Good dental health begins with a good dentist. Finding a friendly and competent dentist for you and the rest of your family is extremely important. A good dentist should do much more than just check for cavities and clean your teeth. A family dentist should also offer advice on how you can maintain your dental health and should be on the alert for the early warning signs of more serious conditions. Below is a guide to 3 things you should consider when seeking out a new family dentist.
Location and Hours
You should try to find a dental practice which is in a convenient location. You can do this by applying the 20-minute rule. Simply calculate how far you can travel from your home or workplace within 20 minutes, and then search for a dental office which is within this 20-minute radius. The benefit of the 20-minute rule is that it will allow you to visit your dentist during your lunch break and still be back at your desk by the afternoon. If you are taking your child to the dentist once they have finished school, the 20-minute rule should allow you to get there and back before the rush hour begins. You should also double check the opening hours of the dental surgery, and make a note of any emergency clinics they offer.
Insurance
Next, you should carefully check your dental insurance to see if the dental practice you wish to attend is covered. Different dental plans have different criteria for the different dental practices they cover depending on their location and the services they offer. You should also check which treatments are covered, as some dental plans will only cover you for basic treatment at some dental offices.
Atmosphere and Rapport
Once you have found a dental office which is covered by your insurance and is in a good location, you should book a trial consultation. This will allow you to judge the atmosphere of the dental clinic and will allow you to check if the staff are polite and if the waiting room appears clean and tidy. You will also be able to check if you are able to build a rapport with the dentist and will also be able to judge if the dentist seems genuinely interested in your dental health.
Often, finding the right dentist is a matter of trial and error. If you would like more information, you should contact a dentist office today.
