Dear DrBicuspid Member,
With the recent rise in popularity of veneer techs and other less expensive (but less successful and more dangerous) ways to improve a patient's smile, a pair of well-known cosmetic dentists have a warning for patients who think cheaper means better.
As we have highlighted on DrBicuspid.com in recent weeks, unlicensed dentistry can have repercussions … not only legally for the practitioner but also painfully (in the mouth and wallet) for the patient. With that in mind, Drs. Ross Nash and Anthony Vocaturo recently joined me on a podcast to discuss the trend and why dentists and dental team members should remind their patients of the value and safety they receive by coming to them for their treatment.
Dr. Anthony Vocaturo.
"I'll tell you, most educated patients now that really want to do this procedure," Dr. Vocaturo said. "I've been at this for around 30 years, and Dr. Nash for a little bit longer, and we build up a reputation for doing this. So I think most of our clients that come in and patients that come in actually seek this out. It's for the dentist that's just starting his or her career in aesthetic dentistry. You have to get your name out there. People have to know that you've been doing this, and I think they will seek you out for that," Vocaturo said.
"And not only this, but there is a problem with people now in other countries that are doing veneers. People are flying out to Turkey or to Brazil, and I'm redoing one of these cases at least once a month."
Dr. Nash agreed.
Dr. Ross Nash.
"We're talking about is aesthetics. People are interested in that, but you have to have dental health as well," he said. "That's our responsibility as doctors, but people are interested in aesthetic dentistry today and cosmetic procedures. Cosmetic dentistry is elective. Aesthetics is dentistry that looks good, and those dentists who know how to do it well, they'll get plenty of business," Nash said.
"The last thing we want to do is sell anybody on elective dentistry. We want them asking us for it. We have to educate the patients as to what's available, and then I want them saying, 'Can you do that for me?' That's a good position for a dentist to be in."
Drs. Nash and Vocaturo are hosting a comprehensive two-day program "Full Mouth Reconstruction: High-Tech, High-Touch." The 16 continuing education unit course will be held at the Institute of Advanced Dental Education (IADE) in Colts Neck, NJ, July 19-20. Learn more by visiting https://bit.ly/Nash-NJ.
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