Looking for the right dentist for your family can really be as lengthy as you’d like it to be; the more time you spend ticking off the criteria in this article, the more suited your dentist will be for your family. However, if you’re in a rush it’s a matter of doing a local Google search and popping in to a few offices in your area to see what they’re all about.
This article is for the former; those who are willing to dig a little deeper to find the right family dentist. These folks realize that a relationship with a family dentist gold coast is a long term one, and they’d like to ensure that they’ve settled on one that has their best interests at heart. And the only way to know that is to learn as much as possible about your prospective family dentists while sharing a little with them about the unique needs of your family.
What to Look for in a Family Dentist
- Office Hours
Ensuring that your dentist has office hours which fit your schedule is often a deal breaker; families usually are required to have their appointments outside of the 9 to 5, and the right family dentist will understand this by being open as late as even 9pm.
- They’re Great with Kids
A good family dentist realises that a trip to the dentist has the potential to either traumatise a child for life, or make them fearless. Showing your children that there is nothing to fear is as easy as understanding how a child thinks; making the dentist fun with creative motifs, sunglasses, and earphones to watch a movie or play a video game while they’re sitting in the dentist chair, or positive reinforcement when they have no cavities –all contribute to lowering the anxiety levels children often associate to having their teeth drilled. Dental procedures may not be fun, but a good dentist knows how to make this fact of life bearable and even a little fun.
- Certifications
In addition to convenience and being great with your little ones, a good family dentist will be educated well. Having their certifications from well-known institutions is a must, and so if their ability to perform specific anaesthesia.
Anaesthesia can make or break the ease your child feels for the more advanced procedures they will need to undertake in their young little lives, and having a dentist that is properly certified to perform these is key.
- No Fine Print
Transparency is also another key factor in finding the right dentist for your family; surprises should be reserved as positive ones (look ma, no cavities!) and not underhanded hidden fees when you get your invoice.
Are fees and procedures clearly outlined?
- No Unnecessary Procedures
This is a big one; some unscrupulous dentists will fill and re-fill and re-fill a problem tooth to get the maximum billings out of a stressed out parent. Have a discussion about how your dentist will proceed with problem tooth situations such as cavities, root canals, and the like before you make a commitment.
In Conclusion
There are plenty of things to consider when you are looking for a good family dentist and we know we’ve just begun to “drill down” into them. We didn’t want our article to get too long in the tooth! Have anything to add? We’d love to hear from you in the comments. Feel free to leave your best dentist puns, too.
