Choosing the Right Family Dental Care Provider
A family dental practice is unique in that it can serve dental needs across patients of all ages. Finding a family dentist who understands the specific needs of your family is invaluable. Patients of various ages have unique needs such as the loss of the patient’s first tooth, education on good oral hygiene, the effects of aging, and numerous cosmetic concerns.
In order to maintain a positive and productive long-term relationship with the practice, it is critical to ensure the dentist has experience and good rapport with their patients. The practice website can be valuable in the search as it often contains helpful information such as team biographies, reviews, and customer testimonials. Speaking with friends and family on suggestions for a provider is another good way to find a reliable family dentist.
Patients are encouraged to prepare questions for the practice and discuss concerns with the potential providers. This may include things such as recommended tools or products, healthy snack recommendations, and oral hygiene best practices. In order to maintain good oral health, prevention is key. A good family dentist will be diligent in educating children on healthy oral habits and good oral hygiene.
Things to consider when searching for and choosing a family dental practice are outlined below:
- Determine specific and future needs for your family. This may include things such as the potential need for braces and frequency of routine appointments. Some practices have both a general dentist and orthodontist on staff. Having multiple specialties in one location makes visits convenient.
- Does the practice have a pediatric dentist on staff? Pediatric dentists have specialized training and focus on the treatment and care of young patients or those with special needs.
- Make sure the dentist and staff have good communication skills. This is important for educating patients on good oral hygiene practices.
- Does practice have the ability to handle emergency needs? This can be especially helpful for dental needs which occur outside of regular office hours. It is productive to expect the unexpected with children.
- Ask the practice if they accept your dental insurance and determine if medical and dental records are stored in a permanent file.
Additional factors to consider in the selection of a family dentist are listed below:
- Location of the dental practice located. It is helpful if the office is close to home, school or work.
- Ensure scheduling is easy and convenient. The family schedule can be incredibly busy. Be sure to check the office hours to ensure they work well with your schedule. Many practices send reminder notifications and have a flexible cancellation policy when there is a conflict.
- Review the payment and financing options of the provider. Dental care can be expensive, and dental insurance does not cover all services.
- Be sure to evaluate the care and professionalism of the team. It is critical for your family to feel safe and comfortable with your family dentist.
While it can be time consuming, take the time to call and meet with various family dentists. Many practices are willing to schedule consultations where potential patients can meet with the staff. A family dentist should always be welcoming, thorough, and patient.
If you are looking for a family dentist who can meet the needs of your family, call the office today to schedule a consultation. We look forward to meeting with your family and answering your questions. This is a partnership, and it is critical for us to work together as we help your family maintain good oral health.