A few years ago, choosing adentist would have been fairly easy. Your regular dentist would most likely have fit the bill. But now with the many advances in the field of cosmetic dentistry, there are so many things to consider. With growing consciousness about how the alignment of teeth can affect the appearance of a person and their smile, cosmetic dentistry especially orthodontics has steadily gained popularity. And many dentists are claiming to specialize in this field despite not having the right credentials.

The steps you should take:

There are a few things you can do to increase your chances of identifying the best Yaletown dentist:

• You can start by consulting your regular physician; yourphysician will be in the best position to suggest a good dentist based on your requirements. For example, a dentist reputed for his teeth whitening techniques might not be that good at braces. Your general dentist will know who will fit the bill perfectly.
• Next on the list are your friends and family, they must have visited dentists at some point or other. They can tell you from personal experience who to avoid and who is the ace in cosmetic dentistry. If you are looking for an orthodontist for your child, then consulting with teachers and other parents could provide some dependable recommendations.
• After you have shortlisted a few names, do a thorough background check. Make sure the individual you are about to consult is a licensed dentist.

After finding the dentist:

Well if you thought finding adentist was the only thing you had to do, then you thought wrong.

• After making the first appointment, observe the dentist’s manner, a person feels very vulnerable in the dentist’s chair.Is the dentist able to comfort and put his/her patient at ease? Or that he/sheis rather brusque.This is especially important if you are taking your child for treatment because the friendly manner of the dentist will go a long way to ease a child’s fear and to encourage the child to practice oral hygiene.
• How clear is the dentist in his/herdiagnoses? Has the treatment and plan of action to address your problem been explained to you clearly. Are there any alternative treatments you can try?
• Don’t overlook finances. Clarify the cost of treatment and look for financing options that might be available to you.