Whether you’re new to the area or are just looking for a change, finding a new family dentist can be a difficult process. Fortunately, by keeping a few key factors in mind, you should be able to choose a family dentist that suits your needs.
Here are a few things to consider when looking for a new family dentist.
1. Know Your Network
One of the main reasons people change dentists is when their dental insurance changes. Having an can mean the difference between paying for all or none of the cost of a teeth cleaning.
Asking if a family dentist accepts your insurance is not the same as asking if they are in your network.
If a dentist accepts your insurance, this means that they are simply willing to send the bill to your insurance company. If a dentist is in your network, this means that your insurance company has agreed to partially or completely pay for your dental treatment.
2. Check the Location
We recommend choosing a new dentist that’s close to home or work. That way, you won’t have to travel long distances for a dental emergency or in bad weather.
It’s much more convenient to have your new family dentist located nearby. You’ll also want to check the office hours to see if they work with your schedule. For example, it’s not uncommon for dental practices to have fewer office hours on Fridays.
3. Do Some Research
It’s always worth doing some quick research about the dentist you intend to visit.
For example, how long has this dentist been practicing dentistry? If they have recently gotten out of dental school, you may want to look for someone with more experience and knowledge about the latest dental technologies.
You’ll also want to ask about the kinds of family dental services they offer and their level of experience with each.
For example, if you are looking for a smile makeover, you’ll want a dentist with experience in professional teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, and other cosmetic dental treatments. Make sure any dentist you consider has all of the training and clinical experience necessary to work on teeth.
4. Ask for Recommendations
If your friends and family live in the same area as you, you may want to ask them who they trust to be their dentists.
However, recommendations from friends and family may only take you so far. If you’re looking for more evidence that a dentist is an experienced professional, be sure to check out their Google reviews. Although you can take their average star rating at face value, you may want to scroll through some of the comments to learn about what kind of dental skills and customer service you can expect.
You can also check out a dentist’s website to see if they have any patient testimonials. Pay attention to whether or not they simply have a list of quotes, or if they actually have videos in which real patients talk about their positive experiences.
Find the Right Family Dentist for You
Our Wyoming, MI, family dentists pride themselves on delivering quality dental care to you and your family. Call Family Dentistry today at (616) 534-5602, or contact us online to set up an appointment.
This blog post has been updated.