Healthy Smile: How Do I Pick A Dentist

by Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD of The Healthy Smile

I received a phone call from a friend out of state. His dentist just retired, and he was looking for a new person to take care of his family’s oral health. Since my last column discussed trust, I felt that this week a discussion regarding choice would be a good follow-up.

There are many avenues of approach to find the right dentist. I will try to simplify the thought process that we should follow when we start this search. Finding the right office is a challenge. Not every office is the right fit for everyone. Therefore, you have to find the office or person that offers you a comfort level. However, there is more than just a comfort level that needs to be part of your search. I will spend the rest of this column enumerating four crucial factors that should be part of your search process.

Private Practice: Finding a practitioner who owns his practice or is a partner in a practice gives you a firm idea of how the office runs. Unlike a large corporate setting in which an office manager controls the dentist, a private practice emphasizes personal care. Financial goals dictated by a group of shareholders are never part of a personalized practice.
Multiple Procedures: Whether a single dentist does a variety of procedures or a few dentists in the office perform them, staying in one spot is always preferable. It is always nice to have the same dentist who performs the root canal to follow up with a crown—doing dentistry in a manner such as this creates a very efficient workflow for everyone involved.
Modern Technology: When you visit a new or potentially new dentist, take a moment to look around. Does this office offer modern digital technology? Not everything new is necessarily better, but its presence speaks volumes about the dentist. However, there must be a balance between tried and true and cutting edge technology.
Listen to Your Friends: The best way to judge a new dentist is to hear what others say about him or her. Word of mouth referrals is a tried and true method. If your friend or a family member has a good experience, it is likely that so will you. If you don’t know anyone who comes to that office, try an online review. I know that some of my readers are computer shy. That’s okay. Just find a grandchild or other relative who can help you search for an online review. No one is perfect for everyone in every situation. That being said, finding someone who has many good online reviews with at least a four-plus rating will give you a good glimpse of what to expect during your visits.

We are starting a new year. All of us have our hopes and aspirations. We learned throughout 2020 that so many things are out of our control. Let me rephrase that last statement. Only a few things are in our control. Our health and specifically our oral health is on that small list. To my friend, use these few guidelines on your quest, and good luck. There are many good practitioners out there. For those local readers who need to find a new dentist, please give us a call at 440-892-1810. I would love to meet you.

Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is on the staff of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.

The Healthy Smile • 27239 Wolf Road, Bay Village, OH 44140 • 440-892-1810 • www.jeffreygrossdds.com