Finding a good dentist is important for your oral health and peace of mind, but it can be tough to know where to begin. Whether you’re new to town or simply looking for a new dental care provider, the tips below will put you on the right path:

Start By Understanding Your Dental Needs

Assess Your Dental Requirements

How’s your oral health, and what types of dental treatments are you looking for? Most Canadian dentists offer a range of preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dentistry treatments, but if you’re seeking something specific (like sedation dentistry or children’s dentistry), it’s important to find out whether or not prospective dentists offer those types of services.

General Vs. Specialized Care

Many general dentists have undergone advanced training and offer specialized dental services in-house, but that’s not always the case. If you expect to need specialized dental care – like complex wisdom tooth removal, oral surgery, orthodontics, or full-mouth dental implants – finding a clinic that can handle those types of procedures is something to keep in mind.

Check Reputation And Reviews

Getting a word-of-mouth recommendation for a new dentist is ideal, but reading online reviews can also provide a trustworthy snapshot of the types of experiences other patients have had at a particular dental office. Look for dentists with plenty of reviews and a minimum of a 4 out of 5-star reputation. Take the time to check multiple review platforms and consider both positive and negative feedback.

At Dentist Finder, we’re committed to connecting patients with the best oral health care professionals in their area and only work with top-rated dentists.

Evaluate Comfort And Personal Rapport

Feeling comfortable and at ease with your dentist is absolutely vital. While it might not always be possible to define exactly what makes you “click” with a certain individual (or not), here’s a list of some valuable questions and considerations to keep in mind:

• Does this person take the time to listen to me?
• Do they answer my questions thoroughly?
• Do they hear and understand my concerns?
• Do they explain treatment options clearly?
• Is the overall office atmosphere clean and comfortable?
• Do all members of the dental team create a warm and welcoming environment?

Consider Location, Office Hours, And Accessibility

Finding a dentist clinic that’s convenient for you to access – even spur of the moment, in the event of a dental emergency – is key. Similarly, it won’t matter how good your dentist is if their available hours don’t match your schedule.

At Dentist Finder, we make it a priority to match our clients with dentists whose location and availability fit their needs. In fact, we’ll only show you dentists who are nearby and available for appointments when you are.

Understand Costs And Payment Options

Dental care isn’t free, and understanding how a clinic prices its services is an important consideration for many patients when choosing a dentist. At Dentist Finder, we recommend being straightforward with any financial questions or concerns – and politely asking for clarification if necessary. Common financial questions from prospective patients include:

• Do you accept CDCP?
• Do you accept my insurance?
• Do you follow current provincial dental association fee guidelines?
• What types of payment plans do you offer?

Schedule An Appointment And Assess

Doing your research beforehand can only take you so far – eventually, you’ve got to schedule an appointment. At Dentist Finder, we recommend using your first appointment at a new dental clinic as an opportunity to ask questions, get to know the dentist and team, and evaluate whether or not the experience feels like a good fit moving forward.

If it doesn’t, consider the elements that were lacking for you and schedule an appointment at another clinic. Finding the right dentist sometimes takes a little patience, but it’s always worth it in the end to make sure you feel completely confident in your choice.

Pick A Dentist Who Feels Like A Long-Term Partner

Your teeth are with you for life, so choosing a dentist you feel positive about working with over the long term makes good sense. At Dentist Finder, we understand you might not be certain where the future will take you – that’s why we’ve developed a platform that makes it easy to find a new dentist where and when you need one – but we still recommend choosing a dentist who takes a big-picture approach to your oral health and who you can envision trusting as your dental needs evolve over time.

Conclusion: Make Your Decision With Confidence

Ultimately, choosing a new dentist is a major life decision, and it’s important to move forward with confidence. By filling out our 3-minute questionnaire, you can significantly streamline the process – in fact, we’ll match you with top-rated dentists who meet all of your criteria in minutes!

Ready to find a good dentist near you? So are we. Get started with Dentist Finder today!