Looking for a great dentist for you and your family? You shouldn’t have too much trouble tracking down options in your area.
According to the American Dental Association, there are about 200,000 dentists working in the U.S. today. There are actually so many of them out there that there have been people who have argued that there are too many dentists.
This is a good thing for you. It means that you can take your time when choosing a dentist and find the one that suits you and your family’s needs best.
Here are seven tips that will help you locate the best dentist for you and your family in no time.
Table of Contents
1. Start by Listing the Dentists in Your City
As we just mentioned, there are hundreds of thousands of dentists scattered throughout the country at this time. As a result, there should be more than a few of them working in your specific city.
Google “dentists near me” and take a look at how many different dentists pop up. You might be surprised to see how many options you have.
Creating a list of local dentists will give you a solid starting point as far as conducting your search is concerned. You can start investigating some of the dentists that you find further before ultimately choosing a dentist you like best.
2. Ask Family Members and Friends for Dentist Recommendations
Do you have a lot of family members and friends who live in the same area as you? Don’t be afraid to lean on them for help when you’re trying to choose a dentist.
Call several family members and friends and ask them about which dentists they use. They might be able to provide you with glowing recommendations.
Pay attention if you hear the same one or two names popping up over and over again. It’ll show that you should probably take a closer look at those names and consider making them your dentist.
3. Read Online Reviews for Dentists in Your Area
If you don’t have a lot of family members and friends who live in your area, you can check in with your neighbors, coworkers, and others to see which dentists they use. You can also consult the internet and find online reviews for dentists in your area.
Online reviews are great because they’ll allow you to find out what a large number of people have to say about a particular dentist. You’ll be able to browse through both good and bad reviews to weed out dentists who don’t have great reputations in your community.
Once you’ve done this, you can narrow down your master list of dentists to just a few that look like the best options to you. Using the recommendations of those around you and online reviews in tandem will make your search so much easier.
4. Look at the Websites for Different Local Dentists
At this point, you should have several dentists that you’re seriously considering for your family. The next thing you’ll want to do is look at their websites to get a better idea of who they are and what they can provide for you.
Google each dentist’s name and find their website. Poke around on their site to find out:
- How long they’ve been working as a dentist
- What their philosophy on dentistry is
- What kinds of patients they specialize in seeing (kids, elderly people, etc.)
- When they’re open
- How you can get in touch with them
You can learn so much about a dentist simply by spending 15 minutes on their website. Take advantage of this opportunity so that you’re able to narrow down your list of dentists even further.
5. Make Sure Dentists Offer the Services Your Family Needs
Most dentists can provide families with the same basic services. They can set mom, dad, and kids up with everything from routine dental check-ups to teeth whitening.
But if your family is in need of more advanced dental services, you should make sure you check on whether or not a specific dentist offers those services. You may need to seek help from a specialist in some cases to take care of your dental needs.
6. Talk With Dentists in Person to See What They’re All About
At the end of the day, a dentist might seem like a great fit for your family based on what others say about them and what they have on their website. But you’re not going to know for sure until you sit down and talk with them.
Good dentists know how important it is to build relationships with their patients, and they’re more than happy to sit down and speak with people who are thinking about becoming their patients. They’ll answer any questions you might have about their practice and put your mind at ease if you’re concerned about dental care.
7. Check to See If a Dentist Is Covered Under Your Family’s Dental Insurance Plan
The majority of Americans—almost 80%—have some form of dental insurance. If you have this type of insurance, it’s important for you and your family to work with a dentist that is covered under your dental insurance plan.
You can usually find information on what kinds of dental insurance a dentist accepts right on their website. But if you can’t find info on their site, call their office to get clarification.
You might love everything that a dentist can offer to you and your family. But if they’re not covered by your dental insurance plan, it’s going to end up costing you too much money to become their patient.
Choosing a Dentist Is a Very Important Decision
In the past, studies have shown that about one-third of Americans don’t visit their dentist enough. In some cases, this is simply because they don’t have a regular dentist that they see.
If you or any of your family members fall into this category, change that by choosing a dentist in your area and scheduling appointments with them on a regular basis. It’ll improve your oral health and keep you and your family healthier overall.
Check out our blog for more useful articles on dentists.
