Dentists: Don't Settle on the Mediocre

It is easy to get into a routine with any aspect in life. There are those that one may just have to live with, and can be harmless. But some things are too important to settle on the routine and mediocre. One of the most important things you can do is make sure you have good dental care. Have you inherited the patronage of bad dentists in the past just because your family or friend went or recommended it? Whatever the reason, there is nothing keeping you from going out and getting the better service that you need. Here are a few pointers on how to stop your situation and get the best you can have from the dentists in your area.

What is this "bad service" mentioned above? It can be easy to think, “I am not really pleased with my dentist, but he gets the job done.” Well, if given a few moments of thought, you may think otherwise. Is your service friendly and dependable? It is easy or difficult to schedule an appointment, or to be seen in an emergency? Is the facility nice and clean? Does it use obviously dated and old tools or is it keeping up technologically? With the amount that dentistry has advanced, there is no use in settling for those who have just not kept up with the times. If you find yourself answering negatively to these questions, it may be time for you to do some simple research and finding a better match for you.

To begin, ask your friends, family, and neighbors. Ask as many people as you can about who their dentists are and if they are happy with the service or not. Beyond just asking about how good their teeth are, ask questions that will give you an idea of how the overall quality and service is. For example, good questions would be: Is the staff friendly, approachable, and generally caring? Do the offices and waiting room seem clean, organized, and sterile? How easy is it to make appointments, as well as to be seen in emergencies? Is the doctor kind, and does he give his attention to you as much as the other patients? Does the clinic use new technology and equipment? Notice that with these questions, you never need to ask how white the person's teeth are. Rather, you need to ask questions about every facet of the doctor’s visit. 

Once you have a few suggestions, you can do some reference checking. First, you may contact the American Dentistry Society, or a local dentistry association, to see if they belong or not. If they do, this is a good sign. It means that a nationally recognized association accredits them. Such organizations have strict standards and requirements for its members. Also, you can contact the office and ask for their references from other customers. If they can’t provide this, you may think twice about using them. 

Last, the best thing you can do is visit dentists at their offices. Visit more than one, because it is best to have a comprehensive view of all those in your area. Check and see if they live up to all of the aforementioned questions. Meet the doctor, explain your needs, and see how he can meet or exceed them. With all of this, you surely won't have to settle on a bad, or even “ok” dentist anymore.