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Selecting the Dentist Who's Best for YOU
It's crucial that you feel comfortable with your dentist. After all, you can feel pretty vulnerable lying prostrate in an exam chair, bright lights glaring into your gaping mouth. You'll feel much better about the whole experience if you trust the person behind the mask, gloves and dental instruments.
It's well worth an investment in time to be thorough in your search for a dentist who suits your needs and your personality, because ideally, the relationship you develop with your dentist will be a long-term one. Also, when you actively seek out the dentist who best suits your needs, you are taking an active, as opposed to passive, role in your dental healthcare.
We've come up with some step-by-step guidelines that will help you make the best choice.
Communication – Comfort – Trust
Healthy, open communication and feelings of comfort and trust are vital to all relationships, but are particularly important when it comes to the people you entrust with your healthcare. Communication should flow freely in both directions; you shouldn't hesitate to ask your dentist to explain something you don't understand, and your dentist shouldn't resent having to explain, or re-explain, any proposed treatment or procedure in language that is clear to you. Any anxiety or fear that you feel about dental treatment should also be discussed openly, as should your dentist's methods for ensuring your comfort while you are undergoing treatment. And you should feel good about your dentist's judgement, level of skill and expertise.
So how do you find a dentist who suits these requirements and any others you might have?
First, start by asking for referrals from relatives, friends and co-workers. A dental visit can be an intensely personal experience, so chances are a dentist will only earn a referral from someone if he is skillful and personable. If you are moving to a different city, ask your current dentist if he can recommend a dentist for you in your new location. Call the local dental society or the state dental board, and ask for names of three or four dentists in your area. Ask for recommendations from your family physician or your local pharmacist. Once you've got a few names to work with, it's time to do some leg work. Get on the phone and call their offices. Is the staff courteous and helpful? Do they answer questions to your satisfaction? If they pass these tests, ask the following questions:
Is the dentist accepting new patients? How long do I have to wait to get in for my first exam? Does the dentist participate in my dental insurance plan? Does the dentist have specific training and/or experience related to my condition? How and when is payment expected? Can the dentist accommodate my health and accessibility requirements? Is the dentist an active participant in continuing education programs? How are emergency appointments handled? Is the dentist available in the early mornings, after 5 p.m., or on Saturdays? What type of preventive care and instruction will I receive? How does the dentist handle sterilization and infection control? Is the dentist progressive, using new techniques and equipment that give you the best dental care available? Is the dentist an advocate for patient education, having an Internet site and patient education materials? Once you've gotten this information, you should have a pretty good idea whether or not you and the dentist can establish a trusting, communicative relationship.
Your next question should be, "Can I come in for an introductory appointment?" This is your opportunity to meet the staff, check out the office and exam room, and interact with the dentist one-on-one. X-rays and an exam might also be part of this appointment, but even if you don't select that particular office to be your dental healthcare provider, the x-rays and initial exam records are transferable.
There should be no commitment required from you during this introductory visit, other than the fee for the x-rays and exam. Dental care teams that offer this service tend to have the mindset that they will be partners with you in your dental health. Establishing this type of relationship is an essential first step towards becoming an active participant in your own healthcare.
Sources: The American Dental Association
The Academy of General Dentistry