How to Choose a Cosmetic Dentist

New York City, Queens, Manhattan

If a picture-perfect smile seems out of your reach, don’t despair. Today’s cosmetic dentistry technology combines art and science to create your very best, most natural smile, using state-of-the-art aesthetic materials and the latest techniques. In the care of a knowledgeable and trained professional cosmetic dentist like New York City’s Dr. Michael Iott, your smile can easily go from dull to dazzling. In many cases, your dream smile can be created in just a few brief visits, often with little or no pain.

So how can you choose the right cosmetic dentist for you?

Here are a few helpful tips.

Do your homework
Research cosmetic dentists in your area. Ask friends, family members, neighbors, etc. about their experiences with the cosmetic dentists on your list of potential choices. Consider calling your State Licensing Board to ask about complaints filed against any of the potential cosmetic dentists on your list. Dr. Iott has been recognized by his peers and his patients for excellence. Contact our office and ask about his awards.

Interview several potential dentists
Most offer free consultations. Your goal should be to find the cosmetic dentist who listens and understands your needs. The course of treatment suggested should be customized to your specific and overall goals, from the standpoint of reconstruction and looks. It’s equally important for you to understand your dentist by getting a detailed description of each procedure he or she is proposing, as well as clear answers to all your questions. Be sure to find out how much experience the cosmetic dentist has in performing your procedures.

Ask About Credentials
In cosmetic dentistry, practice makes perfect, so ask about credentials. Dr. Iott is a clinical adjunct professor at the NYU Advanced Program for International Dentists. His office has been featured in Health Magazine, American Express Departures Magazine, The New York Times, The Irish Times (Dublin), and Tennis Magazine and has been chosen for a segment on Discovery Channel's Medical Breakthroughs! Dr. Iott and his practice have also been featured on NBC with Tom Brokaw and ABC with Peter Jennings. Dr. Iott’s commitment to this level of continuing education brings a high degree of patient satisfaction.

View before and after photos
Every good cosmetic dentist has a collection of before and after photos of his or her patients. (Buyer Beware! Some less ethical dentists purchase photo albums of ‘before and afters’ for patients they did not personally treat. Ask if the pictures are the dentist’s personal patients.) Look at the pictures closely and ask questions, paying attention to those with dental issues similar to yours.

Discuss various treatment options
A good cosmetic dentist will be completely honest about what can be done for you, how long it will take, and what your involvement will be in maintenance and follow-up. Be a bit wary of dentists who claim that all their procedures are pain-free. While advances have certainly helped to make dentistry more comfortable, there’s no guarantee that you will be pain-free.

Check out the office
Does the equipment seem modern? Is the office clean and up-to-date? Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the cosmetic dentist’s specific technology and procedures. While you’re at it, be sure to check out the sterilization areas too. State-of-the-art computerization at Dr. Iott’s office means that right in front of your eyes your pre-reconstruction photos will be analyzed by our director of laboratory services and our dental team to create a final image of your new smile for your inspection. Our office design is probably unlike any other space you've ever seen, because it was designed by an international dental design consultant. In fact, you may have seen an article about Dr. Iott's life and work on the front page of December 10, 2001 New York Times Home section.

Choose someone you trust
The #1 criterion for choosing the right dentist is that you must feel comfortable with him or her and trust in the work they are about to perform. Dr. Iott has practiced from the same midtown Manhattan location for 27 years and pioneered many of the latest cosmetic dentistry techniques. His patients have returned over and over through these years, because they know he’ll listen to them, and he’ll do a good job.

As an additional resource, read our Questions to Ask a Cosmetic Dentist.

When you agree to move forward with your customized cosmetic procedures, you’re placing your smile in someone else’s hands. It’s worth the time and effort to find the qualified, experienced, trained professional to suit your needs. You’ll find what you’re looking for in Dr. Michael Iott’s ‘dentistry with a difference’, a difference that begins with specialized training and carries through to unsurpassed care, the newest dental technologies, and pampering comfort in his beautiful, well-appointed New York City offices.

From preventive to restorative to cosmetic care, Dr. Iott uses tomorrow’s technology today to bring you the most exceptional smile and the healthiest mouth. To learn more, please email us or call us toll free at (866) 801-4559.