Angy’s List posted a good article recently touching on a subject of cosmetic dentistry. This is a good article emphasizing in a way the importance of patient education in order to make informed decisions about their care.  It is not very in-depth and it does not answer some of the questions it poses, but it at least raises a little bit of awareness that not all dentists are created equal.

While some lives are being drastically improved by quality dentistry using a comprehensive approach and individually tailored modern treatment options, some lives will be changed in the opposite direction over time, if some existing conditions are not diagnosed and taken into consideration while treatment planning. It is a sad fact of life, as many people do not perceive their teeth as an integral part of their body, a live organ that if not treated or treated improperly – can turn your health upside down and even have fatal effect on your body.

When you are looking for cosmetic dentistry, do not look for the cheapest deal in town. It will get you in trouble, as you always get what you pay for. This aspect of dental care has become so highly commercial that sometimes it is hard to distinguish what is a good recommendation and what is a bad one, let alone the consequences it may have long-term. Look for your dentist’s credentials and level of education. It is one of the best things you can do for yourself.

While specialists do good work, Austin is lucky to have several highly qualified general dentists who can provide you with excellent care in various aspects of dentistry. If you choose to go to a general dentist, look for those with lots of continued education and if they belong to Academy of General Dentistry, an organization providing them with opportunities for continued education and fighting for the higher standards in the dental community. Masters or Fellows of AGD are setting a great example for the dental community. Or if you choose to go to a specialist, like prosthodontist ( dentists working with restoration of implants, dentures, doing crown and bridge work), look for similar credentials according to the field of specialty. Keep in mind, you will still need a good general dentist to help coordinate all aspects of treatment you need.

If someone finished dental school 30-40 years ago and is not staying updated on modern techniques and materials, odds are – they will not have a very good perspective on all of your options.  Dentistry can differ like night and day depending on who offers it and what it can do for a particular patient. Over the last decade so many things got revolutionized in the field that not updating your dental knowledge in it should be simply shameful. Yet, don’t be fooled by the latest and the greatest. It is not what you should look for. Look for experience that can distinguish between substance and trends, knowledge of research of what is a fact and what is a myth. For a patient being picky is very important, as in our practice, for example, a significant portion of our work is redoing previous work that was done without sufficient diagnostics, planning and adequate expertise and quality standards.

In addition, don’t expect your insurance to pay for quality work. Sadly, insurances did not evolve much since the 80s and only pay for the cheapest solutions that are outdated, and often not the best and lasting option. In general they don’t pay for cosmetic work at all.

So if you are looking for cosmetic dental procedures of any kind – whitening, veneers, crowns, implants -  consult with a qualified doctor first. It is what you don’t know that can make your out-of-pocket investment go to waste. A good dentist will never do crowns and implants on someone with advanced gum disease or insufficient bone. A good dentist will never do a teeth whitening for you if you have significant sensitivity already. Crowns, bridges and tooth-colored fillings do not bleach. All that you will find out from your dentist, and only after you invest into adequate diagnostics, which insurance doesn’t pay for 100% either. But quality work is a great investment, as it can lasts longer than statistical averages and can truly change your life by giving you health, beautiful smile, confidence and shed years off your appearance! Smile makeovers do change lives every day!

Read the article from Angy’s List.

Austin is warming up and the spring is just around the corner. The fruit trees are starting to bloom and it is time to enjoy the great outdoors. The weather could not be any better. As Doc Tor often says: “This is why we live in Texas!”

Since Dr. Gotun’s return from his amazing trip to Brazil, we have been very busy. Referring your family and friends to our practice is the biggest compliment we can get and we are very grateful for your support and trust.We promise that we will take care of them as if they are our own.

Over the years to come Dr. Gotun will be sharing his Brazilian experiences with you, but we thought we will give you a little preview:

This is a photo of a lush landscape in a small town Santa Rita de Jacutinga. From countless banana trees to beautiful exotic blooming shrubs, Brazilian nature is absolutely breathtaking.

There are no words that can describe the overwhelming splendor of the Samba Parade in Rio de Janeiro. Just in one night 6 samba schools ( each of them with 3000 to 5000 participants and 5-6 gigantic floats) pass in front of the jury.The show starts at 9 pm and ends around 6-7 am. The amazing costumes, music and dancing are sure to leave the spectators speechless, as there is nothing that can compare to the grandeur of the Carnival in Rio.

And then, of course a beautiful Ipanema beach.

Lance Armstrong and the Tour de France,

Michael Phelps and Olympic Gold,

Tor Gotun and a Masters in the AGD!

Dr. Tor Gotun

We are proud to announce that Dr.Gotun has been awarded the highest honour a dentist in the Academy of General Dentistry can achieve – a Mastership. Currently only 1% of the dentists in the world hold that title. Only dentists with extraordinary dedication to continuing education and constant improvement of their skill and knowledge get this level of recognition.

To make it simpler to understand the implications of this title – it is like earning an Oscar or an Olympic gold medal. The ratio is pretty similar. In 50 years of the existence of the Academy of General Dentistry, only 2500 of these awards have ever been given out. Austin has a reason to be proud of its dental community, as there are seven Masters of the Academy of General Dentistry in town. The dentists that have achieved that designation are believed to have reached the pinnacle in the dental knowledge and skill. The only logical next step for Dr.Gotun is spending more time on teaching other dentists in the country and… more continuing education! As we are sure you know – he will never stop learning!

Even though Dr. Gotun may not be a movie star, we are still very proud! More than ever can we say that we do deliver the best in dental care!

Congratulations, Dr.Gotun!

Dr. Gotun’s pursuit of excellence in dentistry is largely a result of his efforts to help people. It is the unique conditions of his patients that are the inspiration for constant self-improvement that lead to the invention of solutions that do not exist in the broader dental world. Some of these solutions are so outside of the textbook that Dr. Gotun now has a lot of new knowledge to share with new generations of dental professionals. Many cases have been solved against all mainstream dental beliefs due to the patients’ willingness to try new techniques and their persistence through the stages of dental treatment.

During this remarkable journey to suceed in seemingly most hopeless of the situations, rarely tried by most, much less achieved, Dr.Gotun felt rewarded over and over again. How?  By resolving the hardest of dental puzzles and creating healthy, beautiful smiles on the faces of patients who hadn’t believed they could have them. You, our valued and loyal patients, are the reason why Dr.Gotun is where he is right now.

Thank you very much for being the inspiration and support for Dr.Gotun through all these years!

Although all of the dental community follows the same medical standards, all dentists are unique in their own ways. There is a difference in experience, education and overall expertise. But most importantly, some medical professionals choose a philosophy that differs from others. That is the beauty of the art of dentistry. Often in medicine, there are no simple answers, because no two bodies are the same. It is the same in dentistry. Our mouth does not function separately from our body, and therefore it should be treated as such. We all have physical and personal characteristics that have to be taken into consideration for the diagnostics to be accurate and for the treatment to be effective. Because of this, the approach has to be altered for each individual case. We do not take the easy route. We make sure we do it right the first time. This is how Dr. Gotun practices dentistry.

Dr.Gotun’s philosophy is uncompromised quality of care for the best possible outcome in the long run for even the most hopeless of dental conditions.

Over 30 years of experience and well-known excellence in dental care in Austin and Texas have polished Dr. Gotun’s techniques and methods. He chooses only the best and most efficient up-to-date technologies, materials and techniques that have proven to work long-term, have fewer side-effects, are the least invasive and that ensure the most effective dental care for his patients. Dr. Gotun has extensive experience and advanced training that enables him to create unique individual solutions for his patients. Some of these solutions are so outside of the textbook that Dr. Gotun has spent years sharing his knowledge with new generations of dental professionals.

“ I cannot wait to wake up in the morning and get to work! I love what I do and I will practice dentistry as long as I physically can!” This statement by Dr. Gotun says it all. Think about this for a minute:  What is there in your own life that makes you feel as passionate? You will feel and appreciate the difference this attitude can make in getting the care you need!

Some can consider our practice non-mainstream and that is exactly what a lot of people are seeking, when their condition cannot be successfully resolved or managed by the standard of care. Dr. Gotun’s integrative approach has been very successful for many years and many cases have been solved against all mainstream dental beliefs. Our patients appreciate his philosophy and we are proud that many of them have stayed with him his entire career. We have patients who have moved out of state who still come back annually to have their care here!