This cosmetic dentistry information website is unique in that it is the only such website actually written by an accredited cosmetic dentist. My name is Dr. David Hall. I am the author, and I was one of the first fifty dentists to become accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

It is also unique in its plain, straightforward talk. I have a strong sense of obligation to you, the visitor, and so I try to tell you the plain and unvarnished truth. Other cosmetic dentistry websites seem governed by professional political correctness. You won't find that here.

Find a Cosmetic Dentist

And we don't just list cosmetic dentists—we recommend them. Each doctor recommended on this website has been personally screened by me for training credentials and artistic ability. I do have a legal disclaimer that you need to read before using this site, because it is ultimately the responsibility of the dental board of each state to insure the quality of dental care in each state, and not mine. But I can say that I have made an honest and carefully informed effort to personally insure the quality of my recommendations.

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

It is general dentistry and more. It has the added dimension of art. There are all the functional requirements, and, in addition, the dentist must pay close attention to the appearance of the dental work. Doing this requires special materials. Ceramic and composite technology has advanced to the point where beautiful AND durable dental work can be provided to each patient. But there is so much extra training involved in learning how to use these highly advanced materials properly, that only those dentists who are truly passionate about the appearance of their work take the time away from the office and spend the money required.

Cosmetic Dentistry Illustrated

After years of struggling to get visitors to this website to understand the difference between the 98% of dentists who are capable of fixing problems with their teeth and who are most likely reputable and honest but are not artistic—the difference between them and an artistic and specially trained doctor who is passionate about creating beautiful smiles—I have decided that the best way to explain the difference is with pictures.

  Highlights of Key Content:

• Referral to an expert cosmetic dentist. All listed dentists have extensive post-graduate education in aesthetic dentistry and have demonstrated their skill and artistry with photographs of their work. Very few dentists are artists who can do beautiful smile makeovers.
• An explanation of smile design—how training in aesthetics is used to give you the most pleasing smile.
• Extensive, authoritative information on a wide variety of topics, including porcelain veneers, teeth bleaching, the new invisible braces, mercury-free white fillings, and numerous other topics.
• A warning page of cosmetic dentistry mistakes—awful experiences reported by our visitors that show what can go wrong if your dentist isn't properly trained in this specialty.
• How to take care of porcelain veneers after you get them.
• Results of a nationwide survey of the costs of cosmetic dental work.
• Ask a question of Dr. Hall. We love to get questions. Dr. Hall can't answer them all, but he answers a surprising number of them.
• There are hundreds of pages here—a tremendous amount of information.

  Other Cosmetic Dentistry Information on
    this Website:

• Explanations of how the work is accomplished—how involved the work is and how many appointments.
• Post-operative instructions.
• Exploration of the big controversy in the dental profession today: amalgam fillings versus composite fillings. There are two main pages addressing this issue, plus blog entries and other information throughout the site.
• Read our new section about cosmetic dentistry and dental insurance. Contrary to popular belief, some insurance benefits can be received for cosmetic procedures, and this page will explain that.

Here is a photograph of a case of ten anterior crowns done by an excellent general dentist. The quote from the report we received about this case is that the dentist "raved about his own work and thought it was gorgeous!" The patient, however, thought it was awful. The color of the teeth is flat and kind of yellow. Their shape is more like Chicklets than natural teeth. They are opaque. They don't sparkle. From a distance, there appear to be dark triangles between the teeth.

This is an example of top-of-the-line work, very expensive, done by a general dentist. By his standards, yes, it is beautiful. The margins, the functionality, the durability are all superb. But the smile is cold and clinical—not truly beautiful in the eyes of most patients.

                       Excellent dental work by a general dentist

The end of this story is that this patient was so disappointed with the work that she paid thousands of dollars to an expert, highly artistic cosmetic dentist in our referral network to re-do the crowns. The smile done by the artist is pictured at the right. These teeth are translucent and natural-looking. They are whiter. They truly sparkle. They have subtleties embedded in their shapes and the coloration to make them look real. The smile is warm and inviting.

The patient, was of course, thrilled with the results.

                                  Truly artistic cosmetic dentistry

      Beautiful work by Dr. Oppenheim of Thomasville, Georgia

The dental information throughout this site was personally written by me, Dr. David Hall. I have had over twenty years of experience with esthetic dentistry. I was one of the first fifty dentists to pass the rigorous esthetic dentistry accreditation examinations of the AACD.

Each dentist from our referral network is similarly accredited or has other credentials or training, making her or him a knowledgeable artist/health care professional. With a blend of artistic sensitivity and technical ability, and using techniques ranging from a full set of porcelain veneers to some minor tooth bonding or tooth whitening, an expert doctor/artist can help create a smile that you will be eager to show everyone.

This site has been on the Web since 1995.* In 2007, it became the most highly trafficked cosmetic dentistry web site on the Internet. In 2009, we are continuing to expand and update it and make it as informative and relevant as possible. Traffic has reached 100,000 unique visitors per month, with over three million hits per month. I hope each visitor has found the site helpful. And thank you for all your encouraging feedback—it warms my heart. It's wonderful to know of all the patients I've helped with their dental concerns.