Feeling overwhelmed by your options for dentists? Do you want to know how to find a good dentist? By the end of this article, I'm confident you'll have all the information you need to select the best dentist's office.
We'll go over what you should know before choosing a new dentist, how to find a great dentist, what questions to ask, and even how to spot a bad dentist.
Whether you're looking because you've moved to a new city, your employer changed dental insurance plans, your dentist is retiring, or you've simply waited too long for a dental appointment...
There's no need to be concerned. There are numerous simple, straightforward methods for selecting the best dental services provider for you and your family.
7 Ways to Find a Good Dentist
How do I find the best dentist in my area, I'm frequently asked? How do I go about finding a new dentist?
After you've considered the aforementioned factors, you're ready to narrow down the specific dentist who's right for you. Here are the best ways to find a great dentist for you and your family.
1. Consult with People You Trust
Inquire with people you know and trust, such as family, close friends, and coworkers. Do they have a bright, cheerful smile? Discover who keeps it that way! Get that name and number as soon as one of them begins to praise their dentist for the next step toward your most beautiful smile.
My best advice for finding a good dentist is as follows:
2. Obtain a Physician or Pharmacist Referral
Consult your primary care physician or a local pharmacist. It's a safe bet that the dentists they use have been thoroughly vetted by these medical professionals. Doctors and pharmacists frequently receive feedback on dentists near them, so you'll often get a good idea of the best dentists in your area by using this method.
3. Look up your chosen dental society's database.
Compare practices from various organizations such as the AADSM, ADA, AGD, Dentist Wheeling WV, and others.
4. Examine Your Dental Insurance Provider Network
Although dental insurance does not have to play a role in this decision in the same way that medical insurance does, it is still a good way to find a good dentist.
Examine the list of general dentists with whom your dental plan works. Then, think about the factors I mentioned in the first section to see if one of them is right for you.
5. Google It (Or Use a Dental Provider Review Site)
It may seem overly simple, but reading patient recommendations will answer many of your questions and help you add or remove offices from your list. Start by searching "dentist near me" and sorting by the highest-rated reviews.
CareDash and ZocDoc, for example, focus on patient reviews as well as information about services available in dental and medical offices. These can provide more specific reviews (and basic information) than a simple Google search.
6. Use Questions and a Website Visit to Narrow It Down
Once you've narrowed down your top choices using the methods outlined above, visit their office website and take a look around.
A good dentist does not need a good website. A well-designed website, on the other hand, with lots of information about the practise, the staff, their specialties and strengths (and more patient reviews), can be a great indicator of a solid choice for you.
7. Verify Board Certification and State Licensure twice.
Do dentists have board certification? I've been asked this before. And the answer is, indeed, yes.
Visit the American Board of Dental Specialties to learn more about certification and to see which certifications are on your "short list" (ABDS). You'll almost always find that your dentist is board certified and has a current state licence.
However, on an extremely rare occasion, a dentist may fail to complete the necessary steps to obtain or renew one of these items. In these cases, I would recommend looking elsewhere.