Wednesday, April 20, 2011

6 Steps to the Right Dentist

Choosing the right dentist can be difficult. Many dentists offer general dentistry services, so how can you be sure one is right for you? Here are 6 things to consider before choosing a compatible dentist.

1- Is the support staff kind and courteous?
This is the first thing you'll find out anyway, as support staff will answer the phone when you call. The attitude of those the dentist employs may reflect the attitude of the entire office, so pay attention to the treatment you receive from support staff.

2- Find out the dentist's experience.
Find out a little about the dentist who will be working for you. How long have they been practicing general dentistry? How long has this particular practice been open? Do they have any specialties? Do they take continuing education classes?

3- Do they offer emergency care?

4- How much do procedures cost?
Before going to see any dentist, find out about the costs involved with care. Dental insurance covers many preventative procedures, and there are other programs to help pay for dentistry, but you want to have a good idea of how much out-of-pocket expense may be on the line.

5- Does the dentist offer modern treatments?
For example, are dental lasers used instead of tooth drills? It's easy to find out how modern a practice is by simply inquiring about the newest equipment they have or what they've recently learned.

6- What is in place to make the patient comfortable?
Does the dentist allow patients to listen to music during procedures? Does the dentist pre-medicate patients before certain work is done?

Asking these questions before you decide on a general dentistry practice will give you a great idea of what to expect from a dentist.

Read more on family dentistry in Cary NC