According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 64% of adults from 18 to 64 years of age have visited the dentist. In contrast, almost 85% of children from 2 to 17 years old have had dental visits in the past year.
While the American Dental Association reported that there are almost 200,000 dentists in the dentistry sector in the United States, finding the right dentist within your vicinity can be quite a daunting task. In fact, a simple Google search on the question, find a dentist near me, would return more than 181,000,000 results. Here are seven simple tips to look for the best dentist near you.
Ask for recommendations or referral
The best thing to do when trying to find a doctor near you is to ask for recommendations from your family and friends. Patients can get first-hand knowledge about the quality of the dentist through their experiences.
The patients can also ask for a referral from their physician. Those that wish to visit a dentist with a particular specialty around the area can also try to get a reference from a general dentist.
Check online
The advance of technology and the internet makes it possible for patients to look for any healthcare providers online easily. Websites like Connectthedoc offer find a dentist near me services, for example, allowing prospective patients to find reliable doctors that fit their needs. They can even narrow down their search with a specific healthcare field and location.
Research about the dentist’s credentials
Another crucial part of taking into thought when looking for dentists near your area is to review their educational background and credentials. Apart from the years of experience and clinical training, patients should also look into the type of associations that the dentist participated in, such as the American Dental Association.
Find out about the clinic’s or dentist’s office hours
Knowing the dentists’ office hours and emergency care, be in the morning, evening, afternoon, or during the weekends, are crucial to ensure that their schedules are convenient for the patients. A huge part of being able to maintain healthy gums and teeth is the ability of patients to easily visit their dentist on a regular basis or as needed.
Find out about the dental technology used
Each dental clinic utilizes different kinds of dental technology. Patients need to find out the technologies that the dentists have to verify whether or not they are using the best and updated equipment. Having the best current technology makes sure that the dentist and his or her staff can offer quality and up-to-date services. Some examples of these technologies include digital x-rays, same-day crowns, 3D dental CT, magnification equipment, photography, as well as computerized charting.
Know the payment plans
Knowing what kind of payment plans the dentists accept can make sure that the patients do not exceed their available budget. Patients with insurance should find out if the office accepts dental insurance. Non-insured patients, on the other hand, should find out the expenses that they may need to spend for the service.
Take a brief tour around the clinic
Before deciding on a dentist, patients should take a look around the clinic to evaluate its cleanliness, comfortability, organization, and the dentist and staff’s attitude.
Considering the importance of visiting your dentist regularly, finding the right dentist with the best clinic’s equipment and environment is essential to make sure that you get the best dental service possible each time.
