General Dentistry: How to Decide on a Primary Care Dental Provider

Finding a primary care dental provider is a proactive decision that supports your overall wellbeing as well as your oral health. Here are some easy ways to locate a dentist and feel confident in your choice.

Consider the factors that matter most to you

Begin by thinking about the aspects of a dental practice or dental provider that would be most convenient or appealing to you. These could include:

• Whether the provider accepts your insurance
• How far the practice is from your office or home
• Whether the dentist offers weekend or evening appointments
• How the practice handles dental emergencies

Input from your friends or family could also influence your decision. For example, if a trustworthy acquaintance recommends a dentist she has gone to for years, that feedback from someone you know could be enough to make you contact the practice and see if it is taking new patients.

Additionally, it is becoming more common for dentists to offer online assessments. Those can be ideal if you want to get prompt feedback about whether a certain issue warrants immediate treatment.

If you do not have an insurance plan with dental benefits, it is beneficial to see if practices in your area offer payment options. Many providers understand that not all their patients can afford the upfront costs of dental visits and want to do everything they can to make them as affordable as possible.

Make a list of possible candidates

Once you have thought about the aspects above, along with other criteria you deem important, launch the next phase of your search by creating a list of dentists to contact. As you do this research, pay attention to the characteristics of the dental professionals themselves.

For example, how many years of experience does the dentist have? What is their educational background? Have they won any awards or received professional accolades? Getting the answers to those questions and similar ones will help you feel confident about seeing your new dentist.

Reading the reviews of current and former patients is also worthwhile. The feedback you find can help set your expectations for an upcoming appointment. Patient reviews will likely cover things ranging from the dentist's communication style to the office's friendliness.

Once you have narrowed down the options to at least a couple of dentists, it is time to start contacting those offices to see if they are accepting new patients. Be prepared to answer a few simple questions during those initial phone calls. For example, the receptionist may want to know how long it has been since your last checkup and whether you are currently experiencing any oral health concerns.