Creative commons image by Irina Petrascu
You might be in the position of needing to choose a new dentist. This can happen because you have moved, because your current dentist is retiring or relocating, or because you are simply ready to find a new office for any reason. Changing healthcare providers can be stressful, and finding a new dentist is no exception. Read on for some tips for making this as hassle-free as possible.
- Check your insurance listings. If you have a preferred provider organization (PPO) as your dental insurance carrier, seeing a dentist who is in the network can save you money. If you have a dental HMO plan, usually you are limited to seeing the dentists in the plan if you want them to pay anything for your dental care. Therefore, it makes sense to begin your search with the dentists who participate in your plan.
- Ask for recommendations or look for reviews. In today’s day and age, getting reviews on area dentists is easier than ever. Simply type their name into Yelp, Google Reviews or any other type of review search engine, and you’ll have information at your fingertips. You can also ask your friends and family members, either individually or by making a post on Facebook, Twitter or your social media website of choice.
- Find out the basics. Once you have several dentist that you’re considering, it’s time to make some phone calls. Find out whether they are taking new patients and what their hours are. Also, map their locations (ask for local landmarks if necessary) to make sure that seeing your new dentist will be convenient. Now is also a good time to ask what type of payment arrangements are accepted. Can you use a credit card, make payments, have the bill go directly to your insurance, or get a discount for paying cash on the spot? The answers to these questions might help you make your choice.
- Schedule a consultation appointment. It’s best to meet the staff and the dentist before you need to have an emergency root canal or wake up with a raging toothache. Obviously, this is not possible all the time! If you are currently not having any tooth problems, though, make an appointment for an examination and cleaning, if you’re due. If you’re not, simply as if you can make a quick appointment so you can meet the dentist and hygienist. If you have any specific concerns (an intense phobia or a previous bad reaction to local anesthetic, for example), now is the time to bring them up.
Once you have chosen a dentist, be sure to make and stick to your regular appointments to reduce your chances of needing emergency care later. If you are currently looking for a new dentist, we invite you to give us a call to see if we might be a good match for your needs.
