A Dental Marketing Scheme that Will Lead to an Awful Smile Makeover

I have a crown that needs to be replaced. I’ve considered getting porcelain veneers on the other teeth. I received some information from a Colonial Dental Plan. They have quite a few dentists on their list.  If I join their plan for $300, I can get 20% off my work. I will come out ahead on this. Could you tell me the best dentist on their list?

Delany

Dear Delany,

Do you know what a large portion of the business is that skilled cosmetic dentists get? Fixing the work of bad cosmetic dentists. Unfortunately for patients, there is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry. That means that any general dentist can do the work regardless of the amount of post-doctoral training they’ve invested in with these procedures.

How these type of plans work is the marketing company goes to a dentist and tells them if they agree to discount their services, then they can be listed with them, and it will help get patients in their seats. Most dentists have heard this pitch. It is never the skilled cosmetic dentists who agree to sign on with these. The reason for that is that they have zero problem getting patients.

The dentists that need that help will either be brand new and need the assistance in order to build up their patient list and their experience, or dentists who are unskilled and don’t have any patient retention as a result.

If you need to save money, you will be better off just getting some teeth whitening done and then only replace your dental crown. Whether you just get the minimum or a full smile makeover with porcelain veneers, you will want to make sure that you go to a skilled cosmetic dentist so you don’t end up having to go somewhere else to have it repaired (costing you even more money).

All skilled cosmetic dentists have files of cases like this where patients came in with a smile that is actually worse then what they started with when they went to the “cheap” dentist.

The best cosmetic dentists in the country are accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). This is different from simple membership. It’s even better if you can find someone who is a Fellow. Those are harder to find though.

As to which is the best on the plan you’re considering, they vary from state to state, but as I said, I wouldn’t expect to find a great one on the list.

This blog is brought to you by an advanced cosmetic dentist in Cincinnati, Dr. Fred Peck.