Steps to Finding Your Dentist

WebMD offers a helpful guide to use when looking for a new dentist.

When you’re searching for a dentist, the American Dental Association (ADA) offers these suggestions:

  • Ask family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers for their recommendations.
  • Ask your family doctor or local pharmacist.
  • If you’re moving, ask your current dentist to make a recommendation.
  • Contact your local or state dental society. The ADA provides a list of local and state dental societies on its web site, www.ada.org. Your local and state dental societies also may be listed in the telephone directory under “dentists” or “associations.”

The ADA suggests calling or visiting more than one dentist before selecting one.

What Should I Look For When Choosing a Dentist?

You and your dentist will be long-term oral health care partners; therefore, you should find someone you can be comfortable with. To find a suitable dentist to meet your needs, consider asking the following questions as a starting point:

  • What are the office hours? Are they convenient for your schedule?
  • Is the office easy to get to from work or home?
  • Where was the dentist educated and trained?
  • What’s the dentist’s approach to preventive dentistry?
  • How often does the dentist attend conferences and continuing education workshops?
  • What type of anesthesia is the dentist certified to administer to help you relax and feel more comfortable during any necessary dental treatment?
  • What arrangements are made for handling emergencies outside of office hours? (Most dentists make arrangements with a colleague or emergency referral service if they are unable to tend to emergencies.)
  • Is information provided about all fees and payment plans before treatment is scheduled? If you are comparison shopping, ask for estimates on some common procedures such as full-mouth X-rays, an oral exam and cleaning, and filling a cavity.
  • Does the dentist participate in your dental health plan?
  • What is the dentist’s office policy on missed appointments?

If visiting a dentist’s office:

  • Does the office appear to be clean, neat, and orderly? Do all surfaces and equipment in the treatment room appear clean?
  • Is the dental staff helpful and willing to answer your questions?
  • Do you observe the dentist and staff wearing gloves and other protective gear during actual patient treatment?

At SeaCliff Dental we are committed to dental excellence.

We provide patient-centered care that’s respectful of and responsive to your individual preferences, needs and values.

Whether you’ve been keeping up on your dental visits, haven’t been to the dentist in a while, or have special requirements, your individual needs are very important to us. As soon as you meet Dr. Soltani or Dr. Aslani you’ll know you’re in for special care.

And what will really impress you is their warm conversation, easy smiles, and simple way of explaining everything that’s important to you. They’re concerned for all the details of your visit – all the way down to making sure you don’t wait too long to see them.

"My commitment to you is exceptional dental care at an affordable price."

4 thoughts on “Steps to Finding Your Dentist”

  1. That is useful post …
    I added your website into my bookmarks.
    🙂 Looking forward for future updates!

    Michael

  2. Jocelyn McDonald

    My husband and I recently moved into a new area, and we’re looking for a dentist we can start visiting. Your article had some great tips for choosing a dentist, and I liked how you said to visit the dentist so you can see if the staff is friendly and attentive and the facilities are clean. Thanks for the help; we’ll keep this in mind when choosing the dentist right for us.

  3. My wife and I just moved to a new area, so we are looking for a dentist to start visiting in town. I like your point about visiting the office to ask questions first. I’ll be sure to do this.

  4. I do like that you suggested checking if the dental office of the dentist that you’re interested in is clean, neat, and appears to be clean. My husband and I are planning to have our teeth checked. We’re both prone to allergies, so it’s essential for us to visit a dental office that’s allergen-free. Thanks!

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