5 Must-Know Tips to Find a Good Cosmetic Dentist

Imagine you’re going on vacation and need to book accommodations.

You do a quick online search for the best hotels or resorts in the area.

Google pulls up a map with a TON of places to chose from.

What do you next?

Most likely, you avoid the places with anything less than 4 stars.

To narrow it down more, you look at reviews and pictures.

Once you pick one, you visit their website to check availability and book.

Now, you’re probably wondering how this relates to finding a cosmetic dentist?

Well, let us tell you:

The first few steps to finding a good cosmetic dentist are very similar to finding a hotel: location, reviews, and photos!

And if anyone can attest to this, it’s our patient, Matt, who actually works in the hotel industry and used these exact parameters to search for a cosmetic dentist in Minneapolis.

Watch his story below!

Then keep reading because there’s more you should know, like how to avoid a cosmetic dentist scam!

Meet Matt Davis from Minneapolis

Having recently moved, Matt needed a new dentist in Minneapolis, MN.

He began searching online for dentists in downtown Minneapolis, close to where he lived.

As you can imagine, he found hundreds of dentists.

To narrow down his search, he looked at reviews from current and past patients.

He didn’t find any dentists with stellar reviews, so he expanded his search a little outside the downtown area.

That’s when Matt found Serene Oaks Dental.

First, he took a glance at our Google reviews… This text opens a new tab to our 5-star Google reviews….

In his words:

“I just kept reading about how amazing the staff was here, and about how amazing the doctors and dentists were here.”

Wanting to learn more, he went to our website and clicked on our Smile Gallery.

Our online portfolio showcases real patients’ before-and-after cosmetic dentistry photos.

“I found the most amazing photos of before and afters. And from cases that looked similar to mine, to cases that looked completely different than mine, I saw what Dr. Horn and her team could do.”

That sold him!

Matt picked up the phone, called us, and booked an appointment within the week!

Why Matt chose Serene Oaks Dental

As soon as Matt walked through our doors, he knew he’d made the best decision and that all of our patients’ testimonials were true.

As we do for all new patients, we first sat down with Matt to go over:

• Dental and medical history
• Expectations
• Fears
• How he rated his smile
• And more!

As he recalls:

“That’s when it all opened my eyes as to truly what can happen. I was speaking to Dr. Horn, Natalie, Sarah, and Angie – like everyone here – and discovered this was by far more than just a dentist’s office. It was a dental experience. And I work in hotels… I understand what it takes and what it means to make people feel good, and I felt so amazing.”

Now, he was really sold!

How Matt improved his smile

Before Matt came to Serene Oaks Dental, he’d already received braces and orthognathic surgery (corrective jaw surgery). However, he didn’t love his smile.

That’s where Dr. Gesica Horn’s expertise came in!

Dr. Horn worked with Matt to outline a custom smile design, which included:

• Replacing old, discolored crowns
• Minimal, prepless veneers
• Esthetic crown lengthening

The result?

• Better symmetry
• Ideal pink (gum) to white (teeth) ratio
• Whiter smile
• A timeless smile that’ll keep him looking attractive and youthful

See for yourself in his before-and-after smile design photo!

Lucky for you:

You can receive custom results just like this no matter where you are in the country or world!

How?

Keep reading for 5 tips to help you narrow down your cosmetic dentist search.

How to find a cosmetic dentist

First, there’s something you absolutely must know:

Legally, any dentist can advertise themselves as a “cosmetic dentist” because cosmetic dentistry isn’t recognized as a specialty.

That’s why it’s crucial you do some “homework” before picking a cosmetic dentist.

1. Read real patient reviews

What are current or past patients saying?

Do they like this dentist? Recommend him or her?

Specifically, do they mention cosmetic dentistry? Sometimes, reviews may reference the dentist’s general dentistry services.

Along the same lines:

Ask your general dentist or your friends and family who’ve gotten cosmetic dental work done for referrals.

2. Look at before-and-after photos

A true cosmetic dentist will showcase their work.

Ask yourself if you like the results and if you’d want that for yourself.

And make sure they’re real patient photos, not stock!

3. Check AACD credentials

Is the dentist a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD)?

The AACD is the world’s leading organization for cosmetic dentists and professionals. It provides superior continuing education and opportunities to help dentists stay at the forefront of cosmetic dentistry.

There’s even an Accreditation process for dentists to demonstrate their skill and knowledge, recognizing them among the top cosmetic dentists in the world.

Dr. Gesica Horn attained AACD Fellowship… This text opens a new tab to Dr. Horn’s AACD profile… in 2020, which is the highest level!

Most highly skilled cosmetic dentists are a member of the AACD.

4. Check continuing education

Dental schools barely scratch the surface of cosmetic dentistry.

To master the art and science of this field, a dentist must seek post-graduate training.

And to stay current on the ever-evolving advancements in technology and techniques, they must regularly complete continuing education.

Our North Oaks dentists have extensive training beyond dental school, including completion of three prosthodontic programs from the top three centers in the world.

5. How are you feeling?

Now that you’ve found a dentist (or multiple) who checks the boxes, schedule a consultation.

Tip: Don’t feel like you need to commit or sign on the dotted line right then and there. Take a day or more to reflect on how you’re feeling.

Ask yourself:

• Do you like the before-and-after photos?
• How was your consultation?
• Did you feel heard?
• Was the treatment plan customized to your needs? That could include how you want your smile to look or things like timeline, budget, and comfort.
• Did you feel rushed or pressured into a treatment?
• Do you feel truly cared for or like just another patient?
• What was the office environment like?

Ultimately, you should feel comfortable around and confident in the cosmetic dentist.

Want to meet our cosmetic dentist?

Schedule a one-on-one consultation with AACD Fellow Dr. Gesica Horn.

She’s well known in the Twin Cities for producing exceptional cosmetic and anti-aging dentistry results.

As Matt noted:

“I feel that I wouldn’t be nearly as comfortable or happy with what my smile is now if I had chosen anyone else. And that’s purely based on the expertise of Dr. Horn and her staff.”

You deserve to love your smile and feel confident sharing it with the world. Don’t wait any longer to make that a reality!

Serene Oaks Dental is located in Minneapolis and serves surrounding communities, including North Oaks, White Bear Lake, St. Paul, Twin Cities, Shoreview, and Arden Hills.