It’s completely normal to feel anxious about starting with a new dentist. To ease some of the nerves, and to make the process of finding a new dentist for your family a little easier, you should think of the questions you want to as a potential dentist beforehand. That way, you can gain the necessary details so that you can make an informed decision about which dental professional you would like to see. Here are a few questions that you should consider asking!
Are You Currently Taking New Patients?
It’s important to establish whether or not the local dentists that you are considering are accepting new patients. If you have an option that you feel could be the very best dentist for you and your family, but they aren’t taking appointments with new patients, then you may have to weigh the pros and cons of being put on a waitlist. That being said, it’s not wise to put off receiving dental care for too long, so it’s ideal to choose an option that is accepting new patients. 1 in 5 American adults has not recently received dental care, according to Moderndent.com. If you haven’t, don’t put it off any longer!
What Dental Conditions Do You Have Experience With?
If you or any member of your family have challenges with your oral health, it’s a good idea to bring it up during your first consultation with a potential family dentist. You want to make sure that the dentist you are seeing has worked with people of your age, as well as your children’s age, and can treat and work with your specific dental needs. Do they specialize in any area of dental work? Does their office have a surgeon? These are things to know before committing to a new dentist.
Are You Familiar With My Insurance?
Before making a decision regarding which family dentist you and your family will see on a regular basis, you want to know whether or not they accept and have experience with your insurance. You want to make the very most of the plan that you have, so be upfront about this.
How Long Have You Been in Your Field?
Experience matters! Asking how long a dentist has been in practice is certainly appropriate when trying to choose a new family dentist. Also, consider asking how in-depth their knowledge is regarding different dental specialties. Do they do cosmetic dentistry? How many years, if any, have they worked in pediatric dentistry? Ask yourself if your values as a patient align with theirs as a dental care provider.
In the end, what matters most is that you feel comfortable with your dentist. Having a sit-down conversation where you can discuss these questions, and more, will make it clear to you whether or not a dentist is right for you. To learn more about Thomas Dentistry, and to see if we are the right practice for your family, give us a call today!
