Have you ever caught yourself studying your teeth in the mirror or looking back at photos and noticing how often you held back your smile? When you begin thinking about cosmetic treatment, the next question is often harder: How do you find the best cosmetic dentist for the changes you want to make?
At Aesthetic Associates Centre, Dr. Todd Shatkin has spent more than 30 years helping patients make sense of these decisions. Cosmetic dentistry may begin with what you see in the mirror, but choosing the right dentist depends on what happens before treatment begins: how carefully your concerns are considered, how clearly your options are explained, and how well the plan accounts for the rest of your smile.
How To Choose a Cosmetic Dentist in Buffalo
Cosmetic dentistry is different from routine dental care. You’re trusting someone with the appearance of your smile, not just the health of your teeth.
Read the Reviews, but Look for Patterns
As you read reviews, pay attention to what patients remember after treatment. Do they mention feeling rushed, or do they describe a dentist who listened to what they wanted? Do they explain why they were happy with the result?
The entire experience was very stress-free. I now have a beautiful smile with my perfect new teeth. Dr. Shatkin and his entire team made me feel special. I love smiling again!
Patient review
The reviews we value connect the treatment experience to the final result. The patient remembers how the smile looked, how the teeth felt, and how our team handled the process.
Cosmetic care may also involve correcting or repairing work completed elsewhere.
An old veneer on my front tooth came off over the weekend. The office contacted me Monday morning, saw me that afternoon, and cleaned and replaced the veneer. I was very appreciative of how quickly they helped me.
Patient review
Sometimes, choosing a cosmetic dentist also means considering how they approach work completed by another provider. Existing restorations bring their own history, limitations, and decisions, and the dentist’s judgment becomes especially important when something changes unexpectedly.
Longer treatment plans bring their own questions. Financing, surgery, follow-up visits, and unexpected concerns can all become part of the experience.
Dr. Shatkin and his team were with me every step of the way, from help with financing and surgery to appointments, questions, and concerns. He went above and beyond to make sure I was happy with my smile.
Patient review
Read together, these reviews describe three different situations: completing a smile transformation, repairing an existing veneer, and guiding a patient through a larger treatment plan. Those details can help you judge whether a cosmetic dentist has experience with the type of care you may need and how the practice supports patients before, during, and after treatment.
How the Best Cosmetic Dentist Builds a Treatment Plan
Several cosmetic dentistry treatments may improve the same concern, but they do so in different ways.
During your consultation, a skilled cosmetic dentist should explain why one option is recommended over another and how that recommendation relates to the condition of your teeth, your bite, and the result you hope to achieve.
| If your biggest concern is… | We may recommend… | Why… |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow or stained teeth | Professional teeth whitening | Teeth whitening can lift many surface and age-related stains while preserving the natural shape and structure of your teeth. |
| Deep discoloration, chips, or uneven shape | Porcelain veneers | Dental veneers can also change color, shape, proportion, and symmetry when several visible concerns affect the same teeth. |
| Minor gaps and misalignment | Porcelain veneers | Veneers can rebuild worn or damaged edges when the change involves the visible surface of the tooth. |
| Crooked, rotated, or spaced teeth | Krystal Klear Aligners™ | Clear aligners gradually move the teeth, improving spacing, crowding, and overall alignment. |
| Several cosmetic concerns at once | A combination of whitening, veneers, and clear aligners | Several concerns may require different treatments to fully address the smile. |
Choosing a Cosmetic Dentist for Dental Implants
Cosmetic dentistry often focuses on the teeth you can see, but replacing a missing tooth is just as important to the appearance of your smile.
Dr. Shatkin has helped advance mini dental implant techniques, using narrow-diameter implants to support natural-looking replacement teeth through a less invasive approach. Our Shatkin F.I.R.S.T.® on-site laboratory also allows us to coordinate implant placement and restoration closely, with final teeth often completed the same day.
Book a Free Consultation at Aesthetic Associates Centre
At Aesthetic Associates Centre, Dr. Shatkin brings more than 30 years of experience to those decisions, from veneers and clear aligners to mini dental implants and more complex smile transformations. If you are considering cosmetic dentistry in Buffalo, schedule a free consultation and find out what approach makes sense for your smile.
