Useful Health Tips

Choosing a dentist is probably one of the last things you want to think about! Most people categorize their 6-month check-ups as a chore or obligation instead of an important contribution to their wellness. In fact, maybe you don’t even have a dentist but don’t know how to find a good one.

As a practicing dentist in Kingwood Texas, I’ve heard patients express concerns about how challenging it is to find a good dentist.  Look at these 5 key factors and it will help you narrow the field.

5 Key Factors When Choosing a Dentist

Is the Dentist Recommended by Her Patients?

Do you know somebody who uses the dentist you’re considering? Find out if the dentist is well-liked and recommended by her patients. Ask for opinions from your family and close friends to get their honest opinion.

Listen to their feedback on the dentist. Do they have any kudos? Complaints? Love the dentist but hate the long wait times? These are all factors that go into will help you determine if you should choose this dentist. After all, if you like the dentist you’ll be more likely to attend your appointments.

Read Online Reviews/Social Media

Look up online reviews and social media comments about the dentist. Search for the dentist’s name, the clinic name, and read the comments. In just a few keystrokes, you’ll see some patient reviews

Look at Google reviews to get an overall sense of whether patients of this practice are happy with the quality of care they receive. Open the most recent reviews and read them. The more recent rave reviews, the better chances that you’ll also be happy with this dentist. Don’t worry too much about old reviews, unless that’s all you can find.

If you find a lot of reviews from happy patients who receive great care, then you’re on the right track. However, if you’re finding too many negative reviews, especially about the quality of care, move on and keep looking for another dental care provider.

Check on Your Dental Insurance Coverage

Dental care coverage can sometimes be a little bit tricky. Some providers are considered in-network and others out-of-network. You want to find a dentist who is in-network, so you can reap the maximum benefits available to you. A visit to a dentist who isn’t in your network can leave you holding the bag on a steep bill.

Browse the insurance company’s website, enter your group and ID numbers, and enter the dentist’s name. Or, you can call the telephone number on the back of your insurance ID card and speak with their customer service department to verify this information.

What Scope of Work Does the Dentist Perform?

Going to the dentist is a daunting task for most people. Over time, you start to build trust in your dentist and develop a certain comfort level. Contact the practice and discuss exactly what scope of work the dentist can perform in their office. Some dentists provide preventative and basic restoration services. Others can provide a full range of services from those basic services to prosthodontics, extractions, emergency care, and dental implants.

To help ease your own anxiety, you should find the dentist who can cover as many of your anticipated needs as possible.

How Qualified is the Dentist?

By now, you’ve identified a dentist that you think you like, your family member gave her a glowing review, she’s in your insurance network, and she has a full scope of services. What else is there?

I’ve saved the most important factor for last. Identify how qualified the dentist is before you make your first appointment. I saved this for last because it takes a little more time to do this research.

Visit the dentist’s website or call the office and ask if the dentist has advanced certifications or specialty training. Find out, also, if they’re board-certified which can indicate that they have attended additional education and testing of their skills. Ask if they’re an American Dental Association member.

Wrap-Up

Some patients joke that finding a dentist is almost as painful as going to one! Neither one of these need to be painful experiences when you look at these key factors when choosing the right dentist.

Author Bio: Dr. Holly Gregory is a Texas native and dentist in Humble, Texas. She specializes in family dentistry and dental implants. She loves providing her patients with excellent care and educating people on dental wellness topics. When she’s not at her practice, she loves to relax at home with her children.