7 Questions To Ask When Choosing A New Dentist

Choosing a new dentist is an important decision. After all, this person is going to play an important role in your oral health and overall well-being. You trust them with the care of your mouth for years to come.

And you want to be confident in their abilities to perform sometimes difficult dental work with expert care (and, as painlessly as possible!).

When you start looking for a new dentist, doing your research is paramount. Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few possibilities, ask them the following questions:

1. What do you specialize in?

First, it’s important to learn if your dentist has any specialties. This will help you determine if they are right for you.

For example, you may need some cosmetic procedures in the future and you will need a dentist who specializes in cosmetic dentistry. Alternatively, you may need a child-friendly dentist.

Most dentists provide several services in their practices. As a result, knowing the specifics of a particular dentist can help you narrow down your choices.

This is also a good time to inquire about their experience. How often have they had a dental procedure? The more experience they have, the better.

2. Are there any dental treatments you do not offer?

Now that you understand what your new potential dentist specializes in, it’s time to ask what they don’t offer. Not every practice offers every dental treatment possible.

They may refer you to a specialist or another practice for certain procedures. Before you make any decisions you should know what those procedures are and where they are referring you.

3. Is your practice busy?

In other words, how hard will it be for you to get an appointment?

It is good for your dentist to have a thriving business with many loyal and devoted clients. However, if your dentist is very busy, you may find it difficult to make an appointment.

After all, you are busy too! Therefore, it is crucial that your dentist’s schedule works with your busy lifestyle.

Also, be sure to inquire about the availability of emergency treatment. A dental emergency can be scary and painful. You should know that you will get the help you need when you need it.

4. Will I always have the same dentist or is there a rotation system?

Are there multiple dentists working in the practice? If so, it’s useful to know whether you always have the same dentist or if you interact with different dentists at different appointments.

You may feel more comfortable seeing the same dentist each time. After all, they are the dentist you trust and whose skills you have confidence in.

Consequently, if the practice has a rotation system or refuses to guarantee that you will see your dentist at every appointment, they are probably not the right fit for you.

However, there is another thing to consider. What happens if your dentist is away or sick? Will a partner in the practice take over or do you have to wait until your dentist returns?

When you learn the answers to these questions in advance, you won’t be surprised later.

5. What check-up schedule do you recommend?

What do these tests involve? Also, how does your dentist determine how often they should see you?

Different patients need different oral care based on their age and health. As a result, your recommended check-up schedule should be tailored to your unique dental needs.

Your dentist should have a strategy for your oral health.

Likewise, your dentist should provide an overview of which procedures are necessary and which are optional. This is part of creating an oral health plan that is best for your long-term health.

6. How often do you take x-rays?

X-rays are an important part of preventive dental care and should be part of every oral health plan. Why? Many dental problems and serious conditions are undiagnosed without an X-ray, and you may not feel pain in your mouth until your condition is severe.

X-rays allow your dentist to diagnose problems before they can be treated.

Given their importance, you should ask how your potential dentist approaches X-rays. Do they take them every year? Do X-rays inform their treatment plans?

If a dentist can’t provide a clear explanation of their x-ray techniques (or rarely uses them), it’s best to continue your search.

7. Do you have positive references?

Finally, does the dentist have positive references? Do they have a long list of happy clients raving about their skills, quality of care and customer service?

Do their existing patients trust and rely on them? Also, do their former clients only have good things to say?

The best way to get an accurate assessment of the quality of any professional is to ask their current and previous clients. Understanding how their patients feel about them will help you make the right decision.

Your dentist is going to play an important role in your overall health and well-being. Of course, they must be highly skilled in their field. However, they should be personable and good at handling patients.

Their training should welcome you and put you at ease, not fill you with fear.

Looking for a new dentist? Contact The Pearl Clinic!

At Pearl Clinic, we put your needs front and center. Our personalized approach to treatment focuses on your unique dental needs and cares for your long-term dental health.

Plus, we’d love to get to know you! We pride ourselves on building lasting relationships with our patients and a practice where everyone is welcome.

If you’re looking for a new dentist or have any questions about your dental health, don’t hesitate to call (or even visit our clinic).