How to Select the Right Dentist
Trying to select a dentist can be a stressful experience especially if you are not prepared to do it. We usually ask our friends and family for a recommendation when it comes to seeking someone in the medical field.However, that doesn’t always pan out. Here are several tips you should keep in mind when choosing a dentist.
1- Gather names of several dentists in a location that is most convenient for you. Ease of access in getting to the dental office is crucial. The dentist might be well recommended in his/her field, but if you can’t get to the office, then they’re of no use to you.
2- Contact the various dental offices and get a survey of the fees for the most common procedures such as an exam, x-rays, cleaning, and other specific procedures you think you’re likely to have in the near future. What type of dental procedures besides the basic ones does the dentist perform? Does he/she have a specialty? By asking these questions, you can get deduce what an average price for a procedure will run for.
3- If you have any type of dental coverage whether they are through your job or an individual basis, make sure you ask the dental office if they accept the plan. It is crucial that you ask this question. You would not want to make an appointment and show up for the visit only to later find out that they don’t accept your plan. That will lead to a large out of pocket expense. If you do not have any type of dental coverage whatsoever, there are now discount dental plans, such as DentalSave, that you can enroll in. By joining these types of plan, you can save up to 50% discount of the dentist’s usual fees. Make sure the dental office accepts these types of plans.
4- When you meet with the dentist, see how the rapport is between the two of you. The dentist might be well recommended by a relative but if you’re unable to establish a relationship with the dentist, then it will be hard for you to keep going to the office especially if you have an ongoing dental treatment.
5- Before you go ahead with any procedure, make sure you clearly understand what fees you are responsible for and what type of payment the dentist office will accept. If you are unable to pay for the services all at once, ask the dental office if there are any financing payment options they are willing to work with.
6- Finally, before you leave the dental office after every visit, always ask for a clear itemized bill. It will enable you to keep track of all dental procedures you’ve had and how much you paid for them. If there are any questions in the future about previous procedures you’ve had done, you can always go back and get a specific timeframe for the work in question.
We hope that this list has helped you in some way in starting your quest to find a dentist. Good hunting.
