I am getting a smile makeover, but that will also include a dental implant. I know I’m getting porcelain veneers for most of the teeth, but I need some advice about the implant. Which brand is the best implant? Should I get a porcelain crown or a zirconia crown? What color would look best for someone who is fair skinned and in her 50s?
Cassie
Dear Cassie,
I love that you are trying to do research and have some preparation going into your appointment. What I want to do, however, is shift your thinking. There is no way you are going to be able to learn enough about the nuances of both restorative and cosmetic dentistry to get these questions settled yourself. In fact, you could pick the best of all of these materials and still end up with a subpar smile makeover. That is because the success of your dental implant, as well as your smile makeover, will depend on the skill and artistry of the dentist doing it.
Think about it like art. If you gave both Michelangelo and me the same brand of clay and told us to create a sculpture of a woman’s face, I guarantee you that one of them would be better than the other…and it wouldn’t be mine.
What you need is a dentist who has invested in post doctoral training for both smile makeovers and dental implants. Both of these are advanced procedures. I would start by looking for an AACD accredited dentist. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. Once you have a list of those, look for one who also invested in dental implant training. For instance, Dr. Weiss studied at the Dawson Academy. Some other reputable implant training centers are the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies and the Spear Institute. There are others as well, but these three are a good start.
As for the color and type of crown for your skin tone, a great cosmetic dentist will work with you by first understanding the type of smile you want to portray to the world, then they will know the right coloring and materials to give you the smile of your dreams. So, pick the artist and let them pick the materials they’ll use to create the beauty.
This blog is brought to you by Philadelphia Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Michael Weiss.