Dentists are scary and mean? Shut your mouth! Whether you need a filling or a full mouth makeover, dentists can save the day.

BY PICKING UP our seventh-annual guide to 103 of the Valley’s best dentists ON NEWSSTANDs, YOU CAN Find your dental superhero.













To read our exclusive interview with each of our featured dentists just click on their names.

Joyce Bassett
Age: 49
Specialty: Cosmetic/restorative dentistry
City of practice: Scottsdale
Duration of practice: 26 years


Lidieth Libby
Age: 38
Specialty: Pediatric dentistry
City of practice: Phoenix
Duration of practice: 11 years


Roger Briggs & Bradley Briggs
Ages: Roger 61, Brad 33
Specialty: General and cosmetic/restorative dentistry
City of practice: Scottsdale
Duration of practice: Roger has been practicing for 36 years in Scottsdale. Roger and his son Brad have been working together for nine years.



Decoding the Dental Specialties

A brief overview of the dental specialties surveyed for
PHOENIX magazine’s Top Dentists issue:

Cosmetic dentistry: Although this is not a recognized specialty by the American Dental Association, many general dentists specialize in elective cosmetic procedures, such as veneers, teeth whitening, dental implants and composite bonding to repair chipped, broken or decaying teeth. Be sure to choose one who has been accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.

Endodontics: It used to be that when one of your teeth became diseased, you’d lose it. However, a visit to a dentist who specializes in endodontics (root canals, for the uninitiated) can save your tooth and your smile.

General dentistry: This Jack or Jill of all trades will provide the services needed to promote the maintenance of oral hygiene and tooth care. The American Dental Association recommends visiting a dentist at least once every six months.

Oral/maxillofacial surgery: These surgeons specialize in the treatment of facial defects, misaligned jaws and problem wisdom teeth, and they may also treat accident victims.

Orthodontics: Many people with misaligned teeth visit an orthodontist in hopes of a solution. Options include braces, retainers, headgear and, in rare cases, breaking the jaw to set it in a proper position.

Pediatric dentistry: These dentists specialize in treating and maintaining proper oral hygiene in children, ranging from infants to adolescents. After all, children need to visit the dentist, too.

Periodontics: What’s that you say? You don’t want gum disease? Then you’d better make an appointment with a periodontist. They specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing gum disease.

Prosthodontics: If you’re in need of dentures, missing a tooth, or need a crown or bridgework, then call a prosthodontist. They specialize in replacing missing teeth and the restoration of natural teeth.

WHO DECIDES WHO’S A TOP DENTIST?

Frequently asked questions about how our Top Dentists are selected.

Who picks the dentists?
The dentists are selected through a peer-review survey. The theory is that medical professionals are best qualified to judge medical professionals. To select the dentists, PHOENIX magazine randomly surveys 1,500 Valley dentists. The surveys ask the dentists to nominate those dentists who, in their judgment, are the best in their field and related fields.

Does PHOENIX magazine check out all of the dentists on the list?
Yes. Once the list of Top Dentists is compiled, PHOENIX magazine’s fact-checkers verify the dentists’ names, addresses, phone numbers and specialties. In addition, each name is checked against the state’s dental board records to determine whether the dentist has been convicted of malpractice or has faced other disciplinary actions. Those that have are removed from the list.

Why not ask patients to rate the best dentists?
The simple answer is that patients generally lack the medical expertise to judge a dentist’s qualifications, and different patients will have varying opinions on the same dentist (i.e., one patient’s best experience may be another patient’s worst). Should we ever do a ranking based solely on bedside manner, querying patients might be an option.

My dentist says he was left off the list because he doesn’t advertise in PHOENIX magazine. Could that be true?
Absolutely not. Like any credible publication, PHOENIX magazine’s editorial content is not dictated by who advertises. There are cases, however, when a dentist on the list also has an ad in the magazine, but that’s merely coincidence. With the exception of the few dentists who are profiled, dentists have no advance knowledge of whether they’ve made the list, and the PHOENIX magazine sales staff doesn’t see the list until you see the list.

Why do you include cosmetic dentistry as a specialty when it’s not actually recognized by the dental board?
True, cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty by the American Dental Association, but many general dentists today are specializing in cosmetic procedures, and patients are increasingly requesting information on cosmetic dentistry, so we wanted to offer yet another valuable resource to our readers. Only dentists accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (aacd.com) are included in this category.

If my dentist is not on the list, does that mean he/she is not a good dentist?
No. Although peer-review is considered the most reliable methodology, it’s not perfect. To be recognized by a large number of peers, it stands to reason that a dentist would have to have practiced in the Valley for several years. There are many newcomers who are undoubtedly excellent physicians but haven’t yet gained widespread recognition. In addition, there are many dentists in small practices or outlying areas who, likewise, haven’t gained that widespread recognition.

Don’t the same dentists make the list every year?
Many dentists do, but there are many new dentists on the list each year, too. Because the established, well-known dentists are exactly that – established and well known – the list might favor that kind of physician. Given the importance of choosing a dentist, however, PHOENIX magazine views that as a healthy bias.

My dentist was on the list last year, but isn’t there this year. What does that mean?
It doesn’t necessarily mean anything, and it certainly shouldn’t be viewed as evidence of a drop-off in the dentist’s effectiveness. Getting on the list once doesn’t guarantee that a dentist will be on the list indefinitely – the selection process begins anew each year.

Each year you do short feature profiles on a handful of dentists. How do you choose which ones to profile?
Essentially, we “throw a dart at the map.” Because every dentist on the list is considered among the best in the Valley, every dentist is worthy of being profiled. Needless to say, it would be impossible to profile all of them, so we randomly select three or four each year.



To learn more about Valley dentists, contact the Arizona State Board of Dental
Examiners at 602-242-1492, or visit azdentalboard.org.