5 Steps to Finding the Perfect Eastpointe, MI Dentist
Whether you’ve just moved to a new area and require a new local dentist or you’ve had to leave your old dental practice because it shut down, your dentist left or you simply weren’t happy with the quality of the dental work offered, then you may be feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the wide range of dental practices available to choose from.
The process of selecting a new dentist can be a significantly stressful one, particularly when you need to find a high-quality dentist that is experienced and skilled, and is able to offer high end dental work, as well as a friendly and welcoming service. The good news is that while finding the perfect dentist for you and your family can be stressful and overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.
This handy guide will talk you through everything that you need to know about selecting a new dentist, in five simple, easy steps. To ensure that your next dentist is perfect for your needs, have a look at the useful guide below!
Step 1: Start with the closest dentists to you
The first step to finding a new dentist is to Google the nearest dental practices to your home. While you could opt to travel further, for ease and convenience if you can find a dentist nearer where you live and work, this will make attending appointments somewhat easier and less stressful.
Consider how you can get to a dental practice. Is it within walking distance? Is it on a bus route? Is there parking there? These are all important factors to consider. It’s also a good idea to think about whether, in an emergency situation the dental practice would be quick and easy to get to.
Consider the open hours of the practice? You ideally want a practice that doesn’t just operate during office hours, you want somewhere that opens early in the morning and practices until later in the evening, or better yet offers weekend appointments.
Step 2: Ask for recommendations from family and friends
The chances are that if you ask friends or family for dentist recommendations, you will find some fantastic locally based dentists. When someone you know and trust recommends a dentist, you have peace of mind that the dentist offers a reliable and high-quality service that your friend or relative has always been satisfied with previously. This gives a fantastic oversight of the quality of the dentist’s work.
You could also opt to ask your friend or relative how long they’ve been with the dentist that they’ve recommended and what it is that they like about them and the practice where they work. The longer they’ve been a patient there, the more reliable they are as a source.
Step 3: Consider specialism
Next, it’s a good idea to consider if you require a dentist with a specialism. Is it a certain type of dentist that you’re looking for? Is it a specialist dentist that you require because you have certain dental issues?
If you’ve always been with a dental specialist in a certain field, it’s not a good idea to opt for a general dentist. If this is the case, you might want to ask your previous dentist for a recommendation.
When it comes to finding a dental specialist, Google is an amazing resource. If you’re struggling to find one yourself, consider utilizing Google to source the specialist that you require. You’re sure to find a wide range of specialists in different fields, however they may not be as local as you might like.
Step 4: Consider the cost
If you currently have dental insurance in place, you may need to be selective with where you opt to go to see a dentist, as not all dentists are approved by different dental insurance providers. So it is worth contacting your dental insurance company to ask them for a list of approved dentists, to ensure that you don’t waste your time finding a dentist that your insurance company won’t cover the cost for you to see.
Should you not have insurance in place, then it’s important to consider how much each dentist charges and ask yourself whether the rate offered is affordable to you. There’s no point signing up to a dental practice where the fees for checkups and dental work are not affordable to you, as this means you may have to compromise on dental care.
It’s far better to choose a more affordable dental provider rather than selecting a dental practice that you cannot afford. Another option is to look into dental practices that offer monthly payment plans that cover any dental work that you need, or offer payment plans as and when you undergo a dental procedure. It’s worth asking about the potential for payment plans beforehand, to ensure that should you need to undergo an expensive dental procedure, you’re able to afford to cover the cost for it.
Step 5: Visit the dental practice in person
Before selecting a dentist, it’s vital that you make an appointment to visit the dental practice in person, to ensure that you feel comfortable undergoing treatment there.
It’s also crucial that you meet your dentist beforehand, to ensure that you feel happy to have them taking care of your teeth and performing any dental procedures that you need doing.
When you visit the dental practice for the first time, make sure to take a list of questions with you, so that you’re able to ask everything that you want to, and ensure that nothing gets missed out.
There you have it, everything that you should know about choosing a new dentist.
