Finding your best dentist

Occasionally, I will do a Google search on cosmetic dentistry just to see who the Google gurus think has the best match for the search term. The first several entries always go to the national organizations and advertising services, but generally their is one actual dentist on the list. For a long time, the first dentist was Shawn Keller in Seattle, but today's search brought up Dr Sun in Los Angeles...Dentist to the stars! Clearly, the stars have no trouble finding the dentist most suited to them. Dr Sun is an excellent clinician and has the credentials to prove it, but how does the average non-star find a good dentist?
The first place to check is with friends, family, and co-workers. Then, check to see if the dentist is a member of the major dental organizations: American Dental Association, Academy of General Dentistry, and American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. Call to see if the dentist will give you a free "get acquainted" visit or at least give you some time on the phone to ask questions. Your looking for someone skilled who is not in a hurry because they have to see 50 patients a day as many PPO dentists do. As with most things, you get what you pay for. For more on choosing a dentist click here. Happy hunting!