If you’re looking for professional dental bridge dentists, you’re reading the right blog. It’s important to choose a dentist who can not only perform the procedure well, but can also customise your dental bridge to your unique smile. When it comes to choosing a dentist, it’s important to pick the right one for the job. Let’s discuss some strategies for exploring your options and arriving at the right decision!

What To Look For in a Dentist’s Credentials, Reviews & Portfolio?

Any good, experienced dentist will have all the relevant credentials, positive patient reviews and a portfolio showcasing a history of good work. But what exactly should you keep an eye out for?

Credentials

At a bare minimum, a practising dentist requires a bachelor’s degree in dentistry and registration with the Dental Board of Australia. The former is a foundational educational qualification, and the latter ensures that the dentist in question meets the national standards and requirements for the dental profession.

If the dentist has been in the industry a while, they should also have a record of continuing professional development (CPD), which is critical to maintaining their registration. CPD can involve participating in educational activities and courses that keep them up to date with new dental advancements, including new techniques and materials associated with dental bridges.

If you’re researching dental bridge dentists specifically, consider looking for someone with experience and training in prosthodontics. While most dentists can place dental bridges, some may specialise in the area — and have a postgraduate degree or diploma to prove it.

Reviews

Whether you’re searching for a dental clinic in Berwick or a dentist in Narre Warren, chances are you’re going to come across Google reviews that help inform your final decision. Online reviews, though highly subjective, give great first-person accounts of a business or service. When choosing among dental bridge dentists, we would encourage you to read online reviews of different dental clinics to get a feel for your more serious candidates.

Straight off the bat, your best bet is to isolate your search to business with four- to five-star reviews. In the case of reviews, one bad apple won’t spoil the whole barrel, but if there are multiple negative reviews, bear in mind they all have one common denominator. When reviewing reviews, you should think of each as a dot on an impressionist painting that contributes to the overall vibe. See if you can find any patterns or consistencies as you compare each review to the others.

If you’re seeing consistent commentary about the dental bridge dentist’s outstanding technical skill set, procedural outcomes, approach to pain management, communication style, bedside manner, punctuality, welcoming atmosphere and financial transparency, chances are you’re onto a winner. Overall, you’re looking for others to affirm professionalism, customer service and positive results. If you’re not seeing enough on Google, you can always extend your search to websites like Womo, which contain a wealth of reviews about local Australian dentists and businesses.

Portfolio

When you’re viewing a dental bridge dentist’s website, head on over to their before-and-after snaps. While a website can claim stellar services and glowing results all day long, a picture is worth a thousand words. In such a portfolio of proven outcomes, the dentist contrasts the original state of multiple mouths against their appearances post-procedure. Almost always, the ‘after’ shot will showcase the high-quality work the dentist can do for you.

Though it’s easy to take an ‘after’ shot at face value, you should cast a critical eye across the sea of mouths you see before you. Do the dental bridges blend seamlessly with the natural teeth? Do they align correctly and give a good bite? Is the quality consistent across the portfolio, does the dentist use modern materials and techniques, and do they customise each bridge for each patient’s unique facial features? If you’re seeing natural and premium aesthetics, restored functionality and a touch of sincerity behind every smile, you’ve likely found a great dentist to place your dental bridge.

How To Schedule a Consultation & Ask the Right Questions?

Once you’ve narrowed down your search to some serious candidates, you’ll want to schedule a consultation. This is easy enough to do and usually involves either contacting the clinic by phone or booking an appointment online. If you opt for a phone call, you can provide your name, contact details and any information regarding your reason for wanting a consultation. If you choose to book online, all you’ll need to do is find the booking portal (either on the clinic’s website or Google My Business page) and follow the prompts.

In the lead-up to the consultation, you should prepare some questions with the goal of determining whether this dentist will meet your needs. Enquiring about their experience and credentials is a great starting point, as this will paint a picture of their skill set and educational background, the latter of which may include certifications or postgraduate degrees in restorative dentistry. Asking about their different treatment options will also help you determine if they’re offering what you want, be that traditional bridges or the implant-supported variety.

While you’re on the topic of treatment, you can ask about the specific steps involved in placing dental bridges and the timeline of the overall procedure. Some dental clinics may take multiple appointments to complete the process while others may streamline it more. Other important questions to ask can include how the dentist ensures patient comfort and manages pain, what you can expect in terms of recovery (if applicable), if there are risks associated with the procedure, and whether there are viable alternatives. A good dentist will provide full transparency about all of your concerns and available options.

If you couldn’t locate any before-and-after photos on their website, this in-person appointment will be your chance to request to see their portfolio — or at least a few before-and-after shots of their previous work. In terms of housekeeping, it may be worth asking what materials they use for their dental bridges or throughout the procedure. Not only will this give you an idea of bridge durability and aesthetics, but it should also clarify any concerns you have about abrasive materials that may cause an allergic reaction. Finally, you should request a ballpark figure of the final costs and enquire if they accept your elected private health or dental insurance fund.

Why You Need To Follow Your Dentist’s Advice After Your Dental Bridge Procedure?

Once you’ve selected your dentist of choice, it’s important to follow their advice post-procedure. Such advice from your chosen dental professional will ensure your bridge lasts, as well as seamlessly integrates with your gums and teeth. While we can’t foresee exactly what your dentist will recommend, we can anticipate some general guidelines:

Eat a Post-Procedure-Friendly Diet

Your dentist may recommend some particular foods or drinks and also advise you to avoid others. This is fairly standard practice after most dental procedures. It’s important to follow this advice to minimise complications (e.g. damaged or loosened bridges, or issues with the supporting teeth), allow gum tissues to heal, and optimise the longevity and aesthetics of your dental bridge.

Maintain Good Oral Hygiene

Dentists often place prosthetics on the proviso that you commit to a thorough dental care routine. Brush at least twice per day and floss at least once per day to prevent infection at the surgical site, reduce the risk of complications, and ensure your dental bridge has a long life.

Say No to Tobacco (& Other Staining Substances)

Few dentists will willingly place prosthetics if they know you intend to smoke or consume tobacco products afterwards. Perhaps the worst staining offender of all, tobacco will wreak havoc on your pearly whites and significantly compromise the life and quality of your dental bridges. Avoid foods and drinks that stain, too, such as coffee, black tea, red wine, fruit juices, sauces, colourful berries and curries — basically, anything that could stain a white t-shirt.

Treat Pain & Adapt As Advised

Your dentist may address post-procedural pain in a specific way or provide general guidelines to help you adapt to having a dental bridge in your mouth. You should follow these guidelines not only because they’re from a qualified dental professional, but also because they’ll help you best adjust to your new prosthetic and ensure optimal function and comfort. In other words, whatever advice your dentist gives you will help you get the most out of your dental bridge.

Choose Our Dental Clinic in Berwick

Now you know what to look for in a dentist’s credentials, reviews and portfolio, you may notice that our dentists in Berwick fit the bill. At Langmore Dental, quality dental bridges are just one of the many dental treatments on offer. You now know how to schedule a consultation and ask the right questions, so what are you waiting for? Pick up the phone or book an appointment online today and get the ball rolling!

Located in Berwick, we are the go-to dentist for similarly placed south-eastern suburbs like Narre Warren. We can’t wait to restore your smile with the dandiest dental bridge this side of suburbia!