When you’ve scheduled your consultation, your dentist will take their time with you while you’re in the chair to make sure they clearly understand what you want from your smile makeover. That said, you only have a limited time chairside to communicate to your dentist what you want. There are a few things you can and should do to prepare for your appointment.
Write down your concerns
I think it’s safe to say that many of us have walked out of the dentist’s or doctor’s office realizing that we forgot to mention that one thing. When your dentist is designing you a whole new smile, you don’t want to leave the office and suddenly remember you forgot to mention anything. Write down a list of oral health and cosmetic concerns that you have about your smile. Your dentist is going to give you a comprehensive exam and needs a truly comprehensive picture of your oral health and your goals in order to design a smile that’s not only beautiful but also a smile that is functional and healthy.
Scroll social media and bring images
Spend time looking at smiles that the dentist has previously designed and choose ones you like. It’s also helpful to choose ones you don’t like. Screenshot these images and bring them with you. If there are any celebrities who have a smile you love (or hate), bring those images with you as well.
Bring a list of questions with you
Your consultation is your chance to sit down with the dentist and get a feel for who they are, how they operate, and how they treat their patients. Don’t worry. If you’re not sure what to ask, we have a printout at the end of the book that you can bring with you. While you’re there with them, make sure you make full use of your time and ask questions like:
- How many smiles have they done?
- How much experience do they have in this area?
- Do they have additional training in these procedures?
- Are their results predictable and are their patients usually happy with their smiles?
- Are they committed to staying up with the latest and greatest techniques and materials?
- How many cases do they do with this specific treatment and what is the focus of theirpractice?
Understand your budget
I’ve written a blog post about why veneers cost so much, but you need to make sure that you’re prepared to talk budget and financing options. The last thing you want to do is get excited about your new smile only to be blindsided by the cost. Make sure you have a candid conversation about the initial costs, payment plans, and additional expenses that could arise
Be open to new ideas
Your dentist is a specialist in smile design. You may schedule your appointment because you want one treatment (probably veneers since you’re reading this book), but your dentist may propose additional or alternative treatments.
Trust your dentist with your smile
Hopefully, your dentist has designed hundreds or thousands of smiles. Your dentist is going to know what looks good and what doesn’t.
Come prepared to look at a treatment plan
You’re going to sit down with a patient coordinator to go over the specifics of your treatment
plan. This will include:
- Treatment options
- How long the treatments will take
- How many appointments you’ll need
- Specific costs per procedure and total cost
Having this treatment plan doesn’t mean that you’ve committed to this specific dentist’s plan. It
is simply the end point of your comprehensive consultation.