If you’re thinking of seeing a new dentist, you’ll find lots of choices out there. But obviously, they won’t all be right for you. While finding a good dentist may seem like an easy job, there are some considerations that you need to make.
The following are pointers to keep in mind as you look for the right practitioner:
Asking for Recommendations
Ask friends and family members if they know a good dentist they can recommend. They’re the first people who will gladly offer you information they know. Ask all kinds of helpful questions, such as, is the dentist nice, patient and gentle? Is the office clean and organized? Are the staff friendly? What payment options are offered, if any?
Credentials
Definitely, you’d like to consider the credentials of the dentist. Needless to say, they must be licensed and a member of a professional organization, such as the American Dental Association.
Beyond Cost
Dentists have different prices for different services, although this does not necessarily reflect the quality of their work. It’s always wise to make apples to apples comparisons. Patients have unique needs and require different treatment methods as well. But if you encounter a dentist whose rates are either remarkably higher or lower than the others, you should be suspicious.
Chain vs.Non-Chain
Chain dental offices can give superior quality care, and considering their prominent locations, a lot of people find them highly convenient. But your local dentist is probably the one who will be around for the long term. In addition, non-chain dentists work on their own and are not affected by corporate pressure in terms of, say, seeing a certain number of patients each day. This means more time spent with you when you come for an appointment, and also more time for them to develop a good treatment plan for you.
Web Research
Take time to check the dentist’s website and read reviews. Look at their Facebook page too and observe their interactions with others. You’ll want to do all these to get a sense of the dentist’s overall philosophy and attitude towards their practice and their patients. After all, oral care is a long-term partnership and you’ll need a dentist you can be comfortable with in the first place.
Comparisons
Finally, before you decide to see a certain dentist, make comparisons with two or three others. You don’t have to restrict yourself to considering just one potential dentist. In fact, more is better because then you can compare and see which one is truly the best for you.