’m here for. If I don’t know the answer, I know a lot of dentists, I’ll get you an answer.

Dentistry has undergone many technological advances over the past few years to remedy many of the discomforts and annoyances inherent in the activity. Dentists these days have huge options of equipment, tools and drugs to better improve the dental patient experience.

Long gone are the days of foot powered drilling.

Here, as an example, are some tools now available to today’s dentist to remedy certain less popular experiences in the dental chair…

Negative Effect: Metal Mouth – Fix: Invisible Braces

The powerful image of a mouthful of metal may not be the most aesthetic image, so new technologies such as Invisalign® offer a remedy to this image and comfort issue.

Negative Effect: Dentures – Fix: Oral Implants

A way to replace a missing tooth from gum disease or from accidents is with “fake” teeth. Dental implants look and feel like normal teeth, but cost more than dentures. Implants look very natural and are stable like real teeth as they are “fused” to your bone with screws. Implants often require multiple office visits.

Negative Effect: Gagging – Fix: Isolite®

Like a “flashlight for your mouth,” the IsoLite® mouth irrigation & lighting system was one of the most popular hits of the CDA (California Dental Association) Show of 2009. A clear plastic apparatus replaces the traditional array of hoses & nozzles within the patient’s mouth, forcing their tongue to the side in a comfortable manner yet in a way which allows the dentist to see the inside of a patients mouth more clearly and easily.

Negative Effect: Off Colored Teeth – Fix: Zoom! Teeth Whitening®

A popular teeth whitening system available only from dentists, Zoom!® was featured on the popular ABC show “Extreme Makeover” and its popularity has surged in recent years. Other popular teeth whitening systems include Pola®, Beyond®, Sapphire®, LaserSmile® and Rembrandt®; however, it should be noted that no whitening system can take gray teeth to an ultra-white. There is also some controversy in the dental community as to whether the added light (used as an addition to Zoom!) actually improves the efficiency of any teeth whitening system.

Negative Effect: Numbness – Fix: Oraverse®

Oraverse® is a new product that will reduce that numbness feeling after your procedure. The average time spent waiting for numb gums and cheek to go away is reduced by half. Handy if you are getting dental work during lunch break.

These are just a few of the new tools available to the modern dentist. When evaluating your dentist, make sure to check on the technology in the practice. This may be a deciding factor that reduces the discomfort and increases the pleasure of a trip to the dentist chair.