For background, this is an extended e-mail exchange with a patient I am calling “D”, as he agonizing over choosing a cosmetic dentist. Here are links to the first three e-mails from July, 2012:
Agonizing over the choice of a dentist.
Agonizing over the choice of a dentist, part 2.
Agonizing over the choice of a dentist, part 3.
These first three were a back-and-forth while I tried to guide him through his case and picking a cosmetic dentist. Then, last month, I received the following e-mail from him:
Dr. Hall,
Its been awhile and I still haven’t made the decision on my dentist yet. Do you happen to know Dr. Hans Scoble?
Thanks,
D
I wrote back:
D,
Why not Dr. Latner? He is one of the best cosmetic dentists in the country.
I don’t know Dr. Scoble. I’ve never heard of him.
Dr. Hall
And he replied:
He wanted to do all eight teeth. I just don’t understand that.
And I answered:
D,
If I remember right, eight teeth is the right way to do your case. Unless you’re just going to replace the two crowns in the very front.
Great cosmetic dentists identify very strongly with the quality of their work, and they don’t want anything ugly out there with their name on it. So I can understand if Dr. Latner doesn’t want to do your case if you want him to confine himself to six teeth. It’s simply not going to look right, and he doesn’t want to be a part of that.
I fear you are destined for trouble with your approach. There has to be a little trust between the dentist and the patient or you will not get a beautiful smile. It just doesn’t happen.
– Dr. Hall
After thinking about D and his approach here for some time, I wrote down my reflections on “Why some people agonize over the choice of a dentist.”
We thank our advertisers who help fund this site. |
|
About David A. Hall
Dr. 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.