The Art Of Finding A Dentist You'll Love
Choosing a dentist is a big step, and you may end up dealing with them for a long time. Everybody has a different feel for what they and don't like about a practitioner. As you work toward finding one, though, try to keep these ideas in mind.
Ask Around
Family members, friends, neighbors, and co-workers are all excellent sources of information. Before you ask around, create a list of things you care about. For example, someone with a kid may be more focused on things like friendliness and ability to work with children. Conversely, a single adult who has specific dental issues might prefer to narrowly focus on skills. Try to keep your list in your head as you discuss dentists.
If you're moving to a nearby area, you may want to talk with your dentist. They might be able to provide a recommendation, and there's a good chance they've seen some of the work done by others in their field.
Look at the Whole Practice
There's a lot more to dealing with a dentist than getting a tooth worked on. The reality is there is a whole team at a dental office, and you're going to interact with everybody there at some point. Even if folks eventually move on, hiring practices tend to be very similar. If you don't like the person on the front desk now, you're probably not going to like the next one, either.
Beyond personalities, skills also matter. This is especially the case when it comes to the practice's dental hygienist. If possible, try to get a feel for how the doctor and the hygienist get along. Particularly, note whether the dentist listens. In many cases, the hygienist may be the only person at the dental office in a position to provide a dissenting opinion when a diagnosis is made.
Technical capabilities matter, too. Does the equipment look reasonably modern? Do they have the means to perform oral surgery and implants? What tasks will require referrals to other doctors in order to deal with? Take time to inquire about the technology in use at a practice.
Making Appointments
Finding the best practice on earth means little if you can't get an appointment. Scheduling can be challenging, as a lot of folks in the industry keep odd hours or only work four-day weeks. Study their schedule and make sure it's actually going to line up with yours.
For more information, reach out to dental offices near you.