Silver Spring Dentists Explain How to Choose a Dentist

This article explains how to choose a family dentist for a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile.

For a healthy mouth and a beautiful smile, it’s crucially important to brush and floss twice a day and visit your dentist every six months. Your Silver Spring dentist can assess the condition of your teeth and gums, and also recommend treatments for tooth decay or gingivitis if necessary. This will help you avoid potential future problems, like losing a tooth or having a mouthful of painful cavities. The dentists in Silver Spring MD keep records of all past treatments, so it’s important to find a good dentist and stick with that one for as many years as possible. This is why it’s so important to pick the right dentist in the beginning. This article provides some useful tips for seeking out and finding the right dentist for you and your family.

Make a List

If you are moving to a new community, finding the right dentist can be a daunting task - especially if you don’t know many people who you could ask for a personal referral. It can also be challenging to find the right dentist if you are switching to a new dentist from a previous one. Here are some things to consider.

Is the location of the dental office itself an important factor for you? Are you seeking the convenience of finding a dentist whose office is near your home or workplace? Or are you willing to drive out of your way to get to the right dentist?

If you are moving to a new community, you might ask your current dentist if he or she has colleagues in the community where you are moving to that he/she might be able to refer you to. If you have friends or family members living in the community where you are moving, ask them what dentist they use. Conduct online searches using google, ask Facebook friends, and read the reviews of dentists in your community on Yelp.com. This can be a useful starting point. Make a list of two or three different dental offices to go to and check out.

Narrow Your Search

After making your list of potential Silver Spring dentists, visit the locations if possible and take note of what you see and experience. Is the location convenient to an area of town where you frequent? What are the hours and availability of the dentist? What is the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff? What services are offered and what insurances do they accept? Is the dental office easily accessible by car or public transit? Does the dental office offer emergency dental services? Will the dentist office be able to accommodate your whole family? Do you have special requirements, such as the need for dental implants or cosmetic dentistry? Compare your needs with respect to the answers to these questions.

Book a Consultation

Next, determine which dentists on your list meet all or most of your criteria, and find out if he or she is currently accepting new patients. For those who are seeking new patients, find out when their next availability is. Make an appointment and go to “interview” the dentist and find out if you are compatible.

Make the Choice

After meeting with a few different dentists, reflect on your experiences at each office. Which office made you feel most comfortable? Which dentists seemed more compatible with your personality? Which office offers the widest variety of services or the particular specialty services you are seeking? Hopefully by now, you will have a lot of clarity about which dental office is right for you and your family.