Tips For Choosing the Right Dentist

Tips For Choosing the Right Dentist

A proper and frequent dental checkup by a dentist is of utmost importance in keeping your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy and free from decay and cavities. Poor dental health can lead to other health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. When finding a new dentist, you should look for someone who does more than clean your teeth. Understandably, trying to choose the right dentist might be daunting, but in this article, we will provide you with some fantastic tips that would greatly help in choosing the right dentist in Redmond.

Seek Recommendations from Trusted Sources

One quick and easy way to find the best dentist is to seek recommendations, referrals, and testimonials from those who have gone through successful treatment sessions with the dentist in question. This was suggested by the Oral Health Foundation. It doesn’t matter if the dentist in question is your neighbour, family member, or your colleague; it’s very important you ask around and seek recommendations from individuals who have had to go through a one-on-one consultation with the dentist in question. Trust me, your dental health is important, and I’m sure you don’t want to be treated by an incompetent dentist. 

Research the Dentist’s Credentials

Before a dentist can be awarded a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS/BChD), the dentist should have completed a five-year undergraduate course, which makes the dentist qualified, but it doesn’t end there. Most dentists give themselves to further professional training, learning, and development, so you should be on the lookout for that. Dentists are required to be licensed with the ADA (American Dental Association); this body affirms if the health care services provided by the dentist match the national standards. 

Consider the Dentist’s Experience

A popular saying by James Anthony states, “Experience teaches slowly, and at the cost of mistakes” It’s pertinent you consider the experience of the dentist in question; dentists with decades of experience would have diagnosed and treated so many complications, some of which might be similar to yours. The more experienced a dentist has with a certain issue, the better your outcomes will be. You might be anxious if your preferred dentist is competent; the best way to prove your doubt is to consider doing a background check on his or her years of experience. 

When Choosing the Right Dentist, Consider Gender

You should be comfortable with your dentist because you would have to share some personal information during therapy sessions. People often go for female dentists because they are better listeners. According to numerous studies, female dentists seem to be more caring than their male counterparts, they also have smaller hands, which might make it more comfortable for the patient and simpler for the dentist to get inside the mouth and work. Recently, dentists are becoming skilled in caring for both genders differently. 

Read Patient Reviews for The Dentist

Patient reviews on their experiences with their dentists can give you insight into how a dentist is responsible for general dentistry and managing his or her dental office. Read patient reviews to ensure you are getting hands-on dental care from experienced dentists. You can also learn how well patients trust the dentist, the complaints made, if there seem to exist, and how much he or she spends with their patient. You can check these top dentist review sites, including those focusing on Cosmetic Dentistry in Redmond. 

• Google My Business
• Healthgrades
• Zocdoc

What does a dentist do?

One of the key roles of a dentist is to promote excellent oral care. This can help you avoid problems in your mouth or other regions of your body. Brushing, flossing, and getting regular cleanings are all desirable practices that a dentist will advise patients to practice since they can help avoid cavities and other tooth and gum disorders. They offer tips and instructions on how to properly care for one’s teeth and gums, as well as diet choices that affect oral health. X-ray devices, drills, mouth mirrors, probes, forceps, brushes, and scalpels are among the tools used by dentists. Lasers, digital scanners, and other computer-based technologies may also be employed. Compared to Orthodontists, they also treat issues related to the oral cavity. However, they are more specialized in treating tooth and jaw alignment complications. 

What qualifications does a good dentist have?

Asides from having academic qualifications and earning a professional degree, there are some competent skills a dentist should have. This, in return, will show his or her prowess and capability in delivering top-notch health care services to the patient. The Dentist should have good communication skills; he/she must be able to clearly express him/herself. He/she should have good leadership skills; dentists work with teams, some of which do administrative tasks. Even with years of experience, the dentist might have, he/she should be ambitious and willing to learn more. 

How do you know if a dentist is good?

You can know if a dentist is good if he/she cares about your comfort, ask questions, and also respond to your questions when your dentist explains to you what the problem is instead of just telling you that there is none when your dentist implements proper infection control methods and maintains good hygiene practices. Your instincts will notify you if a dentist is good. 

What questions should I ask when choosing a dentist?

It’s very important you converse with your dentist and ask questions; below are brief questions you can ask your dentist. 

• What can I do to make my smile better? 
• What dental hygiene routine should I follow? 
• How can I maintain a whiter smile? …
• Do I have any dental health issues that I should be aware of? 
• Do I require any dental services?

Dr Kunal Narang, DDS, is an internationally-trained and highly-specialized cosmetic and implant dentist in Redmond, WA.  You can trust your oral health to Sunrise Dental. To schedule an appointment, call 425-629-0639 or use our online appointment request form. We look forward to handling your family’s dental health needs.