Perhaps you have moved to a new town. Perhaps your old dentist has retired or has moved, or maybe you need a dentist for a child who has “graduated” out of a pediatric practice. No matter what the reason, you now find yourself in the position of finding a new dentist.
Now, if you check online, you are bombarded with a ton of choices and you wonder “how in the world will I choose?”
Well, choosing a dentist does not have to be as daunting a task as you may think. We at Tung Brush and Gel have some simple ideas to help you find the right fit for you or your family member.
- If your dentist is retiring, perhaps someone is taking over his practice. If that is the case, don’t make a change until you meet the new practitioner. Generally, office staff will stay on in the event of a retirement and you will be most comfortable there with staff you already know. Also, you should feel comfortable in your dentist’s choice, since he or she has taken the patients into consideration when deciding on a replacement.
- If you are moving, ask your current dentist for a recommendation in your new town.
- Ask your physician or pharmacist for a recommendation.
- Ask a friend, neighbor, or co-worker who they see for their dental needs. They may not only know someone they like a lot, but they may also share a negative experience with you that might be invaluable in your decision-making.
- Contact the local dental society. The American Dental Association has a lot of information available to the public, including a listing of local and regional chapters, on its website at ada.org.
- Know your own requirements before you start looking. You may have limitations on appointment availability based on your own schedule, so office hours may be important for you. Or, perhaps, you feel you need sedation dentistry, for example, and not all dentists provide that service.
- Make appointments to speak with a few dentists before you make your final decision. You can determine your comfort level with each, and most health practitioners are used to the “patient interview” process.
We hope that these few tips will help in your quest for dental care. And remember, whomever you choose, always maintain your oral hygiene routine at home since your new dentist may not be able to see you right away for a non-emergency visit.
I love that you say to know your own requirements before looking for a dentist. My wife and I are thinking about switching dentists, and would like them to have a few things. It would be nice to be able to narrow down different services because of what they offer.
My current dentist is retiring and closing his practice. While I’m sad, I’m excited to look for a new young dentist who is up to date with all the new technologies the field of dentistry has to offer. I really like how you mention that when finding a new dentist, you should contact the local dentist society because it has a lot of information available to help you make your decision.
I’m glad that you mentioned not leaving your current dentist, even if they’re retiring until you’ve met the new doctor. You also mention that generally speaking, the office staff will stay on with the new dentist, which is good news since you are already familiar with them. I think it’s a good idea to choose a dentist office that has plenty of customer engagement, especially for children as they’re waiting to get their teeth cleaned.
Thank you for mentioning how you can determine which dentist you are most comfortable with by visiting multiple professionals before selecting one. My son has been mentioning that one of his front teeth hurts whenever he drinks cold water, and he is nervous about getting a filling because he has a difficult time meeting new people. Maybe a pediatric dentist will be able to help him stay calm while his teeth are taken care of.
It’s great that you said I should make an appointment with a few dentists on my list before choosing one to ensure that I could pick someone I can be comfortable with. I recently moved to a new city for university. So I’ll follow your advice to be able to find the best dentist in town for my dental needs. Thanks!