Secrets your dentist doesn't want you to know

Going to the dentist may seem like a mundane chore, but it can quickly become an expensive one. Here's what you need to know to get the most for your money when shopping for dental care.

Recently, I addressed the annual convention of the International Association of Comprehensive Aesthetics (IACA), an organization of dentists dedicated to continuing education. It was quite an eye-opener.

I realized I knew very little about my dentist. Even worse, I didn't know how to determine if my dentist had the right qualifications and equipment to provide first-class dental care.

There are approximately 165,000 dentists in the U.S., and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the yearly earnings of dentists averaged $147,010 in 2007. There is no doubt we are spending a lot of money on dental care and most people do not have dental insurance. But are we spending our money wisely? This is an area of particular interest to retirees and those planning to retire, because dental health issues tend to become more pressing as we age.

Here are the secrets your dentist may not want you to know — but you need to know to get the best care possible: