Dentists: Questions to Ask the Staff

If you are considering finding a new dentist, there are a few things you should be prepared to ask about the new office over a phone call. While dentists themselves are obviously a major factor when it comes to choosing a dental office, the staff and policies are also quite important. Read on to find out what you need to inquire about when it comes to these details.

One of the first details to seek out is whether your insurance is accepted, as scheduling an appointment at a location that does not take your insurance may force you to unexpectedly have to pay out of pocket. This should be one of your first questions when you call the dentists that you are considering. You should also ask about pricing on their typical services, as insurance does not always cover all services, so it is nice to be able to compare pricing from different offices. If you do not have insurance, you should find out if the office has a payment plan so that you can pay it off slowly.

Another aspect that should factor in to your decision is how fast you can expect to get in for appointments. Many offices usually offer same-day appointments if you call early in the morning, unless of course they are particularly busy. It is nice to have the convenience of being able to be seen the same day, or at least the next day. You should also find out if they offer extended hours on weeknights and weekends, as this is usually helpful for emergencies. If they do not, find out if they either have a dentist on-call for emergency advice, or could recommend somewhere to go to be treated right away.

Finally, find out the general policies of the office. Most dentists impose a fee if you cancel within a day of the appointment, but it usually varies. You should also find out the average time you can expect to wait before you are seem by a dentist, and whether the practice you are considering sees both adults and children. This way, you may be able to keep the whole family at one dental office.

Clearly, there are many questions that you should ask before you decide on a new dentist. Most involve the policies of the practice itself, which can make the difference between a pleasant experience and a negative one. Calling and asking these questions on the phone is a good idea so that you do not waste any time or money on a practice that you do not like.