Dentist Search – Finding the Right Doctor for You and Your Insurance

It’s always difficult when you have to change providers because of a move, job change, or other reasons. Finding someone new that will treat you like you want to be treated is a difficult challenge. Finding someone new that will treat you like you want to be treated and takes your insurance might be an even tougher challenge. Doing a dentist search for the right oral health care provider can give you insight into a list of potential doctors that not only take your insurance but treat you with the respect you deserve.

Using a dentist search tool is your best chance to find someone local that you can work with. You can start with your insurance company’s tools if they have any. Many of these companies will have options on their website that will allow you to narrow down the doctors in your area. It’s a crude method of limiting your search to those who only take children, within a certain mile radius or accepting new patients. What it can’t give you is an insight into how the dentist behaves around his patients which is pretty important to most people. But once you get some names you can keep looking.

Continuing on in your dentist search you should then take that list of names and talk to your coworkers. Word of mouth discussion is the best way to know if you’re being taken for a ride or if you are going to be getting the best available. Your coworkers all have the same insurance plans that you do so they are a great place to start. Ask around and see if any of them are using the same doctor to treat their teeth and gums. If you find some that do use him them find out what he’s like. Does he listen well, does he make you feel comfortable while you’re there or anything else that is important to you. Knowledge is power.

If you can’t find information on some of the doctors on your list at work, take your dentist search to the web. Fill in your favorite search engine with the doctor’s name and general location, such as city and state. Check out the forums to see what other patients, or former patients, are saying. When you’ve got it narrowed down a little it’s time to make an appointment to talk to the doctor face to face. This person is going to be working for you on your teeth; a little face time to conduct a small interview isn’t a bad idea.

When you are doing a dentist search it can be an involved process. Taking the time to go through your insurance company first to find a list of doctors that accept your insurance is a key starting point. Once you’ve narrowed down the list don’t hesitate to ask to speak with the doctor for a few minutes before deciding whether or not he’s the doctor for you. Taking the extra time really will be well worth the effort.