Four Tips for Finding the Right Dentist

Are you researching dentist reviews? Finding the right dentist office when you are in need of dental work can be overwhelming. Your dental health is a very important part of your overall health, and you need to be confident that your teeth are in the hands of a dentists who will fix the issues you have, and help ensure that new ones don’t arise. Looking for a family dentist is not a “trial and error” type of situation. Before looking for the right family dental practice, make sure that you take these factors into consideration:


Four Tips for Finding the Right Dentist

1. Read up on your local dentist reviews.
   
   What do you call the lowest scoring graduate from dental school? The answer is “Dr.” Get it? Because even if a dentist is not good at their job, they still might have the accreditation to make you think they do.
   
   
   You want to make sure that the dentist you use accepts your insurance and is experienced and equipped, and so on, and we’ll get to that in a minute. However, the best way to know that you’ve found a dentist that you can trust is if they have a long list of glowing dentist reviews from other clients who love them. There are a number of dentist reviews websites available that will help you get started on your search for a great local dentist.
   
   
   Keep in mind that some patients are impossible to please, and a client with a negative experience is ten times more likely to post it than a client with a great experience. You might not be able to find a dentist with zero negative reviews, but look for common themes in the reviews. Are they mostly positive? What are the common praises or complaints in the reviews?




2. Understand your dental insurance coverage.
   
   Your dental health plan might stipulate which dentist you can go to. If you have a dental HMO, you’ll probably need to find a dentist within your network. If you have a PPO plan, you have the freedom to use any dentist, but your copay might be more for out of network dental practices. Before searching for a new dentist, contact your dental insurance provider and make sure you understand what options you have, that will be covered.
3. Follow the word of mouth trail.
   
   What better way to find a dentist who you love than to try one who someone you trust loves? Ask around to family, friends, and coworkers in the area for referrals to dentists that they love.
   
   
   If you’re new to the area and do not know of anyone who could provide you with a referral, you can contact a professional association of dentists and ask for reviews. A few places to start are the American Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry.
4. Consider the convenience of getting to your dentist.
   
   You are far more likely to keep up with your routine dental care if it is not a pain in the you-know-what to get in to see them. Consider finding a dentist whose office is in close proximity to your home or your place of work. If you find a great dentist across town for you, they won’t serve much purpose if it’s too much of a hassle to get to them, so you stop making the appointments you need.
   
   
   Also, look into the hours that the dental practice takes appointments. If you find a dentist who will see you on your day off, so you don’t have to take time off of work, it’s a huge bonus!
   
   
   While we’re on the subject of accessibility, consider how difficult it is to get in when you need an appointment. When you have a tooth ache or potential tooth damage, the last thing you want to do is be stuck waiting two weeks to get an appointment. If you’re stuck in this predicament, it’s too late to find a dentist who can get you in sooner. Make sure that your dentist can see you in a timely manner now.

Having a healthy smile not only looks great, it also contributes to overall health. The best way to maintain great dental health is finding a great dentist. These steps will get you there.