Five tips when choosing a dental office.
- Do a quick online research on the dentist or dental office to make sure they have great reputation and good reviews.
- Start with a consultation whenever possible to see the practice and get to know the dentist before treatment.
- Make sure the dental practice is easily accessible and has lots of parking available.
- Consult with friends and family regarding where they go for their dental treatment.
- Make sure you understand your dental insurance benefits or ask the dental practice to assist you.
Dental health is such an essential part of a family's overall health - you must have a dental home. While finding a local dentist is no easy fit, it is not an impossible task. The key to a great dentist/patient relationship is finding a dentist you could trust with your family's oral health.
So if you are looking to change your dentist or just moved into the area of Oakville, here are a couple of ways to go about your Oakville family dentist search.
Friends and family recommendations
Chances are one of your family, friends, or co-workers who have a great dentist. So ask them for recommendations, they can offer you some viable options from which you can start your search.
Ask your pharmacist or doctor
Members of the medical profession often know each other. If you just moved to Oakville, ask your former dentist for a recommendation, they might know a great Oakville dental office.
Visit the ODA website (Ontario Dental Association)
You can visit the ODA website for Oakville dentists. It is a quick and easy way to find a professional and qualified dentist. Every dentist in the ODA community has taken a professional oath to put your well being and health first.
Online search
You can also just do a quick google search of Oakville dentists or perhaps check Facebook chats and groups. Every professional dental office must have an online presence.
After all the recommendations and your own discoveries, you would have a number of options to select from your family dentist.
Below are a few major questions you should ask to narrow down your search.
Do they take dental insurance?
This is an important question. Make sure your new dentist can process your dental insurance or guide you on the claim submission process.
Is their office close to your home?
At the end of the day, you would not want a dental office too far from your home.
Do their office hours fit your schedule?
It is important to have a dentist whose office hours are convenient for your schedule.
How do they manage after-hour emergencies?
Most dentists would have an arrangement with a colleague or have in place dental emergency referral services.
How do they handle missed appointments?
Every dental office has a missed appointments policy in place, some more convenient than others.
Also, ask about their costs
You should be knowledgeable about their costs for normal procedures like oral exams, cleaning, filling a cavity, and a full mouth x-ray. Costs should not be among your major determining factors, however, they are worth noting to compare how accessible your different options are.
In case you visit a dentist's office, take note of the following factors.
Hygiene and organization
A great dentist's office must be neat, clean, and orderly. Plus, both the dentist and his staff must wear gloves and protective gear when dealing with patients.
Equipment
Their equipment must be up to date and clean.
Dental staff
Where dental staff kind and courteous? Did they answer all your questions? Did they give you confidence that they knew what they were doing? All of these questions must have positive answers.
In Conclusion
Dental care is such a personal service, you would want to deal with a dentist you like. So it is important you get to know your dentist. And don't rush the process, a great dentist is worth any time you spend finding him or her.
At Kiwi Dental Office, we provide an AWESOME dental experience. We are a family dental practice in Oakville and we see kids and adults.