Things To Consider When Selecting A Family Dentistry

The dental treatments needed for proper oral health are constantly evolving from infancy to adulthood. Each stage of life comes with its own dental needs and challenges. Family dentistry is a practice that goes beyond general dental health to meet those needs. A family dentist has the training to provide treatment for individuals of any age.

Finding the right family dentist means not just finding someone that works well for you but your spouse and children as well. Whether you’re a new parent or have children in their teens, you want to make sure your family dentist can meet all of your long-term needs.

It can be stressful trying to select the best family dentist for you. We’ve created a guide outlining the most important things to consider to help make this decision easier on you and your loved ones. 

Experience 

The first thing to consider is the family dentistry experience. How long have they been practicing family dentistry? What are their education, qualifications, and certifications? Selecting the right dentist for you should give you peace of mind. 

Exploring their website beforehand will also give you an idea of their accomplishments and qualifications. Many websites also have a section to meet their team or an “About Us” page. Here, you’ll see if they have any awards or honors and learn the history of their practice. 

Another option is to ask an office questions about their experience treating families.

If you cannot get a concrete answer on their experience either through their website or by speaking to their office directly, you should continue your search. You don’t have to settle for the first family dentistry you come across just because it’s convenient. Find a practice with the experience your family deserves.

Comforting Environment

It’s normal for children to feel nervous about their first dentist appointment. A quality family dentistry will have a warm, welcoming environment where your family can feel comfortable. 

Visiting the dental office is a great way to gauge the atmosphere. Are the staff helpful and excited to greet you when you enter? Does the waiting room have books or activities for children? From the moment you walk through their doors, their office should help your children feel at ease. 

Even if your child is anxious at first, the right family dentistry will help alleviate their worries over time. A family dentist needs to be friendly and kind, so your child’s appointments aren’t something they dread with every visit. Remember, this is someone you’ll all be seeing for years to come. Make sure their personality meshes with your entire family. They should treat you like a person, not just a patient. 

Featured Services

Dental health is a lot more than just the occasional cleaning. When choosing your family dentistry, you need to know what specific services they provide. Not all practices offer the same procedures. Ideally, you want to find a dentist’s office that offers as many services as possible in one location. This will save you precious time, money, and energy if you don’t need referrals to other specialists for specific treatments they don’t offer.

You should also be thinking ahead for future treatments you or your family might need. Do they offer braces or Invisalign? If so, what treatment plans are available? Are they specialized in oral surgery, should you need it? The last thing you want is to have to find a new practice down the road because you assumed they offered all the services you need.

Emergency procedures are critical as well. Many dental emergencies require immediate care. Choose a family dentistry that has emergency services in place so you can rest easy knowing they will be there when you need them most. 

Customer Reviews

Browsing a dentist’s office website for certifications and accolades is helpful, but the best indicator of a high-quality practice is the customers themselves. Give yourself ample time to research what customers say about their practice. Some practices will include testimonials, but it’s also a good idea to look at Google reviews.

There are already many families just like yours who have experience with their office. What do customers generally think of their family dentistry? Do they find them helpful and friendly? Are each of their family members getting the same quality of care? 

Keep an eye out for negative reviews bringing up similar concerns. If there’s a trend of particular issues being mentioned, you shouldn’t expect any difference during your visits. If you have specific concerns for you or your family, check if anyone else has mentioned them in the reviews. For example, if you’re concerned about flexible scheduling, you can gauge how well a practice handles it based on prior customer experiences.

The more five-star reviews, the better. It not only means customers were satisfied with their experience, but that they were pleased enough that they want others to experience that same level of care. 

Cost & Insurance

The cost of dental treatment will change from practice to practice. Speak to their office directly about the cost of treatment and whether they offer any family plans. You should also be aware of their insurance policies. Some family dentist practices may accept your insurance, but it might only cover specific procedures or services. 

Make sure you are thinking of your family’s future when weighing the costs as well. Are you expecting long-term care such as braces? You’ll need to factor these costs into your budget. 

Your family dentistry must be transparent about costs. Before enrolling in any plans, you should know the exact prices, what services are included, and what insurance they accept. If their practice isn’t clear in communicating cost, you should move on and find a new family dentistry.

Comprehensive Care For Your Whole Family

It’s tough finding a family dentistry that meets all of your needs while working around busy schedules. Great Expressions provides compassionate care with flexible scheduling so you can rest easy knowing your family is in good hands. Contact us today to learn more about our wide variety of dental services and plans!