Family Dentist: Tips for Quickly Choosing a New Practitioner

If you need to choose a new family dentist, you may feel overwhelmed at the number of choices in each city. However, you should make this decision quickly if you want to get rid of tooth pain any time soon. Therefore, you should use a few tips to guide you to making a quick, informed decision on the professional who will care for your whole family's teeth. Find out the fastest way to make your decision so you can hopefully make a same-day appointment.

First you should contact some friends and family members to find out the best dentists in your area. Use technology to your advantage so you can work quickly. Send out a mass text message to people in your city, asking who they use for their tooth issues. Then post a status update on social media sites, requesting the names of the best dentists in your city. You can also check forums in your city to see if residents can recommend anyone. Once your friends respond with a few names, make a list so you can narrow down your options. If a few people mention a dentist, who seems to have nothing but good things to say, put him or her at the top of your list. Of course, be sure to avoid any practitioners who get bad reviews.

The next step is to look for coupons and money-saving deals from the dentists on your list. Check your mail for ads and coupons, as many practitioners offer a free or discounted cleaning, check-up, or x-rays for new patients. This allows you to save some money on your first appointment. You can also check their websites to find such deals. At this point, find out if your dental insurance is accepted, or if they offer payment plans if you do not have insurance. This ensures you will be able to pay for your treatment easily.

Once you find a few good deals on the dentists who come recommended to you, start calling them to find out how to proceed. Tell them about your dental issue, and mention the coupon you have. You can also ask about special deals if you have not found any coupons for them. At this point, your selection will probably start dwindling as you find out more information about each family dentist. For example, some practitioners may not have any appointments open for weeks, or they may not be accepting new patients. Others may not honor your coupon, or might try to sell you other services in an attempt to keep you from using the deal. However, you should be able to find a practitioner who can get you an appointment the same day you call, or at least within a couple of days.

If after your first appointment, you realize you made a mistake and do not like the practitioner, you can always return to your list of other dentists. You can then start the process again, looking for deals and calling to find out when you can be seen. Breaking down the process into these easy steps can make it quite manageable.