Finding a new dentist can be a stressful process if you don’t know where to start. However, it’s much easier today to locate a quality dental practitioner with the Internet than in the past. Here are a few things to consider while looking for a new dentist.
1. Check for ADA Membership
The American Dental Association is the go-to professional network of dentists in the United States. Therefore, a good way to start your search for a general dentist is to search the ADA website for dentists practicing within their guidelines and dedication to service standards. They also provide searches by zip code, so this makes it easier to locate certified dentists nearby.
2. Office Hours and Accessibility
While you may find several dentists that meet your standards and seem to offer the services you require, obvious details can get overlooked. WebMD points out that one of the most important things to check when you’re starting to see a new dentist are the office hours and convenience of access. Medical offices notoriously have poor hours if you’re chained to an average work week, so weekend or weekday evening hours can make a huge difference if you’re weighing pros and cons of different practices.
3. First Impressions Matter
Once you’ve identified a dental office in which you’re interested, the first step is to call and confirm the details you’ve found online with the receptionist, such as insurance accepted, hours, and location. The main phone line for a medical office also serves as the face of the practice to patients, so pay attention to the type of attention you receive. While encountering a rude receptionist doesn’t necessarily mean the dentist is a poor doctor, it does indicate what kind of office staff you’ll need to deal with going forward. If the staff is rude, going forward, it will potentially be a hassle to make appointments, deal with insurance issues, and obtain prescriptions.
Finding a general dentist must be done carefully and with research, but once you settle on someone whom you trust, having the same doctor for years to come will serve your health and ensure peace of mind.
