Visiting the dentist on a regular basis is essential for good oral hygiene.
Finding the right dentist for your family might take some research and strategic planning. You want to select a dentist in Lakewood that’ll provide you with all the services you’re looking for and the best customer service.
How will you know who the best dentists in Lakewood are?
There are several factors you should look for when conducting your research. Knowing all the right things to look for in a dentist will help you find the right one for you and your specific dental needs.
If you’re not sure what to ask when looking for a dentist, then you’ll want to continue reading below. Here are a few tips for finding a dentist in Lakewood!
1. New Patients and Insurance
One of the first things you want to check with a dentist’s office before looking into it further is if they’re accepting new patients and what type of insurance they accept. Not all dentist’s offices will be accepting new patients at the time you’re looking for a new office. Not all dentist’s offices accept all types of insurance either.
You can contact your insurance provider and ask for a list of dentists in their network. You can also contact the dentist of your choice and ask them if they accept your insurance. Either route will give you the answers you need.
If a dentist doesn’t accept your insurance, then do ask if they provide patients with financing options.
Learning this information before diving any further into the process can save you time.
2. The Convenience of the Office
How convenient the office is will be another factor to consider. What makes a dentist’s office convenient? There are a few things to consider.
To start checking off items on your convenience list, consider the distance of the office. Is the office close to your home or job? Can you easily get to it from your children’s school?
The next thing to consider is their emergency hours. Will the office be able to help you in case of an emergency? What are their normal hours like?
Are they open during a time when you can easily come in for an appointment? Are they willing to work with you around your own schedule and find an appointment time that’s ideal for you?
Be sure to have these questions answered before making a final decision.
3. The Type of Services They Offer
You’ll now want to consider the type of services they offer. First, think about the type of dental work you want to have done. If you’re going in for a regular check-up appointment, then you might not have any specific dental services in mind.
However, if you’re wanting to look into cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, orthodontics, or something else that’s specific, then you should ensure the dentist provides these services. Not all dentist’s offices provide the same type of services, and they may have to send you somewhere else if you want something done that they don’t provide.
When you find a dentist’s office that can provide you with all the dental services you need, you save yourself lots of time and stress.
4. Experience and Reviews
As you begin to narrow down your results, don’t forget to check out your prospects’ experience and reviews. Look into each dentist’s background to get a better understanding of who they are and what they can offer you. What type of experience do they have?
How long have they been in business? What do their credentials look like? A dentist with a board certification shows they’re dedicated to their craft and take it seriously.
You can search online to determine if the dentist has even had any malpractice or other disciplinary actions taken against them as well. Take your time to do some in-depth research for these reasons. If everything seems good, then you can continue your research by looking up reviews online.
You might want to start with the dentist’s website. Check to see if they list any reviews on there from past customers. You can also check social media pages and review sites online.
Checking these reviews will also give you some insight into how the dentist interacts with customers. One of the last things to consider when looking into their background is referrals. Ask the dentist if they have any referrals to give you.
If given a few, then take the time to contact each one. Ask them about their own experience with that specific dentist to help you make a more informed decision.
5. A Meet and Greet/Office Tour
One of the last things to consider when selecting a dentist is doing a meet and greet or a tour of the office. This might be even more necessary if you have children. This gives you the perfect opportunity to decide how the dentist interacts with your children and if they make them feel comfortable or not.
This also gives you the opportunity to take some time to get to know the dentist better as well. Get a feel for the place and take advantage of this moment by asking any questions you might have.
Have You Found the Right Dentist in Lakewood for You?
Searching for a dentist in Lakewood might take some time. There are a lot of wonderful options out there, but have you found the right dentist for you and your family? Use the information given above to help you make the best decision possible.
Fermelia Dental is a great choice for you and your family! We’re detail-oriented, direct, and caring. You and your comfort come first as our patients.
Are you ready to get started?
Contact us today to fill out a new patient form and schedule your first appointment.