The relationship you have with your healthcare providers should be built on trust. After all, you are partnering with them in an effort to stay healthy. You should also keep this in mind when choosing a new dentist. Your oral health is extremely important, and you deserve the best dentist for you and your family’s needs.
Here are a few tips for finding your ideal dental care provider.
Research Others’ Experiences. The internet makes sharing your experiences easier than ever. Before you decide on a dentist, take a look at other patients’ experiences. You can often get an accurate feel for a practice from a combination of patient testimonials and online reviews. Check the dental office’s website and social media accounts for testimonials and before and after photos.
Online reviews can be a bit trickier. Often customers are more likely to write about negative experiences than positive ones. Don’t get me wrong; if a dentist has an abundance of poor reviews with just a couple of glowing ones, that’s definitely a red flag. But a couple of unsatisfied customers is normal. Look at what the patient found negative about their experience. Obviously some complaints carry more weight than others.
Ask Questions. Don’t be afraid to interview a dentist before deciding to give them your business. You can find out tons of valuable information if you just inquire. For example, if you’re having a specific procedure done, you can ask your doctor how many times they’ve performed it in the past. Other questions you can ask a dentist include:
- How long have you been practicing dentistry?
- What sets you apart from other dentists in this area?
- Where do you source your dental supplies from?
- What technology do you have available in your office?
Don’t assume anything. Think about what is important to you in a dentist, and ask questions to find out if this one is right for you!
What Does Your Money Get You? The cheapest option is almost never the best option, especially when it comes to dental work. If a dentist is charging far below or above the average price for an appointment or procedure, find out why! Is it the equipment they’re using? Is it that they’re a new dentist looking to attract patients? Once you know why they charge what they do, you can better assess the true value of their services.
Check Out the Practice. Don’t be afraid to visit the office and take a tour. You can learn a lot about what a dentist invests in just by looking around their practice. Has the office been updated recently, or are they using decades-old equipment? Is this a space that would make you feel at-ease while receiving dental care? You can also meet the staff and get a feel for the internal culture. These could be the people charged with helping you stay happy and healthy, so everyone in the office should greet you with a warm and friendly attitude and be eager to assist.
Bottom line, do your homework. You only have one mouth and one body, take really good care of it.
