Tips for Finding the Right Dentist for You
Proper oral hygiene is exceptionally important. Not only does taking proper care of your teeth and gums help to ensure a beautiful smile, but it also helps to ensure your overall health and well-being. Your mouth is one of the most important parts of your body and should be treated as such.
While regular flossing and tooth brushing are essential parts of maintaining oral hygiene, they aren't enough; regular visits to the dentist will allow you to make sure your teeth and gums are in tip-top shape. If you have just moved to a new location or you are just on the lookout for a new dentist, you may be wondering how to go about finding the right dentist for you. This healthcare professional will be an important part of your life and will be providing you with a very important and valuable service, so you want to make certain you choose a dentist that meets your needs and that you are comfortable with.
Wondering how to find a great dentist? Read on for some valuable information:
Finding a Dentist
* Ask for Referrals: One of the best ways to find a dentist is by asking around. Ask your friends and family members if they have a dentist that they would recommend you use. If so, ask them why they recommend his or her services and how happy they are with the services that are offered.
* Do Some Research: Don't know anyone who has a dentist that they would recommend, or are you completely new to an area? If so, you can look for a dentist on your own. Check out the listings for dentists in your local area. Visit their websites and arrange to have a consultation with those dentists that caught your eye.
* Set up a Consultation: While you can certainly make an appointment with any dentist that you find, barring that his or her practice accepts your insurance, you should seriously consider setting up a consultation before making an appointment. During your consultation you can ask questions of the dentist and get a feel for him or her and the practice. Questions to consider asking include:
a. What types of services do you offer? Do you offer just basic dental care, or do you also provide periodontal, orthodontic or other types of dental care?
b. What type approach do you use? If an extraction or a filling is required, will I be able to make an appointment at a later date and how is the process handled?
c. What do you do in order to ensure patient comfort?
d. What type of experience do you have? Where did you attend school and how many years have you been in practice?
e. What types of dental procedures have you performed over the course of your career? Have those treatments been successful or have any issues ever come about?
Of course, these questions are just suggestions; you can ask any questions that you feel are suitable and that you think would help you get to know the dentist.
* Location and Hours: Finding a dentist that is in your local area and that provides hours that will accommodate your schedule is important. If it is difficult to get to the location, or you have to rearrange your schedule in order to make an appointment, that dentist may not be the best option for you.
* Do you Feel Comfortable? You just get a vibe from people, and that vibe will help you determine whether or not you will be comfortable with a particular dentist. If the dentist rubs you the wrong way, makes you feel uncomfortable or just seems off to you, trust your gut and don't proceed. You want to make sure that you are comfortable, don't feel judged and that you are in good hands when you are visiting the dentist. Your personal comfort is exceptionally important.
* Cost: Another important factor to consider is the cost. Of course, you'll want to know if the dentist takes your insurance. If so, you'll also want to find out if you'll need to make a co-payment, if there are payment options and if you are required to get referrals from the dentist in order to see other oral health professionals.
* Emergency Care Options: You never know when an emergency will arise. If you have fallen and broken a tooth on a Sunday or you are suffering from a debilitating toothache in the middle of the night, does the dentist you are considering offer emergency options in order to care for such situations? If so, what are they?
By using these tips, you can find a dentist that you are comfortable with and that will provide you with expert dental care.
While regular flossing and tooth brushing are essential parts of maintaining oral hygiene, they aren't enough; regular visits to the dentist will allow you to make sure your teeth and gums are in tip-top shape. If you have just moved to a new location or you are just on the lookout for a new dentist, you may be wondering how to go about finding the right dentist for you. This healthcare professional will be an important part of your life and will be providing you with a very important and valuable service, so you want to make certain you choose a dentist that meets your needs and that you are comfortable with.
Wondering how to find a great dentist? Read on for some valuable information:
Finding a Dentist
* Ask for Referrals: One of the best ways to find a dentist is by asking around. Ask your friends and family members if they have a dentist that they would recommend you use. If so, ask them why they recommend his or her services and how happy they are with the services that are offered.
* Do Some Research: Don't know anyone who has a dentist that they would recommend, or are you completely new to an area? If so, you can look for a dentist on your own. Check out the listings for dentists in your local area. Visit their websites and arrange to have a consultation with those dentists that caught your eye.
* Set up a Consultation: While you can certainly make an appointment with any dentist that you find, barring that his or her practice accepts your insurance, you should seriously consider setting up a consultation before making an appointment. During your consultation you can ask questions of the dentist and get a feel for him or her and the practice. Questions to consider asking include:
a. What types of services do you offer? Do you offer just basic dental care, or do you also provide periodontal, orthodontic or other types of dental care?
b. What type approach do you use? If an extraction or a filling is required, will I be able to make an appointment at a later date and how is the process handled?
c. What do you do in order to ensure patient comfort?
d. What type of experience do you have? Where did you attend school and how many years have you been in practice?
e. What types of dental procedures have you performed over the course of your career? Have those treatments been successful or have any issues ever come about?
Of course, these questions are just suggestions; you can ask any questions that you feel are suitable and that you think would help you get to know the dentist.
* Location and Hours: Finding a dentist that is in your local area and that provides hours that will accommodate your schedule is important. If it is difficult to get to the location, or you have to rearrange your schedule in order to make an appointment, that dentist may not be the best option for you.
* Do you Feel Comfortable? You just get a vibe from people, and that vibe will help you determine whether or not you will be comfortable with a particular dentist. If the dentist rubs you the wrong way, makes you feel uncomfortable or just seems off to you, trust your gut and don't proceed. You want to make sure that you are comfortable, don't feel judged and that you are in good hands when you are visiting the dentist. Your personal comfort is exceptionally important.
* Cost: Another important factor to consider is the cost. Of course, you'll want to know if the dentist takes your insurance. If so, you'll also want to find out if you'll need to make a co-payment, if there are payment options and if you are required to get referrals from the dentist in order to see other oral health professionals.
* Emergency Care Options: You never know when an emergency will arise. If you have fallen and broken a tooth on a Sunday or you are suffering from a debilitating toothache in the middle of the night, does the dentist you are considering offer emergency options in order to care for such situations? If so, what are they?
By using these tips, you can find a dentist that you are comfortable with and that will provide you with expert dental care.
