If finding a dentist was as simple as picking the first result on your search engine page after Googling” dentist near me,” you wouldn’t need this post.
Dental health is of utmost importance to most people, considering most people can’t afford to replace any missing teeth should they fall out. While that much is clear, picking a dentist for your dental care needs is easier said than done.
With the plethora of dentists available, it can be hard to settle for a single North York dentist for your dental needs. If you’re having trouble finding a dentist in North York, we’re here to help.
Join us today as we look at a few tips for finding the best dentist for your dental and oral healthcare.
1. Comprehensive Care Is Everything
The first thing to look for in a dentist is comprehensive care. Comprehensive care means that dental services premise on providing holistic care and treatment for the patient’s oral conditions. It means the dentist in question can treat various dental ailments, including cavities, malocclusion, and other oral health issues.
It also means the dentist can cater to your entire family’s dental needs, regardless of whether it’s the kids or your ageing parents. Comprehensive care also provides cosmetic dental services like teeth whitening and dental implants, for instance.
Dentists that offer comprehensive care are guaranteed to provide the dental services you and your entire family need.
2. Look for Relevant Qualifications and Experience
As with any line of work, qualified professionals are critical to getting the job done well. Dentists are no exception.
Qualifications and experience in oral health are important when it comes to picking a dentist for your family’s dental needs. A vast array of North York dentists offer comprehensive care services, but not all can provide quality treatment. As such, it’s important to look for qualifications and experience in the dental industry.
All dentists must hold a valid license to run a legal practice. So ask to see the dentist’s practicing license before settling on the dentist in question. Be sure to also check the expiry date; an expired license is invalid.
Aside from experience, be sure to inquire about the dentist’s experience. As a rule of thumb, look for anything above five years of experience, but three years of experience isn’t too bad. As long as the credentials check out, you’re in good hands.
Awards are also a good litmus test for finding a qualified dentist. As an example, DentalX is a North York dental clinic that has won several accolades for its dedication to providing exceptional dental solutions.
3. Look for Dentists With Friendly and Helpful Staff
The dentist’s staff will speak volumes about the type of dentist you’re dealing with. Always look for a dentist with friendly and helpful staff, right from the receptionist to the janitor. A toothache is certainly bad enough; you certainly don’t want to deal with any unpleasant staff to ruin your day further.
Friendly, helpful, and competent staff will help ensure that your visit to the dentist is seamless. They’ll also ensure that you spend the shortest time possible in the dentist’s office. You’ll leave the place with a smile on your face and feeling fully satisfied.
4. Look for Dentists With the Latest Technology
Technology has transformed the dental industry for the better. Dentists can now complete pain-stacking procedures that would usually take hours in a matter of minutes with technology. However, not all dentists can boast the latest technologies for their dental procedures.
That said, you need to look for dentists that utilize the latest technologies in their dental practice. Give the dentist a call and inquire about what technology they use for their procedure. You might have to do a little bit of research, but nothing too much.
Dentists with the latest technology can offer you top-tier dental services at an affordable cost. Therefore, inquire about the dentist’s technology before settling on the dentist.
5. Ask for Referrals
If you’re looking for the perfect dentist on the internet, maybe you’re looking in the wrong place. The best way to find the perfect dentist is by asking your family and friends. Close friends, workmates, and family will always point you in the right direction.
You can never go wrong with referrals from people close to you. That’s because the people that refer you to a particular dentist probably have first-hand experience with the dentist in question. Use your social network to help you find the right dentist for your needs.
6. The Location and Office Hours
It makes no sense to settle for a dentist that’s miles away when you can visit the neighbourhood dentist. Location plays a crucial factor in determining the dentist you settle for. You need a dentist that you can access easily in case of emergencies or dire situations.
In addition to the dentists’ office location, you should also consider:
- How ample the parking space is?
- Is it accessible via public transportation?
- What are the office hours?
Apart from these, you should also find out about the modes of payment, so you’re never stuck with a pending bill. A simple Google search should expose you to tens of dentists around you. Explore the available options and pick the best one.
7. Look for a Dentist That Accepts Insurance
If you want to save a little cash and maximize your work benefits, consider looking for a dentist that’s part of your provider’s network. That way, you can minimize your out-of-pocket costs and get the dental services you require.
Look for a dentist that can process claims directly from your insurance provider. This saves you the hassle of having to deal with stubborn insurance agents and navigating the convoluted insurance maze.
What’s more, dentists that accept insurance show genuine concern for their patients. Most dentists would rather bill directly and sidestep the complex insurance reimbursement process.
8. Look for a Patient and Kind Dentist
If you’re looking for a family dentist, you best find one that’s patient, courteous, and kind. Remember, you’ll be leaving your kids in the dentist’s hand, and you certainly don’t want anyone barking at your kids.
Simple virtues like kindness and patience are crucial for dentists because they must deal with all kinds of patients. Patience and kindness also ensure that the dentist can listen to the patient’s concerns.
Given that around 6% of the general population and 16% of school-going children are scared of dentists, patience and kindness are things you can’t overlook in a dentist.
9. Look for a Dentist You’re Comfortable With
If you’re in search of a dentist, you’re probably looking for one for the long haul. You can think of the dentist as an extension of your family. Just like you have a family doctor, so should you have a family dentist.
That said, make sure you’re at ease with the dentist you’re considering. If anything seems off about the dentist, then maybe they’re not the right fit for you.
It’s not everyday you have someone put sharp, pointy instruments in your mouth. That’s why you need to be completely comfortable with the dentist you settle for yourself or your family.
10. Look for a Dentist With Positive Online Reviews
Make sure you check out the dentist’s online reviews to find out what other people are saying about the dentist. Focus on both the positive and critical reviews to get a clear picture of the dentist in question.
However, make sure you’re careful with reviews from the dentist’s site. Some dentists may write their own reviews to dupe unsuspecting customers. If the reviews seem a little too positive, they may be fabricated.
A better alternative is to check out reviews from review sites like the Better Business Bureau. There you can find genuine reviews from previous clients to help you make a more informed decision.
Red Flags To Be Cautious of When Looking for a Dentists
Not all dentists in North York are cut from the same cloth. That said, here are a couple of red flags you need to look out for when in search of a dentist:
Failure to request records: Dentists need to know your previous dental history before they begin treatment. Dentists that don’t ask for your previous records may not be genuinely interested in your dental situation. They may only be interested in the money you’ll pay at the end of the appointment.
Disorganization and untidiness: A dentist’s office should be clean and tidy. The dentist should provide the right ambiance for your dental treatment. The dentist’s office is scary enough on its own, an untidy dentist office is a definite no-go zone.
Untidiness is also a show of unprofessionalism and callousness. You’re better off looking for another dentist.
Insistence on regular X-rays: X-rays are a regular part of the dental process, but they shouldn’t be too frequent. Any dentist that insists on too many X-rays is not worth your time.
Improper bedside manners: Dentists are trained to be courteous and gentle with their patients. Improper bedside manners are a show of incompetence and unprofessionalism.
Finding the Ideal Dentist For Your Needs
The above tips will help you find a dentist in North York to help with your dental and oral hygiene needs. Remember to consider all factors before settling on a dentist. Also, don’t forget to explore all your options before making a final choice.
Fortunately, our DentalX dentists are just a phone call away. Contact us today to book your appointment.