How To Pick A Family Dentist

Posted on: 8 February 2019

Having a relationship with a family dentist is a good way to look out for the health of yourself and your loved ones. There are plenty of folks who work as dentists, though, and that may leave you wondering how you can pick the one you'll be happy with. Here is a checklist so you can have a starting point.

Do They Take Your Insurance?

Sometimes people don't like to think about the basic matter of whether they can pay for the care they need from the dentist they want. Putting off this question, though, benefits no one. Ask about it up front. Some practices may wobble a little bit with an answer, hoping to get you to come in. Seek a firm yes, and avoid any office that takes a "We'll look into it" track.

Discussing Available Options

Especially when searching for a family dentist, certain considerations related to your family members will come into play. For example, some children will require sedation dentistry services. That's two things, working with children and performing sedation, that you need to be clear about whether a dentist is comfortable with before you start scheduling appointments.

It's also a good idea to discuss what procedures a dentist is comfortable doing. Many older practitioners, for example, aren't trained in the use of the modern version of the caries control procedure, a solution that sometimes allows patients to avoid root canals. If you're worried about dealing with active tooth decay problems, you'll want to know a dentist is familiar with the technique and able to employ it.

Meeting the Rest of the Staff

Many folks are rightly fixed on learning more about the dentist they're considering as their family practitioner. A dentist's office, though, is a multi-person operation. When you need to call in and get an appointment, it's the office staff you'll be dealing with. You'll be much happier in the long run dealing with a practice if you know you'll be comfortable with the folks taking your calls, fielding your questions, and setting up your appointments.

Another undervalued part of the dental experience is working with the dental hygienist. Teeth cleaning and gum care are major benefits of visiting a dentist's office, and it's the hygienist who handles those. Likewise, if anyone at an office is apt to offer an alternative view of a problem to the dentist, it's going to be the hygienist.

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