It’s not easy to find a good dentist. It can be hard to know which one is right for you, or even where to start looking. But there are some things you can do to help narrow down your options. Here are four key things to look for as you search for a new dentist:
A Dentist Must Have Conscience and Empathy
Sometimes your first impression of a dentist is how they make you feel. You want to find one that communicates well and cares about your feelings, thoughts, and reactions to what they’re doing. A good way to tell if the dentist has empathy is by watching their reaction to asking questions or bringing up any concerns you may have. If you want to know more about traits that a dentist should have, you can read here about that. Keep in mind that it’s not just about the doctor themselves, but also the staff. If they are both empathetic to your feelings, you’re off to a good start.
Read Reviews And Client Testimonials
It’s never a bad idea to check out reviews on Yelp, Google Reviews, Health Grades, ZocDoc, or any other site that gathers reviews for dentists. Just remember that some clients may be more sensitive than others, so their experience isn’t necessarily the same as yours will be. That said, patient reviews can be a great place to start if you don’t know where else to go. Just make sure the reviews are from people who have been at your dentist’s office, not someone who went for a consultation and might be comparing their experience to yours even though they aren’t going there.
Hygiene Is Important
If you want to know what kind of dentist you’re looking at, look at how clean they keep their office and equipment. The last thing you want is a dentist that fails to wash their hands or sterilize dental tools. If the furniture is dirty and even if the office itself doesn’t seem like it’s spotless, then chances are that the dentist isn’t as clean or organized as it should be. After all, it is your health they’re handling.
Think About Insurance Coverage
If you have dental insurance, then that will be a determining factor in choosing which dentist to go with. If you don’t have any health coverage yet, find out if your potential dentist accepts your insurance. This way, you can make sure there are no holes in coverage before scheduling an appointment. This is also the perfect time to see if they accept the payment methods you prefer, such as credit cards or cash. This is important because if you don’t have any coverage, your options are limited.
This article has provided you with four key traits to look for in a dentist. When looking into dentists, make sure that they have conscience and empathy, reviews on Yelp or other sites are helpful, hygiene is important when choosing your dental office (do they sterilize their tools?), and think about insurance coverage before scheduling an appointment. These tips should help guide the search process, so you can make a great choice.
