Dr. Hall,
I see that some of the dentists you list are accredited in cosmetic dentistry and some aren’t. Does every dentist have to be accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry?
– Victoria from New York
Dear Victoria,
Cosmetic dentistry is a completely unregulated field, and that goes to the heart of why we have published this web site. Any dentist can say that he or she is a cosmetic dentist. But in my opinion, only one or two percent really have the artistic inclinations and the training and skills required to create beautiful smiles.
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry does have an accreditation program that is fairly rigorous. To become accredited, a dentist needs to pass a written examination and a clinical examination that involves five cases of five different types of cosmetic treatment. Any dentist who has passed this accreditation examination is a qualified cosmetic dentist. But the AACD has no authority to require cosmetic dentists to take this examination, and there are some excellent cosmetic dentists who choose not to go through this grueling process. Others are in the process of becoming accredited, and have the requisite artistic talent and training but haven’t yet demonstrated it to the AACD.
Whenever we list cosmetic dentists who aren’t accredited, we require them to show photographs of their work that demonstrate the appropriate artistic skills, and we ask about the courses they have taken to receive their training in cosmetic dentistry, so that we may assure our visitors of the quality of the work they receive from any listed dentist. And since I myself am an accredited cosmetic dentist, I know how to evaluate the work to make sure these dentists have the necessary artistic skill.
I hope this is helpful.
– Dr. Hall
Links that may interest you:
Find an expert cosmetic dentist
Ask Dr. Hall a question
Read about porcelain veneers – the flagship cosmetic dentistry procedure
Read about smile design – the artistry of creating a beautiful smile
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.
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