How to Find a Dentist
A good dentist for you and your family is an essential part of healthy living. The question is, how do you find a great dentist that will give you excellent service to all members of your family? Here’s how to find a dentist who will be perfect for you.
Ask recommendations from your family doctor. Chances are, your family doctor knows you and your family’s needs. Request for a few names you can check out.
Peers and colleagues are also good sources of information. Relatives, church members, neighbors and even pharmacists can also come up with their own suggestions. Getting names or advice from people with a similar situation as you is also a good way to gauge which dentist is working well for them. For example, the needs of a single woman is different from the needs of a working mom, so if you’re a working mom, take advice from fellow working mothers who are more in touch with your needs.
Look up your local dental society. You can do this either by going online or checking your phone book. Ring them up and ask them for referrals for dentists in your area.
Asking for referrals from your local dental school will also help give referrals to dentists in your area.
If you’re moving to a new area, you can ask your current dentist for a referral.
What to Ask
Determining a good dentist for you can be aided by asking all the right questions. Here are the things you should consider asking.
How accessible is the dentist to your home and workplace?
Is it difficult or is it easy to get an appointment time that you need with the dentist?
Will the dentist be available in emergency situations?
Is the dentist’s office clean and sterile?
Does dentist wear the required protective gear such as masks, gloves and gowns. Feel free to ask them about their sterilizing procedures before each dental session.
Ask if the dentist is a member of the state or national dental society.
Check or ask if the dentist is a member of the American Dental Association.
Observe the interaction of a dentist with members of his or her staff. Pleasant, respectful and professional interaction are all good signs.
You can give the dentist a try by having a discussion of your dental history, treatments and future concerns. Do you like how the dentist discusses these issues with you? Does the dentist explain the jargon well? Do you feel comfortable with the dentist?
It’s important to learn about fees, modes of payments and if the dentist accepts dental insurance. Some dental clinics offer modes of payments with no added interest, which can be very attractive to many clients.
Inquire how long the dentist has been practicing and if she or he intends to pursue further studies in dentistry. Ask the dentist how she or he keeps up with the knew developments in the field of dentistry.