Dentists and dental offices are everywhere. You’ll see advertisements on social media or billboards advertising “Free exams and cleanings,” or “Cheap dentistry,” or there may be a dancing tooth holding a sign to get your attention as you are driving by a dental office. You receive flyers in your mailbox. Sometimes it’s too much and makes it really hard for you to choose the right dentist. Well lucky for you, we have a few tips that can help with your decision.
Read Reviews
The first (and most obvious) piece of advice is to do some research and look up their reviews on Google, Yelp, and Healthgrades. Are they positive or negative reviews? Read what others have to say about the dental office, especially negative reviews. See if they are an honest dental office. There are offices out there that will nickel and dime you for every single procedure, or even worse, propose unnecessary procedures to you. If you sense that something is not right when you are at your appointment, it’s ok to go to another office for a second opinion. Some dentists are very aggressive with their treatment plans, while others like to observe the problem to see if the condition worsens. It’s not to say one dentist is right, and the other is wrong, but they may simply have different philosophies or are trained differently.
The (Dental) Office
How does the office look? Does it look like the owner cares for his office? Does it look like he takes pride in where he works? Is it neat and clean, or messy and dirty the second you walk in? If it’s messy and dirty, do you think he’s going to do good work or cares how your teeth will look after treatment? You can tell a lot about your dentist through his office.
How about the waiting room. Does the office look like a “dental mill” with tons of patients in the waiting room sitting around waiting to be called? If so, do you think your dentist will take the time to really get to know you and to address your concerns, or are you just a number? Will he remember you when you return for your next appointment? Even worse, what if it’s a new dentist every single time you show up for your appointment. If you don’t care, then there’s nothing wrong with that, but based on our experience, the patients build relationships and trust with their dentist which puts them at ease.
The Dentist
This leads to the next topic, your doctor. Is he well presented? Clean cut and well mannered, or ungroomed and dismayed? What about magnifying loupes? Does he work with them? There are some dentists that work without loupes, but do you want that? Or would you prefer that your dentist wear magnifying loupes with light when working in your mouth for better visibility?
How about experience and training? There are 3-year dental programs and 4-year dental programs. One is accelerated and the other is the traditional 4-year; up to you to decide. What about the experience as a dentist. Do you want a new graduate with minimal experience to place your dental implant or one that’s placed hundreds and can do it with ease?
The Equipment
Are they a digital dental office? Or are they dated with paper charts with old school film x-rays? How does this affect you as a patient? Think of it as photography. Are we still taking 35mm film pictures or do we use our 12-megapixel cellphones or DSLR cameras? Why is that? It’s because digital photo quality is better. They can be enlarged for easier diagnoses and viewed immediately, without having to wait for processing. It’s faster, more convenient, and environmentally friendly.
Cheap is not always good
You will see ads for $500 dental implants, or free dental cleanings, but how? Who in the right mind would work for free? Especially if owners have to pay their employees and have expenses? It’s a strategy that’s used quite often to get you through the door. If they try to use these sneaky strategies to get you in the door, what makes you think they won’t use similar strategies while you’re sitting in the chair to sell you unnecessary treatment? Think about that.
As far as $500 implants go, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but you will not get a complete dental implant with a crown, for $500 anywhere in the states. There are hidden charges that aren’t disclosed to you. Like what you ask? They may require additional x-rays, you may need bone grafting, or the $500 price does not include the price of the crown. It may be just the price of the implant, and when you sign the dotted line, you are required to get the crown made from the same office, which is how they get you. You think you are saving money on the implant, but then next thing you know, you’re paying twice as much for the crown.
To Conclude
It’s always good to do your own research and ask friends and family. See where they go, and ask why they like their dentist so much. If it doesn’t feel right, or you feel like you are being ripped off, get a second opinion. One dentist’s diagnosis may differ from another.
Don’t let prices fool you. Don’t always go for the cheapest deal you can find. While on that same note, the most expensive isn’t always better either. Find that happy medium. Go to the office that makes you feel most comfortable and won’t break the bank.