At the center of it all is owner Dr. Elizabeth Lowery, the only dentist in Austin accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
“[My AACD accreditation] represents years of commitment to becoming the best at what I do cosmetically for patients, so they can have the best smile for themselves,” Dr. Lowery said. “In turn, that can enhance their lives.”
AACD accreditation process
Earning AACD accreditation is no small feat. The process begins with a rigorous written exam and hands-on workshops, followed by the submission of five different cosmetic dentistry cases evaluated on over 89 technical criteria.
“Examiners look at every tooth that was treated to see how the light reflects, how the surface texture is, how it fits into the overall smile [and more],” Dr. Lowery said. “Once the dentist passes those cases, they have to go in front of a board, pass a final case and defend their [own] cases.”
Beyond technical skill, the accreditation sets a higher bar for patient care and customization.
“A lot of the time, the more commercial [processes] take a cookie-cutter approach,” Dr. Lowery said. “[Their teeth] might [end up being] too large, too white or just unnatural looking. We tailor everything to the patient’s mouth, face, bone structure and skin tone so that the teeth look gorgeous.”
Technology that lets patients preview their smile
Every patient journey begins with a conversation, not a sales pitch.
Dr. Lowery and her team take the time to understand what bothers each individual before suggesting solutions. Using photography, a radiation-free 3D scan and advanced imaging software, they create a digital simulation so patients can see options of what their new smile could look like before committing to any procedure.
In addition to that, Dr. Lowery takes time to address other factors that might impact the patient's results.
“We can show the patients how the functionality of their bite is contributing to some of the things they don't like about their smile,” Dr. Lowery said. “If we were to just put a veneer or bonding over the top instead of addressing the functionality, it would just break those restorations, and it would be a waste of [the patient’s] financial investment.”
Through this process, patients can confidently move forward with a fully customized plan, and all cosmetic services are done fully in-house.
How a smile impacts confidence
Dr. Lowery sees firsthand how a confident smile can affect everything from relationships to career success.
“If people feel confident with their smile, they’re going to smile more,” Dr. Lowery said. “Just the act of smiling sends signals to our brains that say, ‘Hey, things are good. I'm happy.’ It enhances a person’s mood. It also affects how people interact with us.”
She recalled one recent patient, a woman in her 70s who came in with a misaligned tooth and years of dental fear from painful past experiences.
“She said she's been waiting a long time to have the smile she wants,” Dr. Lowery said. “This lady, who is very frail and has a lot of medical issues, was jumping up and down. It was wonderful to see her ... be excited about life.”
Ready for your before-and-after moment?
Click here to schedule a free cosmetic consultation with Dr. Lowery at Austin Elite Smiles, and discover what’s possible when elite training meets truly personalized care.
The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
