There are people who love confident smiles, and then there are ones who are spreading confident smiles. We recently had a chance to meet Dr. Arturo Arciniega, founder & CEO of Dental Office Mexico, who is widely regarded for his cosmetic dentistry and mastery of precision.

While known for his many skills, his extensive experience and knack for developing long-term relationships with patients are things that set him apart. A passionate dentist in Mexico, he has made his way to work with celebrities, soccer players, politicians, and businessmen on a vast scale.

When we asked him about what he specifically enjoys about his work, he smiled confidently and replied, "leaving a bright and confident smile." According to him, there's so much more to dentistry than just solving patients' problems.

A self-taught perfectionist, his experience in treating patients, nailing executions, and understanding intricacies make him one of a kind. We found his journey quite intriguing, and that's when we decided to share it with others too. Here's a glimpse of the interview.

1. Please walk us through your early life and what got you on the path of Dental Aesthetics, as opposed to other professions in healthcare?

Since I was a little kid and I visited the dentist's office, I felt curious about the tools and everything that was used there, I even used to play to make brackets and other dental work with clay. I really wanted to be in contact with all the dental utensils, and now it’s a reality. Now, I love working with aesthetic prosthesis, because I am able to enhance the self-esteem of people, I believe that is the reason why I chose my specialty, whenever I see someone enjoying that new smile, I feel grateful to be part of that process.

2. What is your process of diagnosing and treating oral structures?

First, we have an assessment appointment in which the patient tells me how he feels about his smile and his expectations of the procedure. I observe the structure of his smile and I tell him what we can achieve. After the patient has accepted the process, I prepare a mock up, which is a physical model of the veneers and can give the patient a very accurate idea of the final result. When he approves it, We prepare the final model; which is the one that the patient is going to receive in the final consultation.

3. According to you, what;s the most rewarding part of working in dentistry and, what do you enjoy the most about it?

Sometimes we underestimate the power of a great smile, but when we have a physical feature that makes us feel insecure, there are a lot of things that we stop doing, now more than ever because of the difficult standards that social media has placed. I believe that the most rewarding part of my job is watching the first impression of my clients, they see a different image of themselves that provides them more confidence. I’ve seen people getting a promotion after a successful presentation in which they felt empowered by their smile, people that went through a divorce and now feel reinvigorated by enhancing their appearance and even people that suffered bullying because of a physical feature receiving a second chance. Enhancing the self esteem of people is one of the best things you can do.

4. We noticed that you have an extensive experience in cosmetic dentistry. What do you think is the most important factor to become a good dentist?

I believe that the most important part about aesthetic dentistry involves listening to your patient. When he comes to the office, he has great expectations and he is entrusting you to transform a part of him, so, having the idea of what they want, and complementing it with what I know about balance and proportion is essential. I want to give every patient the best of me, and that involves making them feel heard, cared about and that I am filling their needs.

5. Lastly, If you could solve one prevalent problem in your field, what would that be?

The lack of a quality standard in the processes of suppliers. I need to work with different laboratories that make the restorative and aesthetic prosthetics. I’ve been thinking of a way of having control over that in such a way that I can provide the best quality, and that is precisely my next project. I’m working on having my own lab, so I can make sure that I am offering the best materials, that attention to detail is given to every piece of work and that everything needed for each process is ready on time. It’s going to be a great project that will allow me to collaborate with other professionals.