Dental health plays a crucial role in maintaining high standards of general health, and it’s beneficial to see a dentist on a regular basis. Frequent check-ups reduce the risk of decay and gum disease and they can also ensure that warning signs of other conditions, including mouth cancer, are detected early. If you’ve moved to a new area, your dentist is retiring or relocating, or you’ve never registered with a dentist before, here are some tips to help you find a dentist.
How can I find a new dentist?
There are several steps you can take to find a dentist if you are new to a neighborhood, or you want to change dentist. These include:
Ask for recommendations
Whether you’ve recently moved, or you’ve lived in the same town or city for several years, it’s always beneficial to ask for recommendations when looking for a new dentist. Ask friends, colleagues, family members and neighbors if they can recommend a dentist. Most of us feel more confident accepting advice from people we know and trust, and it makes sense to choose a dentist based on positive reviews and real-life experiences.
Search online
The Internet is a fantastic resource for finding local dental offices and learning more about dentists in the area. You can search for a dentist from the comfort of your couch using a smartphone or a tablet. Simply open the search page, type in words and phrases like near me dentist and follow the links. You can browse websites, read reviews, learn more about dental teams and look for dentists with special interests, for example, cosmetic dentistry. Take your time to have a look around and contact the offices that make your short-list to find out more about services, prices and availability.
Read reviews and testimonials
Did you know that over 80% of people now choose a dentist based on positive online reviews? Reviews enable us to read about other peoples’ experiences and they provide an insight into how dental teams work, what the office is like and how services compare to other dental offices. It’s important to make sure that you read verified reviews and utilize trustworthy websites.
Make use of online tools
When you’re looking for a new dentist, it’s critical to find a reputable dentist who has the relevant expertise and qualifications to practise. You can use online tools, such as the American Dental Association’s dentist finder, to locate registered dentists in your area.
Training, education and specialist areas
We all want to feel safe when we go and see our dentist. Dentists are highly-trained, but some are more experienced than others. If you have a specific treatment in mind, you have underlying dental health issues, or you are at high risk of developing dental problems, it’s a good idea to focus your search on finding a dentist that has expertise and advanced training in the relevant area. If you’re interested in cosmetic dentistry or orthodontics, for example, search for dentists with specialty training in these fields. You can read more about dentists online, and you can also ask questions over the telephone or during a virtual or face-to-face consultation.
Services
When you are looking for a dentist, it’s wise to look at the service pages on the office website to see whether the treatments you’re looking for are available. Some offices provide a wide range of treatments, including general dentistry, pediatric care, orthodontics, restorative dentistry, endodontics and cosmetic dentistry, while others may specialize in specific services, for example, periodontics.
Choosing a new dentist
Once you’ve got a list of names, the next step is to choose a dentist. The best way to make a decision is to arrange to meet the dentists and take a look around the office. You can only really get a feel for an office when you actually visit in person and you’ll also have the opportunity to meet the team, find out more about the services that are on offer and see what the ethos of the office is all about. When you have a consultation, or you go and have a tour of a dental office, don’t hesitate to ask questions. You might want to know more about payment plans and prices, or you may be interested in family dental services or the latest cosmetic treatments. Dentists will be more than happy to answer questions. Once you’ve visited the offices on your short-list, and you’ve met the teams, you should be able to make a well-informed decision. Questions you may want to ask a prospective dentist include:
- What kinds of dental services do you provide?
- Do you treat adults and children?
- Have you won any awards?
- Can I see a price list?
- Do you offer different payment options?
- How long have you been working as a dentist?
- Do you provide care for nervous patients?
- Can I read patient testimonials?
- What kind of equipment and technology do you utilize?
- What fields do you specialize in?
The importance of finding a dentist
Dental health is closely linked to general health. Seeing a dentist on a regular basis is important to keep your smile in check, but it also plays a role in maintaining good overall health. Dental problems, such as infections, decay and gum disease, can cause severe, unpleasant symptoms and contribute to pain and a loss of confidence. If you find a dentist you trust and get on with well, this can make all the difference to your health and wellbeing.
Summary
Are you looking for a dentist in your local area? If so, there are many ways to find a dentist. Ask for recommendations, read online reviews and use search engines to locate local offices. Take your time to make a decision. It’s important that you have a positive relationship with your dentist and that you feel calm and confident when you have a dental appointment.
