7 Tips for Finding a Dentist
Choosing a dentist can be tricky. With many dental offices in each city and town, it may be difficult to determine which one is the best for you. It is important for your entire family to regularly go to the dentist since your family’s oral health is very important to their overall health.
There can be serious consequences such as decay and gum disease, not to mention a less attractive smile when you ignore your dental health. During routine dental visits, the Dentist looks for signs of underlying health problems that are important to catch as early as possible.
Here are some tips that will help you pick the right dentist for you and your family.
Check the state dental board
Every state has a state dental board where you can check the status of the Dentist’s license.
Personal care
It is important to find a dental office that is going to treat you as an individual by getting to know you and your dental health needs, instead of a “Factory” where you never see the same dentist/hygienist twice.
Recommendations from others
It is important to ask people with your best interest at heart to recommend a good dentist. And, it is important to get a dentist with a good reputation. Online reviews are also good sources to see how others view their experience with a particular dental office.
What services does the dentist provide?
Does the Dentist perform surgeries or, would you have to go to a third-party to receive care? How advanced is the office equipment? Is it the type of office that stays on the cutting edge of dentistry? If you are nervous about dental work, do they offer sedation dentistry? Here is a list of some treatments that you may want your dentist to provide:
- Dental Implants
- Sedation Dentistry
- Cosmetic Dentistry
- Tooth Whitening
- Same-day Crowns
- Root Canals
- Invisalign
Factor in the location of the office
Determine how far you would drive for great dental care. There is always a dentist down the street, but are they the best fit for your family’s needs? Sometimes driving an extra 15 or 30 minutes can get you to a dentist who checks all the boxes on your list.
Schedule a Consultation
Make an appointment for a consultation. Meet the Dentist face to face and see if you feel comfortable with them and in the dental office in general. Make sure you feel comfortable speaking about your dental concerns and make sure the Dentist can explain what your treatment plan will be.
After Hours Emergency Care
It is very important that a dentist has a protocol in place for after hour’s emergency calls. This may be an additional phone number you can call or if the dentist is away, another dentist on call for their patients. You don’t want to be in excruciating pain on a Sunday and have no place to go.
We hope these tips will help you pick the dental office that is right for you and the whole family! We know it can be overwhelming, but with some research and planning, it will be a decision you only have to make once.
The dental office of Mark R. Turner, DDS has your back and would love to be the office you consider when choosing a family dentist in the Southeastern Massachusetts area. Contact us today to learn more about what we can do for you!