Like medical surgery, dentistry is a practice which has a distinct cosmetic offshoot. To protect the safety of the public, government agencies oversee the licensing of all practicing dentists and medical doctors. But because artistry and mastery over cosmetic procedures fall into more subjective realms, certification of cosmetic dentists isn’t typically subject to oversight from federal licensing boards.

In other words, while a licensed doctor may be guaranteed to have met the minimum standards and qualifications to perform routine dentistry, their licensure does not speak to their proficiency or academic background in cosmetic work.

In the world of cosmetic surgery, under-qualification is a persistent issue. Doctors from other specialties—such as internal medicine or podiatry—often switch over to cosmetic surgery seeking higher profits. This issue extends into the field of cosmetic dentistry. The responsibility then falls upon the consumer to determine which cosmetic dentists are true specialists.

One sign of a highly qualified cosmetic dentist is training from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI). This highly acclaimed post-doctoral educational institute exposes dentists to specialized training in cosmetic procedures, such as dental implants and tooth whitening. The beauty of LVI dentist training is that it is an internationally recognized credential that can be easily verified by consumers who are researching a cosmetic dentist. San Diego patients can run a search online to see which courses have been completed by any given cosmetic dentist. La Jolla patients, New York patients, Chicago patients and patients from any city in the world can use the same system in order to verify that their cosmetic dentist has specific training in the procedures they offer.

In summary, it’s important to remember that cosmetic dentists are not required by law to have any post-doctoral training or education in new aesthetic procedures. Cosmetic dentists who wish to provide superior results, the utmost in safety, and more confidence in their services can voluntarily pursue additional training in the procedures and technologies they wish to utilize. By seeking an LVI-trained cosmetic dentist, you can be assured that your doctor has the knowledge and experience required to perform excellent work.