Tips on How to Choose a Dentist
When you choose a dentist, you trust them to look after your family’s health. Therefore, it is a decision that must not be taken lightly. Unfortunately, finding the right dental practice that covers the dental needs of all your family members is never easy. There are so many factors to consider before you start visiting a dentist. To help you make the right decision, here are a few tips on how to choose the best dentist in your area.
Things you Should Consider Before Choosing a Dentist
- Geographical Convenience
Make a list of the dental practices around your home or workplace. This way, it will be easier for you to visit the dental office without having to ask to leave early, or take a day off. In addition, when your commute is short, you also save time and gas money.
If you work or live near the Sioux Falls area in South Dakota, Riverview Dental has one of the most modern clinics equipped with the state-of-the-art equipment & technologies, matched with one of the most qualified dentist and dental staff in the region. - Research is your Best Weapon
Asking your neighbors and colleagues about their dentists can help you in making a sound choice. They will be able to provide you with first-hand knowledge about the pros and cons of visiting a specific practice. In addition, you should also checkout the online reviews about dental practice near you. Platforms such as Yelp, Foursquare and Facebook provide authentic reviews of patients who have visited a dental practice. You can also visit the website of the American Dental Association for information regarding dentists in your area of residence.
Once you have done your research, make a list of the top three practices which are near you, and have been recommended by your friends or co-workers. The next step is to visit these practices or call them with your questions.
Questions you Should Ask the Dentists and their Team
- Qualification and Experience of the Dentist
One of the most important questions to ask or research on your own is about the qualifications of the dentist. In the US, a DDS or DMD degree is required for dentists to practice legally. You can visit the website of the American Dental Association to verify the credentials of any dentist. You should also inquire about the dentist’s experience. Generally, dentists who are highly experienced tend to provide dental better dental care. However, this may not always be true. - What is the Scope of Specialty of the Practice
You should ask the dentist office whether the dentist has a general practice, or it specializes in a single field. It might be a good idea to look for a practice that provides dental care to all the members of your family under one roof – a family dentistry. Why? Because you don’t want to keep running around multiple practices, just because each of your family member goes to a different dentist. - Does the Practice Provide Emergency Dental Services
Imagine what would you do if your younger one starts to have a toothache, right in the middle of night?
Or in case you or your wife after a dental procedure have an unexpected reaction at night. Therefore, you should consider choosing a practice which has extended practice hours, or at least provides an emergency contact number for seeking help. - Does your Insurance Covers Treatment at This Practice
Before choosing a practice, you should confirm with the dentist’s office whether they’re within your insurance plans dental network. This is very important, because you don’t want to pay dental treatment costs all by yourself.
Before You Make a Final Decision
By now, you might have a small list of prospective dental practices. To choose the best dentist from this list, you should follow the following tips:
- Visit the Dentist’s Office Personally
You want to get your treatment done at a place where both you and all your family members are comfortable. An ideal practice should have a courteous staff and a comfortable waiting area. In addition, the dentist’s working space or operatory should have a soothing and relaxing environment when you step in. If you have very young children, choose a practice that has a separate operatory that is customized for pediatric patients. Above all are they using modern equipment and technologies for the benefit of their patients? - Talk to the Dental Team
Go ahead and talk to the members of the dental team. You want to look for a dental practice that has experienced and courteous dental staff. Dental treatment becomes a relaxing experience if your dentist and the team are cooperative and polite. Are they qualified, do they update themselves on the newest dental procedures and technological advancements in dentistry. Checkout Riverview’s Dental Team. - Cheaper Is Not Always Better
We understand that dental treatment can become quite expensive. However, you cannot take chances when it comes to the health of your family. Therefore, it is always better to choose a slightly expensive practice with better reviews than the one which is cheaper, but has failed to gain positive feedback from patients. - Consider the Waiting List
By now you must have found the best dental practice in town. Unfortunately, good practices are always busy, and have a long waiting list. It is important that you choose a dentist who gives an early appointment and that too for your whole family. However, this should never come at a compromise on quality of dental care. - Finally, Trust you Gut
Finally, once you have considered the above-mentioned points before choosing a dentist, then you should trust your decision. It is possible that you may not be very comfortable with the dentist during the first appointment. However, once you get to know each other, you might start liking the dentist.
If you are a resident of Sioux Falls, SD and you are looking for the best dentist for your family, then you have arrived at the right website. Dr. Preston Schraeder at Riverview Dental has been providing quality family dental care to the residents of South Dakota for many years and has gained a good reputation for being an experienced and qualified dentist.
Why Riverview Dental
We have a state-of-the-art dental office, modern equipment and new technologies such as Solea – for painless dental procedures. Our objective is to provide high quality and affordable dental care to our patients. At Riverview Dental, we take care of all your dental needs. Whether you want to get your missing teeth replaced with implants, or you seek Invisalign aligners for your kids, we cover it all. If you want to get your treatment done painlessly, and in a comfortable environment, then Riverview Dental should be your choice. To make dental treatment easier for you, we accept all major insurance plans, debit, and credit cards.
A beautiful smile & excellent dental health is awaiting you at Riverview Dental, Sioux Falls SD.
Call 605-339-2040!