12 Tips for Choosing the Right Dentist in Bonita

A medical practitioner’s expertise, qualification, and standing go a long way in the success of a treatment plan. It stands true in dental health care too. However, finding the right dentist is not as simple as it sounds. It takes some time and effort to figure out the best dental practice that fits the bill. Do not forget to factor in the following point to ensure that your search for a reliable dentist ends positively.

1. Choose convenience

Convenience has two aspects in this case. First, whether the dental practice is close to your home, office, or child’s school or the practice’s office hours match your preferred timings. Scheduling appointments, especially for long-term dental treatment, might be hard if your office hours would be the same as those of the dentist. Consider a dentist available on weekends, late evenings, or any other time slots that suit you.

2. Go for an all-in-one facility

Choose a dental health care practice with multiple dentistry services. This way, you will not have to search for different dentists for your family member’s individual dental care needs. Standard dental health care services to consider are Orthodontics (for misaligned or overcrowded teeth), Pediatric Dentistry (for children’s dental care), Periodontics (gum care), Endodontics (root canal therapy), Prosthodontics (fixing missing or broken teeth), Cosmetic Dentistry (for teeth scaling, whitening, veneers, etc.), and  Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery (surgery of the mouth, jaw, and face).

3. Credentials matter

Shoddy dental work can cost you your health, confidence, foods you love, time, and more money. Therefore, it is important to check the qualification and reputation of the dentist. Dentists are required to either be a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) or be a doctor of dental medicine (DMD). Passing national and state exams is also required to be licensed practitioners. You can verify dentists’ licensures and check complaints and disciplinary actions against them on the state dental boards’ websites. In addition, you may visit the clinic and inquire about where the dentist earned their degree and their years of experience. Many reputed dentists put their qualifications, awards, and conference/workshop participation certificates on display for patients to see.

4. Solution for the language barrier

Communication plays a significant role in any doctor-patient relationship. So, find a dentist in Bonita who speaks your primary language. If the dentist does not speak your primary language, they should be offering interpreter services.

5. Quality of equipment

Dental care technology and tools have grown by leaps and bounds, enabling the dentist to provide quality patient treatment. Ensure that you choose a dentist who uses newer, advanced dental equipment.

6. Availability to handle emergencies

Inquire about the dentist’s availability in case of dental emergencies.  Do they handle emergencies or refer emergency care elsewhere? What if an accident occurs outside office hours? You should have answers to these questions before zeroing in on a dentist.

7. Insurance acceptance

The cost of dental treatment varies from state to state and from one practice to another. To have the cost of your dental treatment covered,  find a dentist who is a part of your insurance provider’s network. It will help make the treatment expenses relatively affordable and minimize the possibility of a break in your treatment because of financial constraints. Insured prices vary based on the procedure and whether or not a dentist accepts the insurance. Whether a dentist is an in-network or an out-of-network provider also affects the cost of dental treatment with insurance. If you have no insurance, shortlist a few dentists in your area and compare the procedure price before choosing one.

8. Payment options

The pandemic has pushed digital payments forward almost everywhere, and dental practices are no different. Ask the dentist if they offer multiple payment options, including wallets, credit/debit cards, or payment plans. It will help do away with the need to carry cash whenever you visit the dentist.

9. Hygiene and management

Take a tour of the office to assess the cleanliness and management of the practice. Hygiene practices such as wearing gloves before the examination, a clean and spacious room for procedure, condition of the dentistry equipment, and waste disposal facilities hint at safety protocols being followed at a practice. With the pandemic still around, implementing state advisory-based mask mandates and disinfection of dental equipment are also decisive factors.

10. Trained staff

Nobody wants to interact with an overworked and a cranky nurse while coping with a toothache. Or a dental assistant who hands over the wrong dental tool to the dentist in the middle of a procedure. A courteous, understanding, and welcoming staff makes dental treatment a smooth experience. Therefore, schedule a visit to know how the dental team behaves with patients, whether they are child friendly,  the record-keeping methods, etc.

11. Patient’s reviews

Testimonials on the dentist’s website are not enough. All dentists do not allow mixed or negative reviews on their website, and a constructed positive image of a clinic might not be too helpful for you. So, check patient reviews on Google, Yelp, and similar platforms to know the quality of services offered at the practices you have shortlisted. You should also ask your friends or colleagues in the same area for recommendations.

12. Comfort level

Look for a dentist who makes you comfortable, listens to you, and shares a simplified explanation of the dental problem and procedure. For example, “your  front teeth meet, but teeth at the back do not” is easier to understand than “you have a posterior open bite that needs treatment.” A dentist who facilitates open communication is more likely to gain a patient’s trust, which is noteworthy for optimal dental care.

Searching for a dentist is no rocket science. However, it needs some level of awareness and proactive action. To get the best possible dental services, consider the factors above if you are finding a dentist in Bonita. Last, trust your gut instinct in addition to going by these tips.

Comments and queries are welcome!