How to Find a Family Dentist
Your smile is the foundation for you and your personality. You need to be diligent in caring for your teeth to minimize gum disease, tooth decay, or cavities. By maintaining healthy teeth and gums, you will maintain your healthy appearance, promote good overall health, and even influence the opportunity for a healthier life in general.
To ensure your entire family enjoys the many benefits of a healthy smile, search for a qualified family dentist who provides excellent treatment for all family members. Here are some suggestions you can use to research family dentists in your area to help you make a desirable choice.
Search Within Your Insurance Network
If you currently have dental insurance, make sure you locate and choose a family dentist in your insurance network. Failure to confirm this first can easily result in higher out-of-pocket costs. The office could offer flexible payment plans so your family can afford the necessary dental treatment.
Compare Family Dentists Online
The internet is a great place to compare various family dental practitioners. Check out qualifications, reviews, and rule out the offices with any recorded disciplinary actions.
Ask Your Friends for Recommendations
Once you have developed a list of reputable family dentists, ask your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers if they have any recommendations or possible warnings about an office to avoid. Their previous experiences can contribute to you making an ideal choice for your family.
Schedule Consultations
The American Dental Association, or ADA, suggests that you visit several family dentists before choosing one for your family. This gives you a chance to see and compare their offices in person. You can ask staff and team members about any possible concerns you may have. The acceptance you receive on your visit to the dental office can also be a good indicator of how any future visits may go.
Consider Other Factors
After implementing the above suggestions, you might still have several reputable family dentists on your list. The final factors could include logistical needs. Consider the following questions:
- Is the family dentist located near your home, work, in your neighborhood, or across town?
- Do their office hours work with your work schedule and also your children’s school commitments?
- What kind of anesthesia does the family dentist offer? Most standard treatment options do not require it, but still confirm they do offer local anesthesia, nitrous oxide, and IV sedation, if needed, to ensure optimal comfort for your family members.
- How does the family dentist handle oral emergencies? Can you or your child be added to the schedule for a same-day visit? If you experience a dental emergency outside their normal business hours, is there an emergency contact number?
- Are all fees and payment plans addressed before treatment begins? Will the family dentist inform you of costs before treatment, so there are no surprises? Since insurance coverages vary, an estimate is much better than not knowing at all.
- What is their policy when it comes to missed appointments? Do they require a 24-hour notice if you need to cancel an appointment? Is there an additional fee for missing an appointment without advance notification?