You are illusionists if your feel that only the “real cosmetic dentist” can achieve wonderful results. It would seem that you all are trying to promote the idea that only you all are “masters” of the art. As I see all the promotional articles it would appear that you all are masters of “hard sell.” I feel sad for the mentality that now pervades our once great profession. You may reply.
– Dr. Bob in California
Dr. Bob,
On the contrary, a good cosmetic dentist is very much a soft-sell person who tries hard to please the patient and who knows that any cosmetic dental treatment must be driven by the patient. If the patient is unhappy with his or her smile, then the case needs to be done. If the patient is happy with how they look, then no treatment is indicated. That’s what I was taught in my cosmetic dentistry courses. And a good cosmetic dentist knows that the case is a success only when the patient is happy with the results.
There is a distinct mental attitude difference between a technician-oriented dentist who is very good at what he or she does, and an artistically-oriented dentist who loves creating beautiful smiles and is very good at it.
Imagine yourself trying to convince Julia Roberts, for example, if she wants a new smile, that the dentist on the corner can do that just as well as say Dr. Debra Gray King in Atlanta, or Dr. Jerry Bellen in San Francisco. You’ll never convince her that there aren’t certain dentists that are excellent artists and many that aren’t. You and I know that she’s going to be very fussy about who she lets do that for her.
But I understand the sensitivity that many dentists feel when we discuss the differences in abilities between dentists. Every dentist wants to be an expert, and it takes a big person to admit that others, who have the same advanced degree that they do, are better at certain things. And the general public who visit this web site are very appreciative for our pointing out who are the great artists in this profession.
There is a philosophy of professionalism that wants to uphold the “status” of the professional and is hyper-sensitive to criticism. But I adhere to the philosophy that the greatest professionalism is to be of service to the public.
Dr. Dave Hall
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 About David A. HallDr. David A. Hall was one of the first 40 accredited cosmetic dentists in the world. He practiced cosmetic dentistry in Iowa, and in 1990 earned his accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is now president of Infinity Dental Web, a company in Mesa, Arizona that does advanced internet marketing for dentists. Follow this blog |
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