Are you looking for a way to turn your stained, cracked, chipped, or misaligned smile into one of your greatest assets? With porcelain veneers, you can.
Porcelain veneers are handcrafted from durable dental porcelain and placed on the front of your teeth by Dr. Heap. The whole process takes only two visits and the finished results look completely natural, meaning that you can finally have the dazzling smile you’ve been dreaming of.
Visit our main website at: www.LakesideSmiles.com
Perhaps a cosmetic dentist is not given credit for learning everything needed to be able to do a good job. There are many different subjects in cosmetic dentistry that require a lot of study on the part of the dentist. Incorporated into that are: 
Each one of these different procedures has its own steps that a good dentist must follow in order to do a good job.
Teeth cleaning and filling cavities are the most basic of the procedures. The other ones require a lot more expertise.
Dentists can use veneers to take care of your chips and stains, and under some circumstances are used to fill in large gaps between teeth. Veneers — or they are sometimes called porcelain veneers — cover your natural teeth and thus hide blemishes. This Gilbert cosmetic dentist is well skilled in the placement of veneers.
The dentist can whiten your teeth in order to restore the fresh white look on teeth that have been neglected. Whitening can also be the first step toward restorative dental procedures.
A dentist needs to know about orthodontics if you want your crooked teeth aligned. That’s normally when you make an appointment to have braces put on. Cosmetic dentists in Gilbert can give you the amazing Invisalign invisible braces.
With conventional braces, you would probably have to see the orthodontist several times in order for him to monitor you. As you will find with Invisalign invisible braces, fewer visits are necessary. You’ll get a tray or retainer that will be used and then replaced while you’re going through the realigning process. The tray can be removed whenever you want, whenever you need. Using Invisalign is quicker than if you go to an orthodontist for conventional braces. Depending on how much work your teeth need, your treatment may be longer than others. Commonly, when people get Invisalign, their overall treatment time is done in less than a year.
Finally, crowns and bridges are manufactured especially to fill in a gap left by a tooth that came out or be placed over a chipped tooth. When that’s the case, the dentist has to be very careful about taking precise specifications and teeth must be properly prepared.
We always offer free consultations for those interested in improving the appearance of their smile.
Give us a call at 480-892-1711 or visit our website for more information at www.LakesideSmiles.com
Any time you are choosing a healthcare provider, you always wonder where you can find out the things that other people already know. It is easier to decide on a dentist when you know what to look for and exactly what to ask. Then you can decide by comparing your wants and desires with the services that will be provided by the various choices you have for a dentist.
Here are some key questions you can ask over the phone before you make an appointment. These four questions will help you find the right dental care provider for you:
1. What continuing education has the dentist taken in the last 12 months? New developments in dentistry are emerging every day. Leading edge technologies, new ways to diagnose, and better treatments are being discovered, tested, and confirmed regularly. The dentist of choice should be keeping up with all of the newest developments. You will want to have a dentist who knows all of the potential treatments for every condition. State requirements, however, are minimal to maintain a license to practice dentistry. For instance, in Texas a dentist is only required to have 12 hours of continuing education each year. Is the dentist just doing the minimum required to stay in practice or striving to stay educated so you will stay healthy? If the appointment coordinator on the phone can’t tell you what courses have been taken lately, it is likely that there haven’t been very many!
2. How long will it take to perform my initial examination? Be sure that you are going to a dentist who will provide a thorough exam so that you and the dentist will be totally aware of your entire oral health condition. Check to see if the dentist will take the time with you to discuss your condition and treatment options. A thorough dentist will set aside at least an hour or more to do a complete exam and consultation.
3. What is included in my initial exam? Some dentists just take a cursory glance around and ask what hurts. This may be a “look-see” to detect the obvious, but it isn’t an effective exam that will protect you and your long-term health.
There are four things a thorough exam should include:
(a) A check of all your teeth for decay including the current condition of any existing restorations. Notes should be made on your chart of all existing restorations and the condition of all of your other teeth. You should be given the option of having a full series of X-Rays rather that just four “bite-wings” if the total condition of your dental health is being evaluated thoroughly.
(b) A complete and thorough check of the health of your gums with a periodontal probe. This instrument is inserted between each tooth and your gums to measure bone depth. Six points on every tooth should be checked and the findings charted.
(c) A check of your bite should be made to determine how your teeth come together. The check should determine if there is balance, excessive wear, or jaw pain.
(d) There should be an oral cancer exam to check for any signs of oral cancer. Oral cancer is usually not recognized by your physician early enough. Make sure your new dentist is checking under your tongue, your cheeks and the roof of your mouth.
4. Ask what will occur between the time of your arrival at the office and when the dentist starts the actual exam. This will determine if there will be time for you to talk to a treatment coordinator or to the dentist before the work begins. A dentist interested in you and your health will set time aside to listen to your concerns and expectations during your first visit.
When you have investigated these four things, take time to do a brief mental review of the experience you have had. Recall how you have been treated on the phone. The treatment you receive from the appointment coordinator can often be an indication of how you are going to be treated in that office by other team members as well, including the dentist.
MAKE THE FIRST VISIT TO THE
OFFICE A TRUE LEARNING
EXPERIENCE
As you enter the office, be a detective. You may see little things that could be symptoms of more significant things going on behind the scenes. Here are some things to observe:
1. Is the reception area tidy, organized, neat, and clean? This may be an indication of how organized and clean the entire office is likely to be.
2. Are you seen on time? This will provide an indication of whether this is a people-oriented practice or one that is just treating teeth. It may not be realistic to expect the dental practice to be right on schedule all the time, but it is realistic to expect to be told within 10 minutes of your arrival if there will be a time delay.
3. Is the restroom near the reception area neat and clean? What you find there will likely give you an idea of what you can expect in the total office in terms of organization, cleanliness, and attention to detail.
4. Are the doctor and the members of the dental team good examples of proper dental health and hygiene? Do they have attractive smiles? This is an indication of whether they believe in what they are doing. The dental team members should be good examples of the service they provide. If the optimal dental health you want for yourself is not important enough to the providers you have chosen to have it done for themselves, then there is reason to question the recommendations you might be given by those providers.
The above suggestions are just some of the things you can ask and observe in order to make the right choice of a dentist who will serve you and your needs the best. Take the time to ask the right questions so you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing that you are in the best hands for what you want for the long term health of your mouth and your smile.
Visit us at our website: www.LakesideSmiles.com or call us at 480-892-1711
Learn more about one of Arizona’s top dental practices at
I like people who have a passion for looking and feeling their best.
We are special because our entire office is focused on ensuring you can be happy and have the best smile and healthy teeth.
We help out patients who already have great gums and teeth and who feel they need to stay healthy. I can also assist anyone whose teeth are chipped or missing, so they can be proud owners of a flashy smile.
Our dental office is in Gilbert, Arizona, next to Val Vista Lakes and I firmly believe I am a Gilbert dentist who is there for those who care about smiling.
Folks usually hear about us from their friends or from our reviews on the internet and call the office. When you call, you will experience how we are different. My front desk ladies are polite, knowledgeable and sympathetic. We appreciate each person who has a problem and needs help and we take the time on the phone to educate and reassure you.
Also, we have always put special emphasis on patiently explaining to you your situation and treatment options. I do not do anything without going over with it you beforehand.
Now you can make a choice between two paths. The first option is to call my office right now to arrange for an appointment. Click here to contact my office.
Click here to learn about getting a smile makeover in only a few visits
Thank you so much for visiting us and we look forward to meeting you and your family.
If you read the previous blog entry: “What Is a Cosmetic Dentistâ€, you’ve realized how hard it can be to find a true cosmetic dentist in Gilbert, or even a Mesa cosmetic dentist for that matter. Of course, the reason is because every dentist calls himself a cosmetic dentist these days no matter how much training they’ve had or how many cases they have actually completed.
So I’ve been thinking about how I would recommend finding a cosmetic dentist to someone moving to a new city. My parents are moving out of state in a few weeks so this is the same advice I would give them.
1. Get online. Look at their website. You can learn a lot about a dentist by their website. I’ve noticed a correlation in the beauty of a website and the quality and beauty of the work the dentist does. It sounds like an overgeneralization, and it probably is. But the same mindset that pushes a dentist to do beautiful cosmetic work is the same that would cause him to have a beautiful website. Not all beautiful websites represent true cosmetic dentists, but every serious cosmetic dentist will have a beautiful website.
2. Ask to see pictures of their work. Every top-notch cosmetic dentist will have pictures available of their own work and of the lives they have transformed. And they can show them to you within 30 seconds of asking. If they have to fish around for their “best†case, or they show you a book of cases done by other dentists, you may want to look elsewhere.
3. The office. Don’t put too much emphasis on the “luxurious†office. I’ve seen some questionable work coming consistently out of some of the most beautiful offices in town. That being said, a cosmetic dentist will have an office that is well-kept with nice décor. Extra amenities like beverages are common as well.
4. The doctor. Any dentist who will be in charge of transforming your smile should be able to take the time to listen to you. If a dentist can’t take as much time as is necessary to talk about your concerns and expectations, you don’t want him doing your cosmetic work. It’s a road that leads to frustration and anger for the patient.
5. The staff. Everyone from the staff to the doctor should be friendly, helpful, and available to answer all of your questions. Plus, you should like them and get along. There are some fabulous cosmetic dentists who aren’t easy to get along with. But you want someone who will do great work and who you can enjoy talking to. It makes the whole process much more enjoyable.
6. Credentials. Find out what organizations and study clubs they belong to. There are some important organizations that indicate someone who is dedicated to cosmetic dentistry. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry is a big one. Others include: The Crown Council, Phoenix Esthetic Study Club, and the Arizona Excellence in Dentistry Study Club.
So if you are looking for a cosmetic dentist in Mesa or Gilbert, these are some of the steps I would take. It is not an easy task to find one. And the truth is, that any dentist can improve your smile. But just improving your smile isn’t enough. It needs to sparkle and it needs to look natural. And that is the difference that comes with someone committed to the highest level of cosmetic dentistry. True cosmetic dentists are out there. They may be hard to find but if you keep in mind some of the above discriminators, you can avoid any major mistakes and end up with the smile you have always wanted.
Kris Heap DDS
Lakeside Cosmetic Dentistry Home Page