Dentists: Locating Them By Various Means

Whether you're moving to a new area or are fed up with your current dental care specialist, the process involved in finding new dentists can be a bit overwhelming. However, with a little research, patience and perseverance, most people find that the transition is far from the horrible mess they may have envisioned. In this article, we will offer up a few tips to help you obtain the friendly, high-quality dental care you and your family deserve. 

Step 1 - Get in touch with family and close friends who live in your area in hopes of obtaining recommendations. Word of mouth is a wonderful way to find quality products and services, and this instance is far from exception. Find out information regarding location, pricing, specialties and the patient-to-physician interaction. Be sure to take notes and obtain contact information when available. 

Step 2 – Hop online and research the physicians that have been recommended to you. A simple Google search with a dentist's name should be sufficient in providing you a wealth of information. Check out practice websites and patient testimonials for various dentists to gain some perspective as to what you might expect from the physician in question. 

Step 3 – While online, head on over to a medical review and ratings site. These sites provide consumers with a variety of user submitted reviews and ratings to help compare potential physicians. Input the names of the dentists you have found thus far and see where they stand within the community. You can also utilize these sites as a way with which to find additional physicians within or even beyond dentistry. 

Step 4 – Get in touch with your state board in order to obtain additional recommendations as well as complaint histories on the dentists you are interested in. 

Step 5 – Once you have yourself a good solid list of candidates, weed through them and pick out two or three of your top choices. Call your candidates up and see whether you are able to schedule an office tour. Most dental practices offer consultations to prospective patients as a way to sell them on their services. Use this opportunity to get to know the physician on a face-to-face level, while checking out the environment and office staff. For example, if you are looking for a pediatric specialist, you should make sure that the office is child-friendly, with toys, books and happy pictures throughout the office. Ask your physician questions in regard to their experience level, education, specialties and anything else that will play a part in your decision. 

Step 6 – After you've met with your picks, you should have a pretty good idea of the one you'll be choosing. Go with your gut and choose the physician with whom you are the most comfortable. Your dentist should be experienced, well educated and friendly, while instilling confidence in their ability to provide quality care. Call your chosen physician up to schedule an appointment. If your experience does not meet your expectations, take a step back and try your hand at someone else on your list.