If you’ve recently moved to a new area or are tired of your current dentists you may be starting to wonder about the options available to you and your family. Read on to learn more.
If you’ve recently moved to a new area or are tired of your current dentists you may be starting to wonder about the options available to you and your family. With so many dentists to choose from,
the decision of where to place your trust can be somewhat overwhelming, if not a complete hassle. But before you go ripping out any more of that beautiful hair, sit yourself down, grab a cup of tea and check out this list of tips to help you through the process.
Step 1 – Friends and Family Is Everything
You have heard the expression countless times before: “family is everything”. And while it’s certainly a true and meaningful statement, this little slice of knowledge can come in quite a bit of handy when it comes to finding services and medical care. If your family is anything like most, you have at least one individual who is more than happy and in fact, constantly chewing at the fat to tell everyone else where to go and what to purchase. Find this relative (or friend) and ask them what they know about dentists in your area. Then do it again. Ask around and take notes on recommendations you receive. Ask questions in regard to location, pricing, insurance information, specialty fields and any other qualities you find important in a dentist.
Step 2 – The AMAZING Internet
That’s right, folks, the internet is not just for youtube and social networking. Surprisingly enough, there are quite a few sites online which are dedicated to the review and rating of area services, including dentists. Type in your favorite search engine and type in “dentists in (your area)”. In this way, you will not only be able to check out individual practice sites, but also testimonials, reviews, education information and much more. Add any information you find to your notes. You may also want to take this opportunity to check up on the recommendations you received in step one.
Step 3 – Your State Board
Your local state board can be a wonderful resource for those looking to check up on area dentists in addition to finding added candidates to throw on the list. Ask for a list of recommended physicians in your area and check the records of any that you’re considering to find out about any prior complaints.
Step 4 – Meet & Greet
Once you’ve gathered a sizeable list of candidates, it’s time to meet them. Go through the notes you’ve taken and choose your three favorites. Call each of them up and ask to schedule a consultation. Many practices will offer consultations free of charge in order to sell prospective patients on their services. Use this as a way to interview your candidates, paying attention to the office surroundings, staff, and facilities. Come prepared with a list of questions and discussion topics and add the answers to your notes.
Step 5 – Decisions, Decisions
Once you’ve met with each physician it’s should be rather obvious if you’ve found your match. Avoid making your decision based on price alone, and rather, check in with your gut to find out which physician you feel most comfortable with.
