Dental Health

Category: Wellness
Published: September 2007

Things To Look For When Choosing A Dental Office

1. You should have a good feeling after the first phone call. You should be greeted by a friendly, knowledgeable person who takes the time to answer your questions without making you feel rushed.
2. Ideally, on your first appointment at a new dental office, you should be scheduled to see the dentist - not for a cleaning appointment during which the dentist stops in for a quick check. This is BIG. If you are not given the time to discuss your concerns and your desires regarding dental health, you stand very little chance of ever reaching those goals. If you have fears of being hurt, or concerns that you may lose your teeth, or if you are not happy with your smile, you need to be given adequate time to express those thoughts, and to make sure you are heard by the dentist.
3. You want to make sure that the costs of procedures are explained, as well as the financial policies of the office. You should note that the fee a dentist charges reflects the value he or she puts on the treatment rendered. One way to attract patients is to charge a low fee, or to get a low reimbursement by participating with a contracted insurance company. Unlike products you purchase, personal services do not carry a name brand that can be evaluated easily against another brand. There is nothing wrong with getting second opinions, but be careful not to look for low fees. You can always find those, but you may find that the low price comes with hidden costs.
4. There is often no such thing as THE BEST treatment. We are all individuals with different values regarding what is important to us. Make sure that your values are being taken into consideration in the treatment plan that is being proposed. For example, when replacing missing teeth, there are many advantages to using dental implants, but they are not the best treatment for all people in all situations. Not only is cost a factor, but in our busy world, convenience and esthetics, along with individual fears and personal health history, must also be considered and discussed.