Monthly Archives: May 2013

Uncategorized

A question about dental accreditation

It seems like there are some cosmetic dentists who are accredited and some who aren’t. Why is that and what is the difference?

Burke I.- Detroit, MI

Burke,

You have asked one of the most important questions there is regarding cosmetic dentistry.  Most people don’t know that cosmetic dentistry is a completely unregulated field. That means any general dentist can learn a few cosmetic procedures and call themselves a cosmetic dentist. Even the standard for acceptable care in cosmetic dentistry is really low. For instance, as long as your cosmetic work is functional, it is considered acceptable, regardless of how unattractive you may feel it to be.

This lack of regulation is a problem. Very few “cosmetic” dentists are skilled enough to create a truly beautiful smile. It takes a significant amount of post-graduate training to be able to adequately do cosmetic procedures. So, knowing this, how can you know if a cosmetic dentist is really qualified?  That is where accreditation comes in.

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) has an accreditation program. Dentists are not required to participate in the program. Those that do have to pass a stringent written exam, as well as a clinical exam where they have to give five case samples of their work. Only about 1-2% of dentists in the world acheive this level of qualification. You can be certain that if a dentist is AACD accredited, you are in fantastic hands.

You may be interested in learning about our porcelain veneers cosmetic procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Boston Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

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Congratulations to Dr. Arthur Chal

As we mention on this website, Dr. Burba is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. The AACD accreditation program is made possible by the dedicated service of a number of volunteers who serve as examiners, evaluating the cosmetic dentistry of their peers. These expert cosmetic dentists donate their time and expertise to help advance the cause of promoting quality cosmetic dentistry.

We wanted to give acknowledgement to one of those dedicated professionals, Dr. Arthur Chal, who was recognized recently for 16 years of service as an accreditation examiner for the AACD. This is the longest tenure of any member of this examining board, and represents a tremendous commitment to the profession.

Congratulations, and thank you for your service, Dr. Chal.

This blog is sponsored by AACD Accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Crowns, Porcelain Veneers

Fake looking crowns/veneers

Both me and a friend  have tetracycline stained teeth. She had gotten a smile makeover with crowns and veneers and her smile looked beautiful, natural and completely translucent. I decided to get my smile done too, but mine looks really fake. I think the best way to describe them is opaque. What went wrong? Did my dentist use the wrong materials?

Jenneatte M.- Pelican Bay, TX

Jenneatte,

Generally, the problem is not the material, but the dentist. It takes a real artistic dentist to make porcelain veneers and crowns to look both natural and translucent. It is especially difficult when dealing with tetracycline stains. An amateur cosmetic dentist tends to make them too translucent because of trying to cover the  tetracycline stains, which are tricky.

However, the top 1-3% of cosmetic dentists can give you a gorgeous smile even with those difficult stains. What you need to do is find a dentist who is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Anyone who reaches the level of accreditation will be able to give you the smile you desired.

This blog is brought to you by Boston Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.