Finding a good dentist can be the difference between a lifetime of good oral hygiene and health or, heaven forbid, the opposite.
While that may be a challenge, it doesn’t have to be if you know what to look for.
I met a new patient this week who remarked that she saw a professional during the past year and was disappointed because no one talked or explained anything to her.
Following her examination, she left the dental chair and met a financial coordinator who told her what she required and the costs involved.
I have used this column before to bemoan what has happened in the dental profession, where large corporations build and run dental offices where the dentist has little control over interactions with the patient.
The relationship between a patient and the dentist is personal, and finding a good dentist who’s the right fit takes time and effort. Personalities must blend, and the office must express and demonstrate caring for the patient and, frequently, many years of emotions or fears accompanying the visit.
Once you find a good match, stay with that practitioner as you and your dentist grow together and go through life. Many patients have seen me for decades, and our visits are like meeting with old friends.
I understand that life is constantly changing, and there will be times when you need to find another dental professional.
What should you look for and expect to see in this search?
Here are five things to look for when finding your next dentist.
Five Considerations to Finding a Good Dentist
1. Availability:
The office should be able to accommodate you when you need to see someone for an emergency.
Even a busy office should either set aside time in a day to treat an emergency or at least make an appointment to assess you promptly to relieve your discomfort and develop a treatment plan.
2. Interaction with the dentist:
Most of your visit should be spent with the dentist unless your first visit is for dental cleaning.
Talking with staff is important, but you are there to see the doctor, and time spent with that person gives you a good idea of whether the office is a good fit for you.
3. Office appearance and feeling:
The office should be orderly and show updated equipment. The staff should be professional and make you feel comfortable when talking to them.
If your treatment is extensive, you will spend a lot of time interacting with everyone there, and it should be a comfortable environment for you.
4. Talk to other patients:
Today, the world operates on reviews posted online.
Online reviews are a great way to gather information, but there is nothing like word of mouth to determine if the new office is the right fit for you.
Even when you sit in the reception area, don’t be bashful about asking another patient about their experience with the practice.
5. Presentation of options:
In medicine, there are often multiple ways to treat a patient.
Make sure that the dentist presents more than one approach for involved treatment, and don’t be embarrassed to ask about the risks vs. the benefits of each avenue of care.
Where do you begin your search?
But this begs the question of how to start your search for your match.
Dental Insurance
If you have dental insurance, you have a head start on your friends.
Insurance companies create networks composed of many dental professionals. Go through a list based on location and find one that looks familiar or is close to you.
An initial online search will give you a feel for the practice and the office, and you can peruse reviews to see if the fit sounds good. Then, follow the steps that I outlined to make your final decision.
Ask a friend
If you don’t have insurance, ask someone you know or are acquainted with on social media for a recommendation and begin the process.
Finding a Good Dentist is The Key to a Lifetime of Good Oral Health
The most important thing to remember is to find a comfortable practice and a caring dentist for your oral health.
If visiting the office is not, at best, a chore or, at worst, a source of anxiety, you will be more likely to establish a routine of solid preventative care.
If you need a dental visit, please call us at 440.951.7856 so we can meet and get acquainted.
Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD, is a highly qualified and experienced general dentist licensed in Ohio. He is also a respected Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine staff member.