Whether the family dentist you had come to love and trust is retiring or your family is moving to a new area, you’ll need to begin the long, potentially Family Dentist frustrating task of finding a new dentist for your family.
Now matter where you live, chances are there are multiple family dentists around.
How do you begin your research?
When starting your research, a good place to start is to ask for recommendations. As your current dentist if he or she knows any good dentists in the area your family will be moving to. If he or she is retiring, ask him or her about the dentist who will be their replacement and if possible, meet him or her.
You can also ask friends and family members for recommendations. Recommendations from people you know and trust are always good starting places.
If you can’t get a personal recommendation, your next bet is online. Online review sites like Yelp are helpful.
When you have a list of potential dentists, visit each one and speak to them personally.
What are the characteristics of a great family dentist you should be looking for?
Location
You don’t want to be driving clear across town for a dentist appointment, especially when your family has multiple appointments on the same day, hours apart.
Availability of Services
Can you and your spouse get your dental treatments done at the same office as your children? Is the dentist a true family dentist or does he or she only practice pediatric dentistry? While adults and child have the same basic oral care, but the dental needs of adults can be different than those of children. Children, for instance might need sealants while adults may need teeth implants.
You’re a busy parent and you likely don’t have the time going to multiple dental offices to have the adults in your family treated in one place and your children in another.
A dentist that offers a comprehensive list of services that meet both adult and children dental needs will save you time, gas money and headaches when trying to coordinate appointments.
Level of Pediatric Dentistry Experience
Some general practice dentist will label themselves as family dentist for the sole purpose of getting business and being more profitable. Their experience in interacting with and treating young patients may be limited.
Pediatric dentistry alters and adapts the procedures of general dentistry for adults to make them safer and more comfortable for children. Specialized training and experience in child sedation, orthodontics, oral medicine, child anesthesia, child oral trauma and infant oral health are common among quality family and pediatric dentists.
Besides altering various common dental treatments and techniques, a pediatric dentist will have a certain demeanor and an extra-friendly, welcoming attitude. Their customer service skills are tailored specifically to ease the fears and concerns of children.