7 Questions to Ask When Choosing a New Dentist
Are you looking for a new family or cosmetic dentist? If you’re switching providers or moving to a new area, finding a dentist can be challenging. Fortunately, once you’ve found the one you like, it’s a relationship you can maintain for decades to come.
If you’re currently searching for a new dental provider, here are seven important questions to ask during the process. Below are 7 important questions to ask when choosing a new dentist.
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Who Do Your Friends/Neighbors/Co-Workers Recommend?
One of the best ways to find a new dentist is to ask the people you know who they see for their oral health care. Word-of-mouth referrals are often one of the best ways to find the right dentist for you or your family. If you continue to hear the same compliments about their office, add that dentist to your “short list.” Consider the same when reading online reviews.
On the other hand, if you hear repeated complaints or concerns about the same provider from multiple people, it is usually best to look elsewhere.
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Does the Dentist Offer the Treatment(s) You’re Looking for?
Are you seeking a cosmetic dentist, dental implant provider, CEREC same-day crowns, or another specific type of treatment that you might not find in traditional family practice? As you narrow your options for dentists, keep this important question in mind. If you don’t see a specific treatment listed on their website, feel free to call their office and ask if it’s something they offer. For example, if you’re interested in Invisalign treatment, be sure to find out whether the dentist provides it or if they refer their patients to an outside orthodontist.
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What Training and Continued Education Does the Dentist Have?
Some dentists have advanced training in specific restorative or cosmetic services, allowing them to provide more expanded treatments than other providers in the area. Suppose they are a member of a study club or specific professional organization. In that case, there are usually dozens to hundreds of additional hours of training that they put in, in addition to their annual dental requirements. If you’re undergoing a more complex procedure like dental implant placement, you need the confidence to know that your provider is proficient in such procedures.
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What Technology is Available in Their Practice?
Today there are numerous resources that modern dental practices can choose to invest in. These pieces of technology improve the level of comfort for patients, make treatments more efficient (reducing your time in the dental office,) and add to the level of safety that your provider can offer. For example, practices with 3D scanning, in-house crown design, sedation, and similar options can provide a broader range of therapies and more comfortable care to patients in the least amount of time possible.
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Does the Dentist Accept Your Insurance or Offer an Alternative (Membership Plan)?
Billing and payment protocols often impact whether or not people choose certain dental offices for their family’s needs. Do you have a particular insurance carrier that you use for dental benefits? If so, the office may be able to accept benefits even if they are not part of the network. In addition, other dentists may be participating providers, even if the company is not listed on their website. Inquire about your insurance coverage with their office before scheduling an appointment, just to be sure.
Better yet, you may want to consider whether there is a dental membership plan, eliminating the need for dental insurance.
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Can You Request a Consultation or Second Opinion?
Sometimes the best way to find a new dentist is to visit them in person. How is their chairside manner? Are the staff friendly? Is the office clean? Reserving an initial exam, second opinion, or just a simple consultation can be an excellent first step as you narrow down your selection of a new dentist.
Your initial appointment is an excellent opportunity to experience the office for yourself and get a “gut” reading on whether or not it’s right for you, especially if you’re looking for a second opinion or a specific type of treatment.
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Are New Patient Appointments Available?
Are staffing issues preventing your dentist from seeing new patients promptly? Do you have to wait weeks or months to reserve a new patient appointment? Timing is an important issue, especially if you have specific concerns that need to be addressed quickly. Although most treatments are scheduled after the initial exam, waiting weeks to get into the office will reflect how long you’ll need to wait for basic or emergency care in the future.
Best Dentist in Grove City, Ohio
Schedule your next dental appointment at Grove City Center for Dentistry today. We’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, and new patients are always welcome!
Contact us to learn more about choosing GCCD for your dental practice.
Schedule an appointment by contacting our office at patients@gccdentistry.com or 614-875-3141. Or, click this link to schedule online at your convenience.
