How do you become a cosmetic dentist?

Answer 1

"Cosmetic Dentist" is a broad term that simply means you feel you are a dentist that knows a little more about creating an attractive smile. There are a number of organizations that attempt to provide additional training after dental school on this subject. Some universities, like UCLA bring in a series of speakers to help dentists learn about the subject.

The problem that the public is not aware of is the fact that this training can be harmful if used in the wrong situations. The typical cosmetic dentist studies how to treat an assortment of conditions with porcelain veneers, when many times other alternatives are safer and more cost effective.

Aggressive cosmetic dentists may be relatively rare, but they can damage hundreds of healthy teeth in the name of aesthetics. The book 'Confessions of a Former Cosmetic Dentist' discusses the concerns about specific reasons why the training of cosmetic dentists may be suspect and negatively affect the judgment of these dental professionals.

The biggest problem is dental labs, who benefit from patients purchasing larger volumes of porcelain veneers and crowns are heavily involved in sponsoring courses for the training of dentists interested in cosmetic care. This conflict of interest makes 'becoming a cosmetic dentist' a questionable process.