Creative commons image by Irina Petrascu
If you have recently moved to the area, you undoubtedly have to find new physicians, a new hairdresser, maybe a new daycare center for your children… and a new dentist. It would be easy to simply promote ourselves as your new dentist of choice, but it’s important that every patient find a dentist who meets his or her needs. Here are some criteria to consider when choosing a new dentist, whether you’re new to the area, your current dentist has retired, or you are looking to switch offices for some other reason.
Location, Location, Location
Obviously, proximity to your office or your home is going to be important as you make your choice. If you have to drive 30 minutes out of the way, this can be fairly inconvenient, especially if you have a dental emergency or if you need several appointments for a particular treatment plan. Whether to choose a dental office closer to your home or your workplace is a personal decision. If you choose one closer to work, it makes it possible to get an appointment on your lunch break and still make it back on time. An office closer to your home allows you to schedule your appointment on your day off. Depending on your obligations, you might also consider choosing a dentist close to your children’s school or daycare center.
Preferred Provider Status
If you have PPO dental insurance, you will receive a list of dentists who participate in your network. While you can choose to go outside of your network, your out-of-pocket expense will be higher if you do not choose someone from the list. Be advised that you should not make your sole determination of a dentist based on this list, but if your budget is a concern, it’s definitely a consideration. If you have a DMO insurance plan, you will need to choose someone off of their list of providers if you want the insurance to pay for your treatment. Other types of insurance plans may have other limitations; you should check with any dentist that you’re considering to see if they can accept your insurance plan.
Word of Mouth
If you know people in the area, you can probably get some recommendations from acquaintances or friends to help you choose a dentist. You can also look on Internet review sites, such as Yelp, Google Business, and even Facebook pages. Simply type “dentists in _______” (using your town name or the name of the town where you work) into your favorite search engine, and you will be able to pull up a list of dentists, some of whom will have reviews.
Your Gut Feeling
Finally, you will need to listen to your inner voice when deciding which dentist to make your own. Schedule an appointment for a consultation or a “meet and greet,” and get to know the staff a bit. Do they make you feel welcome? Is the office clean? Make sure that you find the dentist personable and ask any questions that pertain to your individual situation so you can be confident that you will receive good care.
It can be difficult to choose a new dentist when relocating, but by considering the factors above, you can narrow down your search a bit. Please call our office if you would like to consider switching to our practice.
