It may have been a while since you’ve been to the dentist, or you may be on the lookout for a new practice that better suits your needs. Whatever the case may be, there are several questions you should ask yourself before you select your next dentist.
Are they a specialist or a general practice? What services do they offer? (and just as importantly, which ones do they not offer?) What kind of tools and technologies do they have available? How do they keep up with the latest dental trends and treatments?
You should always be asking the technical questions that matter most to you.
However, we’ve put together a few quick pointers that will help you decide which dental practice is right for you in terms of comfortability, personality and trustworthiness. Of course, we would love to have you as a patient at Dental Arts, but if it’s not meant to be, we at least want to point you in the right direction. After all, everyone deserves top-notch dental care, regardless of where it’s being done.
Here are several key characteristics of a good dental practice that we believe are important for an effective, long-lasting dental relationship.
Friendly Staff
As a patient in a dental practice, you’ll be spending a lot of time interacting with the staff, so it’s important that you find a dental practice that values service. From the time you enter the office until you leave to set up your next appointment, a good dental practice will make you feel at home. Look for things like proactive outreach for service, courteous treatment of adults and children as well as transparency in scheduling and billing practices.
On-time Appointments
In many cases, you’ll be taking time off of work and in between other appointments to come to the dentist’s office, so you want to make sure things run smoothly and on time. We’ve all been to that doctor’s appointment that started or ended later than scheduled, and caused all kinds of problems for the rest of your day. Try and get a sense of how accurate and timely your appointments will be. Are you waiting more than 10 or 15 minutes before seeing the dentist? Is the staff dragging their feet and leaving you alone in the waiting room for too long? Find a practice that balances convenience and professionalism.
Warm Bedside Manner
No one wants to feel like going to the dentist is transactional or “cold.” Make sure that you fully evaluate how the dentists, hygienists and other team members speak to you about your oral health. Are they explaining things to you in a clear, personable way or simply regurgitating textbook definitions? A dentist’s treatment method is about more than science. Letting you and your family know that you’re in good hands and taken care of is an art form and comes from years of experience as well as a full understanding of the dental profession. Find a dentist that speaks to you like a family member.
Quiet & Stress-free Environment
For many, the act of simply going to the dentist can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’ve had a bad experience in the past. Before you make a commitment to a dental practice, make a point to stop by and see it for yourself. Absorb the atmosphere, look around, ask questions. What it would be like to be a patient here? Do I feel at ease here? Are there distractions? Is it high or low intensity when I step into the waiting room? Get a feel for the level of professionalism and sense of calm.
At Dental Arts, we offer meticulous, uncompromising, state-of-the-art dental and orthodontic care with a commitment to honoring every person we have the privilege to treat. Our mission is to provide the highest quality dental and orthodontic care available and to transform the lives of our patients in profound ways.
If you would like to get more information on what to look for in a dentist or how Dental Arts can help you get the results you want for your mouth, please contact us.
Dental Arts is a full-service general dentistry and orthodontic practice for the entire family. For more than three decades, we have been providing the highest quality dental and orthodontic care available to the residents of New Orleans. Explore the Dental Arts difference today.
