Most people will have many dentists to choose from when they’re looking for their new home dental office. Having a choice is excellent, but it also means that it’s up to you to decide which dentist is the right choice for you. At first glance, it can be difficult to tell the difference between them. They’re all accredited dentists, after all. However, not all dentists are the same, so it’s important to know what you should be looking for and how to choose the right one.
If you’re not sure which dentist to go to, this guide will help you to find a dentist in Eastpointe, Michigan or a “dentist newr me”.
How to Start Finding a Dentist
To begin your search to find a dentist, you could start in a few places. A lot of people like to start by asking friends and family if they can recommend someone. It makes sense if you trust the opinion of the people you know. They can recommend a dentist they have had personal experience with, or perhaps tell you about anyone they had a less than ideal experience with. Social media can be a great tool for asking for recommendations because you can ask your wider social network, not just the people closest to you. When you ask for local recommendations on Facebook, it will even drop pins on a map when people give you suggestions!
In addition to asking people you know for recommendations, you can look online for some potential dentists. You can use search engines, look up directories, and even ask people on forums. When you need to find a local dentist, try to use a search term like dentist nearest to me or include your location in your search. The search engine will show you options close to you and put them on a map so you can easily see where they are.
What Sort of Dentist Are You Looking For?
Keep in mind that there are different types of dentists that provide different services. You might be looking for a dentist to provide medical dentistry, or you might want a cosmetic dentist. A family dentist can provide treatment for the whole family. You may even be looking for a dentist who does pre-treatment sedation dentistry.
Make sure that the dentists that you look at provide the type of dentistry that you’re looking for. Many dentists offer a range of services, so you can find that they offer both cosmetic and medical dentistry, for example.
Some of the specialist types of dentists that you might be looking for include:
- Periodontists – specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of gum disease
- Orthodontists – dealing with misaligned teeth (and straightening them)
- Prosthodontists – restore or replace missing teeth
- Endodontists – carry out root canals and specialize in the interior of teeth including saving highly damaged teeth.
- Oral/maxillofacial surgeons – specialize in complex procedures using deep sedation surgery (e.g. surgery to correct the jaw, complex tooth extractions, etc.)
Who Do They Treat?
Once you know that a dentist’s office offers the type of dentistry that you need, you should take a closer look at the services that they offer. What treatments do they provide that you might need both now and in the future?
There are many different treatments that a dentist might offer, from routine checkups, fillings and root canals, to teeth whitening, veneers, and dental implants. It’s worth remembering that dentists don’t always list every single treatment or service that they offer on their website. If you’re not sure, you can get in touch with them and ask about any specific services that you are looking for.
Are They In Your Insurance Network?
How to pay for your dental treatment is obviously an essential thing to consider. If you have dental insurance, you need to know that the dentist you choose can accept your insurance. If a dentist isn’t in-network, this doesn’t mean that you should dismiss it right away. If you find a dentist that you like, you don’t necessarily have to look for another. Find out what your insurance provider will cover and communicate with the dentist’s office. Even if they are out-of-network, they can still bill your insurance, and you may be able to get some of your costs covered and keep the dentist that you trust!
If you don’t have dental insurance or you want a treatment that’s not covered by your insurance, find out what finance options the dentist has! They might have a number of options for payment plans and payment methods that make it easier to handle the costs.
What’s Their Reputation Like?
The reputation of a dentist is one of the most important things to consider. You need to know about the dentist(s) themselves, as well as how the rest of the dentist’s office is regarded. To find out more about a specific dentist, you can start on their own website to read about their experience and testimonials from current and past patients. If you want to find out more, you can research their background and their qualifications, licensure and other official information to find out more about them. If they are a member of the American Dental Association, this can be a good sign. However, even if they’re not a member, they can still be a good dentist.
Reviews and ratings are excellent for helping you to understand the reputation of a dentist’s office. Ratings can give you a quick idea of whether it’s a reputable business and whether you will be treated well. For a more in-depth idea of whether it could be the right choice for you, read some of the reviews that people have left on sites like Yelp. Reviews will give you more information about how people feel about the treatment that they have received, the customer service and the organization of the dentist’s office.
It’s important to remember that there will likely always be one or two dissatisfied customers. You should take these in context with all of the other reviews. Pay attention to whether the reviews tend to be overwhelmingly positive, compared to the review average or negative reviews.
What Technology Do They Use?
You might not know a lot about dental technology, but you can still use it as a factor to help you decide which dentist to go to. The technology that your dentist uses can affect a range of things, including the quality of the treatment and how quickly they can get things done. Take a look at the dentist’s website to see what sort of technology they use and how it benefits their patients. Their tech could include anything from the latest treatment tech to some perks for patients, such as screens for watching TV while you’re having treatment.
Patient Care and Customer Service
When you visit your dentist, you want to know that they’re going to look after you. Everyone should be friendly and make your visits as easy as possible, from the office support staff to the dentist. This is especially important if you’re looking for a family dentist that treats children or if you’re someone who is nervous or frightened about going to the dentist. Find out whether a dentist’s office offers good patient care and customer service by checking out reviews. You can also assess them when you get in touch with them, whether it’s by phone or by visiting the office. Sometimes the best way to decide if a dentist is right for you is to book an initial consultation.
If you are particularly nervous about going to the dentist, you might look for a dentist that specializes in handling patients with a phobia or anxiety. They might offer services such as sedation dentistry, or they might just take a particularly thoughtful approach to treatment to help you feel at ease. You might also want to look for a dentist that is able to help disabled people, such as children with learning differences or autism.
Ask the Right Questions
There are plenty of questions that you might want to ask if you’re looking for the right dentist near you. Asking questions gets you the information that you need, so don’t be shy to inquire about anything that you want to know. Here are some of the questions that you might ask when you’re trying to choose a dentist.
Can they provide references or reviews?
A lot of people choose a dentist by looking at online reviews or getting recommendations from people they know. However, even if you do this, it can be helpful to ask for references from the dentist. They can provide references both from former or current patients and other medical professionals. Getting in touch with the references that they provide can help you to assess the quality of their work.
How long are waiting times?
When you already have to take time out of your day, possibly having time off work, to go to the dentist, you don’t want to have to wait around for a long time. If you want to make sure you won’t be waiting too long for your appointment, ask about waiting times and whether the office has a policy regarding how long you will have to wait. For example, if you have to wait longer than 30 minutes, you might get a discount on the cost of your visit.
Are payment plans available?
Asking about finances is another must when you’re choosing a dentist. You need to know that you can pay for your treatment, whether through your insurance, cash, or a combination of both. Many dentists will have payment plans and financing options to make the cost of your dental treatment easier to manage.
Do they teach prevention?
Seeing the dentist when you have a dental health problem is important, but you should also know how to prevent these problems from occurring in the first place. Preventative methods that help you to care for your oral health can allow you to avoid issues like cavities, gum disease, and other problems. When you’re asking questions, be sure to ask your dentist if they teach prevention so that you and your family know how best to care for your oral health.
How do they determine how many visits are needed?
When you need dental care, you might need a number of visits to get the treatment that you need. Each dentist can use a different process to determine how many times you might need to come in for an appointment. Ask the dentist how they decide the number of visits that you might require to see what approach they use to treatment.
How will you keep me safe?
At the moment, there’s one more question that you might want to ask. The spread of COVID-19 has meant that dentists and other medical professionals have had to change the way they practice. Dentist’s offices already practice good hygiene, but they may need to take a few extra precautions to help you to stay safe during this time. If you’re concerned about this, be sure to ask what steps the office is taking to keep things hygienic. How are they ensuring that patients are as safe as possible? They might be seeing fewer patients each day and being extra cautious about cleaning and hygiene.
Book a Consultation
After you have thoroughly assessed a dentist near you to find the right one, the next step is to book a consultation. You aren’t committing to becoming their patient by booking an appointment. It will give you a chance to assess their services in person and get a real idea of the experience that they offer. You will also be able to speak to the dentist and find out more about them, as well as have some time to decide if they are a good fit for you. Sometimes you need to see your dentist and their team in person before you decide if they’re right for you.
At Patient Empowered Dentistry, we provide caring services to patients in Eastpointe. We never force you into anything. Most of all, we keep you in the loop no matter what’s going on. When you’re looking for a dentist nearest to you, take a look at our services and how we can help you and then give us a call!
