In observance of National Thank You Month, the dentists and staff at Felt Family Dentistry want to express our profound thanks and gratitude to our loyal patients who continually trust us with your dental care. Felt Family Dentistry commits to continue caring for your oral health needs in 2019 with the same dedication that we have in the past.
Choosing a dentist is challenging. You should not just pick the dental office that is closest to home. Dentists are a long-term oral health care partner, so you should choose one that you can be comfortable with far into the future. A dentist is someone you should see at least twice a year to make sure that you are taking care of your teeth.
If you are not currently one of our patients and have come to our website in search of a dentist, may we remind you of a few important things to check before you settle on a dentist’s office:
- Check the dentist’s credentials – The dentist’s education and training are vital factors to consider when you are selecting your dentist. You should find out if your dentist is a graduate of a reputable dental school and if he or she trained with high-quality dentists or hospitals. Remember that you are entrusting your oral health to your dentist, so it is important that you are confident in their education and training. When you’re researching a new dentist, look to see if they have been attending conferences and continuing education workshops. The science of dentistry is fast evolving, and your dentist should not be left behind. They should be up-to-date with all of the changes and developments in their field.
- Location and office hours – It is a good idea to find a well-qualified dentist that is close to home, but location shouldn’t be your only priority. Their office hours are also critical. Look for a dentist with hours that extend past the normal workday at least once a week. This will allow you to see the dentist without disrupting your own work schedule.
- Emergency arrangements – Before you commit yourself to a dentist, learn how they handle emergencies outside of office hours. If you have a dental emergency, you probably will not want to wait for the next business day before you can get help. Make sure that the dentist you choose has an arrangement in place where emergency cases can be referred to other dentists in their network after office hours.
- Fees and payments – When choosing a dentist, understand their fees and payment plans. You should also ask for an estimate of their common procedure prices so you can make a comparison chart. It is also important to know if the dentist that you are considering is a part of your dental insurance plan. If the dentist is not within your plan, you might pay more for procedures than you would otherwise.
- The general appearance of the office – When you visit a dental office in search of a dentist, observe the appearance of the office. Check if the dentist and his staff are wearing protective gear and gloves during patient treatment. Observe the overall condition of the office, such as cleanliness, neatness, and orderliness. Check the appearance of the waiting room.
Do not rush into choosing your dentist. Make sure that the one you select will be able to take care of all your family’s current and future oral health needs. Click now to schedule an appointment to see how our team at Felt and how we can help.