who are the best dentists in stamford and/or norwalk CT ?

Best in who's opinion. Fewest errors? most high tech? Shortest total
waiting time, tells the best jokes, least pain, completes the dental
work you realy need in 3 visits in 3 months, instead of 30 visits over
3 years? Least costly in the long run? What do you consider good about
a dentist?   Neil

What's important to me is expertise in basic techniques, expertise in
cosmetic procedures, being up to date on latest techniques, fewest
mistakes.

The best general advice is to look for someone who is a member of the
Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).  You have to take courses (and pay
membership dues) to be a member, which is totally voluntary.  This has
nothing to do with the ADA; it's basically just a club.  You can't
just pay and be in, though.

If you have concerns regarding specific procedures, you can simply
call up (or visit) some dental labs.  These are the people to actually
make the crowns, bridges, dentures, etc. off of the impressions sent
to them by dentists.  Just ask 'em "Hey, who's got the best looking
preps?"

When it comes to esthetics, that's another story.  The only people who
can objectively evaluate the quality of esthetic dentistry are the
ones who have seen the final product, in the mouth.  Namely, the
patients themselves.  In other words, word of mouth (no pun intended)
is your best resource here.

If a dentist has a friendly personality, their patients like them
more.  This seems like a very basic concept, which actually applies to
anybody and everybody, but so many people just don't seem to get it.
...and the road runs two ways ;)

In addition to the suggestions by zogu-ga, I would recommend checking
for a specialist in your area.  There are several different dental
specialists.  Orthodontists correct the position of the teeth,
Periodontist are a surgical specialty that manage the soft and  hard
tissues, Oral Surgeons are most commonly known for extractions but
also may be involved larger scale surgeries that involve the head and
neck, Endodontists perform root canals, Prosthodontists replace teeth
by crowns, implants or dentures.
I would recommend searching for a Prosthodontist.  You might ask for
recommendations for a prosthodontist from the other specialists.  The
American College of Prosthodontics (http://www.prosthodontics.org/)
has a directory for specialists around the nation.
In contrast to the AGD, the ACP has an intensive testing procedure for
certification of it's members.  The website gives an overview of the
specialty and additional information.  In contrast to other dental
specialists, Prosthodontists have the ability to oversee the complete
treatment of the patient and have experience and training in
interdisciplinary treatment.
But as with selecting a General Dentist certification doesn't always
mean the dentist is "the Best".  But after having been through medical
training, I would recommend always searching for a specialist.
There is usually a cost difference between a specialist and other
options but I personally feel it is worth it.  You can always express
your financial concern to the specialist on the first visit and ask
him to explain his initial impression of your situation and wether he
thinks you can be managed appropriately by a generalist.  This way you
could get a much better recommendation of a dentist that he would
recommend in specific regard to your situation.
Best wishes.  Finding good medical care is often very difficult.
Don