Dentists, orthodontists, periodontists... I feel the same.

I'm a real case study, I was born without my 4 permanent lateral incisors (Top and bottom).

First orthodontist applied braces too early in my life - also decided that "eventually" implants would be placed on the bottom, moved my two bottom front teeth to the sides to create one large gap. (This was disapproved of by my second orthodontist).

Once an adult, my dentist recommended a new ortho + perio. The periodontist recommended an experimental procedure called "Periodontally Assisted Osteogenic Orthodontics". Which involved... filleting my gums to the bone, while I was awake.

Later, the dentist said he totally should have sedated me for that procedure. It was one of the most brutal experiences of my life, not joking, like... Actual torture.

The perio then placed two implants on the top. My dentist later disapproved of this, saying they were 'far too small'. One of the implants failed within 3 years. The other is barely hanging on. And the bottom could not have an implant placed, because the PAOO did not work (Surprise, I still owed 7200 dollars).

I've been in and out of these offices so much that I started picking up their jargon - two have asked if I'm IN dental school when we discuss treatment.

All that to say, these people seem to be winging it. I get it, every mouth is different, but man... It's such an important fixture socially / health-wise that I feel we should be doing better.

If anyone knows a good cosmetic dentist, I'm still in the search for one :)