Selecting the right dentist to help you achieve that smile you’ve always wanted or to rely on when dental issues arise can be challenging. It’s an important decision to make for you and your family members, and you want to make sure you choose smartly and correctly for everyone’s needs.

To help make it easier, below are eight helpful things to know and consider before making that selection.

1. General or Specialty Care

Not all dental offices offer the same dental services. To begin your search, first decide whether you need a general dentist who can provide a variety of services or one specializing in a particular dental issue you currently have.

If you need a general family dentist, you can expect to build a long-term relationship and go to that office for most if not all of your oral health concerns. This office is also where you will continue with preventive care, such as biannual cleanings and exams, and seek restorative solutions when necessary.

In many instances, you may be seeking specialty care, such as orthodontia, root canal treatment, or cosmetic procedures. Keep in mind, however, that many dentists today offer this wider selection of treatments right there in one office.

Whichever you are looking for, general or specialty care, always check training and credentials of the dentist to ensure you are selecting the best available.

2. Availability of Treatments and Services

For each dentist you are considering, determine what treatments and services they have available for patients. Not all dental offices will be alike in this regard, so look at their websites and find a list of services, then determine if they will meet you or your family’s needs.

For example, if you will be seeking a solution to a damaged tooth, make sure the dentist you choose offers options, such as dental crowns or implants. If your gums seem swollen or bleed when you brush or floss, look for a dentist who also offers periodontal disease treatments.

Yet, even if your preferred dentist doesn’t offer all of the services you might need, they can still refer you to a specialist that they work with on a regular basis.

3. Patient Care Approaches

Anxiety can accompany thoughts of going to the dentist, so it helps to know the one you choose cares about the patient care experience. Today, many dental offices offer solutions to alleviate such discomfort, and staff are trained to help you through the experience in the best way possible.

For example, some dentist offices provide comfortable dental chairs or soothing music. Many also offer sedation therapy, so you can relax while undergoing any dental procedure that makes you nervous.

4. Advanced Dental Technology

Dental technology continues to evolve, making procedures and treatments easier and more comfortable for the patient. Dental offices utilizing this latest technology can streamline processes, requiring you spend less time in the dentist’s chair on your visits also.

Find out what technology a dental office uses, such as digital x-rays, digital impressions, or intraoral cameras, that can save you time and provide more accurate results.

5. Sterilization Practices

Today, more than ever, you need to ensure that any dental office you visit follows stringent sterilization practices. These practices assure that you and the dental staff stay protected, showing that your health is important to them.

For example, here at Stiles Dental Care, we make sterilization practices a priority, ensuring you receive the highest quality of personal care within a safe environment at all times. Our staff is well trained in the best protocols, and all follow the recommendations made by the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and also the Centers for Disease Control, or CDC.

6. Emergency Care

A dental emergency may occur at any time and anywhere. You need to know you can count on your dentist’s office in these times to provide the emergency care you or a family member needs.

In addition, your dentist will already have your dental records so can make quicker decisions about how to proceed in a dental emergency.

Besides, just knowing your dental office provides such emergency care can give you peace of mind.

Make it a point to find out whether the dentist you are considering offers emergency services. These services may be in the form of offering flexible hours, weekend appointments, or a specific phone number to call if a dental emergency occurs.

7. Acceptance of Insurance

If you have dental insurance, determine what dentists in your area fall under the in-network coverage. Research each one thoroughly, and if you find you are not comfortable with any of them, don’t hesitate to go outside the covered network. You want to be comfortable with your choice, even if you have to drive a little further to get there.

8. Payment Options

Dental care costs will fluctuate, depending on your needs and whether or not you carry insurance. You can’t always plan for these expenses, so you need to know if payment options are available with the dentist you choose.

Many dental offices today offer flexible financing and payment plans for those who don’t have insurance or exceed the limits their insurance will pay out.

Find out what options will be available to you and make this an important factor in your decision for choosing a dentist.

Schedule a Consultation with Stiles Dental Care and Learn More About Us Today

Dr. Stiles and his team here at Stiles Dental Care in Medford, NJ offer all of our patients customized treatment plans to meet a variety of oral health needs. We make your experience with us as comfortable and professional as possible, allowing you to relax and feel safe at all times. To meet and learn more about us and what we can do to help, contact our office and schedule an informative consultation today.