Finding quality dental care for you and your children is a sometimes complicated and stressful process. Check out these five tips for choosing the right family dentist to meet your needs.
Ask Your Community for Recommendations
Your social circle and surrounding communities are great resources to rely on when choosing a new family dentist. Ask your friends and fellow parents which dental practices they use and if they are satisfied with their services. Additionally, search for online community messageboards where links to trusted medical practices are commonly available for local residents. Municipal social media pages are also excellent locations for finding feedback on potential dental offices.
Always Search Within Your Plan
It’s vital that, during your dentist search, you ensure your health insurance plan covers each potential practice. Thankfully, there are plenty of online dental databases with filters for different insurance companies to expedite this process. Alternatively, check out the website of a potential dental practice for their insurance coverage for new patients.
After asking your community for recommendations and confirming compatibility with your insurance, you must investigate further. Look out for the following three ideal characteristics that indicate quality care: a diverse range of services, experience with family dental care, and overall friendly and productive staff.
Look for a Diverse Range of Services
Not all dental practices offer the same quality or quantity of care. Some offices specialize in adult teeth, while others only provide general dental cleanings and cosmetic enhancements. However, the very best family dentists guarantee patients a diverse range of services to meet everyone’s needs. For example, a quality dental practice will provide extensive family, cosmetic, and restorative treatment options, from dentures and dental implants to corrective oral equipment and emergency extractions. Consider finding a family doctor that offers many different services rather than one specialty.
Ensure They Have Experience With Family Dental Care
Family dental care is unlike any other form of dentistry. Dentists and medical staff must mainly deal with unpredictable children (and some adults!) in addition to their already challenging responsibilities. It takes patience and calm individuals to handle potentially nervous children during their appointments; these skills are forged through experience. Look for family dentists with extensive experience caring for children to ensure quality family care.
Confirm That They Have Friendly & Productive Staff
Dentist-family relationships can often last for a decade or more, so finding a practice with friendly staff that you and your loved ones enjoy is important. Calling the dental office directly is an easy and effective method for gauging the team’s temperament. Look out for positive characteristics such as gentle tones and an eagerness to help.
Follow these five tips for choosing the right family dentist and ensure you and your children’s needs are completely satisfied. And if you’re seeking a quality general dentist in Bellevue, WA, please give our friendly team at Bellevue Hilltop Dental a call. We are eager to build a lasting and productive relationship with you and your family!