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♦ TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2006
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/4 professional office is more than
happy to share service details with you.
One dental question that many
people have is “What can I do to make
my smile look better?” The reality is
that dentists are now capable of help
ing you create the appearance you’ve
always dreamed of having. This can be
accomplished in several ways, including
teeth whitening, shape changing, closer
spacing, and stain removal. Using these
techniques, a professional can virtually
rebuild your smile to “magazine
advertisement quality.”
When contemplating these
procedures, it is important to gain a
basic knowledge of the types of
procedures you may be undergoing.
This information is easily found on the
Internet and can also be provided to you
by your dentist.
The two most important qualities
that a dentist must possess when dealing
with cosmetic cases are time and atten
tion. He or she must spend the time edu
cating the patient on all of the treatment
options and their possible risks, as well
as the time it takes to plan and carry out
an outstanding aesthetic-based treatment
plan. The attention provided is also
important. This is in the form of
personal attention and attention to
detail. A great dentist who performs
aesthetic procedures must give you the
personal attention you need in order
to walk you through the complicated
process. He or she must also pay special
attention to detail, as the success hinges
on a series of sequenced steps being
followed in perfect order. Many dentists
are capable of quality aesthetic work;
however, you should search for those in
dividuals who seem truly excited by the
prospect of helping someone improve
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General & Cosmetic Dentistry
Routine cleanings
and oral exams
Root canals
Crown & bridge
Minor surgical procedures
Invisalign
Cosmetic veneers
Tooth whitening
Implants
At Perry Dental Associates our goal is to provide full spectrum dental care for
the whole family. We serve patients with a variety of dental needs and cosmetic
goals, and enjoy taking time to make a. difference in each smile with as l e
Louis C. Shelton,
DMD
his or her self-image and confidence.
People should be aware that there
are many great dentists practicing
today. You should look for one who
strives each day to live up to the highest
standards and who treats patients like
family. This is the cornerstone to pro
viding outstanding dental care. Striving
to make patients feel comfortable and
listening to them are qualities too often
overlooked. The good news is that there
are many dentists who share similar phi
losophies, and this should guide you and
help you find the right doctor. Recom
mendations from friends and family can
be a great source of information also.
Dental teams love hearing from new pa
tients, so don’t hesitate to call a dentist
and ask questions. If you take an active
role in your oral health, you should find
the best dentist for your needs.
For most people a trip to the dental
office is not on their “my top five things
to do today" list. While this is under
standable, there is good news for every
one. It does not have to be a bad expe
rience. The materials and techniques
which dentists have at their disposal
make providing and receiving dental
care more pleasurable today than it ever
has been. Keeping this in mind, the con
sumers of dental care want to know how
to spend their money wisely, and they
want assurances about the quality of the
dental care they receive. To that end,
there are three factors which will help
you to select a truly great dentist.
The first factor deals with profession
alism. The best dentists are always striv
ing to remain at the forefront of their
profession. This ensures that the care
you receive is of the highest quality pos
sible. Attending continuing education
courses and participating in symposiums
and study groups are how a dentist ac
complishes this. You want to seek out a
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dentist who understands that learning is
the essence of life. Do not be afraid to
ask your prospective dentists about their
continuing education. Those that are
active learners will be excited to share
with you their most recent educational
experiences.
You should also inquire what pro
cedures are performed in a compre
hensive exam. Your doctor should be
very thorough in gathering informa
tion not only about your teeth but also
about your medical and social history.
In a comprehensive exam, you should
receive a periodontal evaluation, an
x-ray examination, a cancer screening,
and a tooth-by-tooth exam. Skepticism
should arise if a dentist’s examination
does not include these services. The best
offices will be more than happy to share
with you the details of their new-patient
program.
The second factor that you should
consider is the services offered by your
prospective dentist. It is important to de
cide on the-type of care you desire and
then seek out a provider who best fits
your needs. For instance, if you require
a removable denture, it would not be a
goqd idea to go to someone who does
not offer dentures as part of his or her
services. You should inquire with the
dentist on what his or her philosophy
of dental treatment is and what areas
they focus on. The great dentists will be
more than happy to share this informa
tion with you. Remember, no one dentist
can be every person’s provider, so you
should search for the one with the ser
vices and philosophies that best suit you.
The final factor in looking for the
best dentist is personality. You should
seek out an individual with whom you
get along and who can effectively com
municate with you in an easily under
standable manner. The best doctors are
those who have the ability to connect
with their patients and make them feel
at ease. In short, you want to look for
a person with exceptional “bedside
manner.” You should also evaluate the
friendliness of the staff. These are the
people with whom you will spend much
of your dental-care time; therefore, it
is essential that they be warm, friendly
and, most important, willing to help you
and listen to your concerns. The person
ality of your doctor and his or her staflT
form the lasting impressions that you
will take with you when you leave the
office.
In seeking a dentist to fulfill your
cosmetic needs, it is important to gain
as much information as possible. This
means that you need to ask questions.
Great dentists will address all of your
concerns and carefully map out alterna
tives and potential risks associated with
the various treatments. They should
also be able to produce examples of
treatment so that you can visualize the
outcome.
The Top Five Things You
Should Know...
1. A great dentist is generous with
his or her time and attention.
2. Gather all the information you
can about credentials and
procedures.
3. Seek a dentist who regularly
participates in continuing
education.
4. Make sure that your dentist
communicates freely and is one
with whom you feel comfortable.
5. Determine which dentists are
the best in the services you re
quire.
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Thomas W. Shelton,
DMD
HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
00038943