When you’re looking for a new dentist, you’re searching for more than someone to just clean your teeth. Your dental health is such a vital part of your overall health, so it’s important for every patient to have a dental home. Sometimes you have to change dentist because you move to a new location or you have new insurance and your dentist is not in the network, or your dentist retires and closes his practice. We would like to give a few tips for choosing a new dentist.
Look for Online Patient Reviews
The most complete solution for collecting, authentic reviews from a dentist’s patients is by checking out the doctor’s verified reviews. Check out your dentist’s reviews on Google and Facebook. You can get a clear insight into the level of care from their actual patients.
Choose a Dentist Close to Home or Work
You will want your new dentist to be in a convenient location for you. This will save you time from driving to and from appointments Many of us have limited time to take off work so proximity is an important factor.
Predetermine if the dentist is in your provider network: A quick call to the dentist’s office for patient care services can be one way to check the insurance they honor. Consulting with your insurance provider to determine the dentists in your area that are in your network is another way to find out. Some dentists will have a page on their website listing the insurance they accept.
Learn More About Your Provider
When you put your health in someone else’s hands, you need to have confidence in their capabilities. You wouldn’t take your car to an ill-qualified mechanic or hire a tutor for your child without the proper credentials, so why would your standards be any lower for your smile? However, in a complex field like dentistry, you can’t always tell yourself if a doctor is qualified. This is where dental boards come into play; these professional organizations require rigorous testing and hold their members to the highest caliber of care. Check out the dentist training, certification, and specialties. Usually, their photos and credentials will be posted on their website, if not call their office and ask for information.
Evaluate Communication Style
Choose a dentist with whom you are comfortable talking and who supports your information needs. When you first meet the dentist, ask a question and notice how he or she responds. Does he or she welcome your questions and answer them in ways that you can understand? Did you leave feeling rushed or engaged? Find a dentist who shows an interest in getting to know you, who will consider your treatment preferences, and who will respect your decision-making process.
Get a Referral from Your Friends, Family, and Coworkers
A trusted friend or relative or co-worker is a great person to ask about their dental care. If your mother says she loves her dentist, check them out! When people we know and trust have positive experiences with their dentist, we feel more at ease about selecting to see them ourselves.
Contact us (859) 586-7900 for more information or to make an appointment!
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About Torbeck Dental
Torbeck Dental treats every patient with dignity and excellent care. We are highly-trained dental professionals with exceptionally friendly and helpful service. We understand that for many, visiting a dentist can be a stressful experience so our comfortable surroundings and compassionate staff will ease any fears you may have. We are here to help you achieve your happiest and healthiest smile! Our dental team are a group experienced professionals using the latest treatments. Our team has the professional experience to realize that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all treatment, so we never use a one-size-fits-all approach to your dental plan. We provide quality and personalized oral health care while keeping your individuality in mind. Our goal is to improve and maintain your oral health so you can smile with confidence!