Dentists - Not All Are Created Equal

They are prevention-oriented and give their patients advice about averting dental injury or disease before it happens. They also perform thorough examinations regularly and chart their findings in detail to provide an accurate historical course of your oral health. You will also be happy with high-quality dental work because it will last much longer and sometimes even through the life of your teeth. If you have found a good dentist that you trust in your area, consider yourself lucky and enjoy your oral health.

However, some patients need to shop around to find a new dentist on occasion. Maybe you have recently relocated to a new city or community, or maybe your regular dentist recently retired or moved away. Whatever the reason, finding a new dental technician and hygienist that you like and trust can be taxing and difficult. There are a few obvious warning signs to look out for and avoid.

Poor dentists do not take the overall health of their patient into consideration. They often perform cursory, superficial examinations and don’t take the time to talk to the patient in detail about preventive methods. They also don’t recommend regular check-ups and often their dental work is hurried, resulting in work that may not last very long or breaks down quickly over time. Patients that are unsure of their treatment options for a particular problem, should have them explained in detail with the pros and cons of each option outlined. Poor dentists will simply present one option that they think is best and may not take into consideration the advantages and disadvantages – including cost – that may be prohibitive to the patient.

Another warning sign is flashy or bold advertising. If an oral care provider puts a lot of money into their advertising campaign, the emphasis in their practice may be on quantity instead of quality. Beware getting sucked into flashy or flamboyant advertising campaigns.

You should also be aware if your dentist regularly uses IV sedation. This is no longer common or necessary in most dental practices and can expose the patient to unnecessary risks. Some patients are genetically susceptible to adverse reactions to general anesthesia and most dental procedures can be performed with local numbing medicine only.

Lastly, a few other warning signs of dentists to avoid include those that are selling a certain product such as dietary supplements, dental professionals that also claim to treat headaches or jaw joint pain, those that claim fluoride is dangerous, or those that go beyond their expertise into fields of medicine that should be diagnosed and treated by a medical doctor.

In the end, it is important to find a dentist that you trust. Be sure they are open to your questions and concerns and are able to make you feel comfortable. Not all dentists are created equal and spending a little extra time shopping around can save you a lot of pain and money in the long run.