How to Select the Right Dental Office

Caring for your mouth takes a village—or, at least, an experienced dental office. Your at-home brushing and flossing routine is critical for long-term oral health… but so are regular visits to your dentist.

However, it’s not enough to go to just any dentist. You need the right dental office to meet your needs with superb bedside manners and organization. Selecting the right dental office for you can be intimidating, so we put together this guide to help you with your search.

If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact the always accommodating team at Bristol Dental Clinic.

Get Recommendations from Friends and Family

The best vote of confidence always comes from the people you already know and trust. Therefore, your first step in finding the right dental office should be asking friends and family for recommendations. You must get as much detailed information as possible. Simply asking if they like their dentist is not all that helpful.

Instead, ask about their dentist’s bedside manner, the technology they use, if their staff are friendly, and what types of procedures your friend or family member has had done with them. You want to understand why they like and trust their dentist. Their honest answers will let you know what to expect.

Your friends and family can also tell you which Mississauga dental offices to avoid. Their bad experience can serve as a warning to you.

Alternatively, you can ask your current dentist for recommendations for clinics in your new area. It is a great tip if the only reason why you’re switching dentists is because of a move.

Read Online Reviews

Online reviews are less reliable than personal referrals from your peers. However, they’re still incredibly valuable.

From personal experience, we all know that people are most likely to leave a review if they’ve had a really fantastic experience… or a really terrible one. Consequently, take online reviews with a grain of salt. They can paint a skewed picture of a dental office.

It should be one part of your research process, although any particularly horrifying reviews are a definite red flag!

Ask About Their Credentials, Experience, and Specialities

Next, it’s time to contact the dental office. You should ask about the dentists’ credentials, experience, and specialties.

They have attended dental school, but do they have any additional training or a specialty? How much continuing education do they take every year? How long have they been practicing?

Everyone must start somewhere, but that doesn’t mean you want a new dentist working in your mouth. Check for an experience level, expertise, and specialties that align with your needs.

Find Out What Services They Offer

You’ll know which services they offer by finding out what your new (potential) clinic specializes in. Nonetheless, it’s best to get specific. You want to know what treatments and procedures are available. Different dental clinics provide various dental services. They are not all the same.

For example, some clinics do not offer pediatric or family dental services. It means their team of general dentists focuses on adults exclusively. If your family includes younger members, looking for a clinic that offers family or pediatric dentistry is essential.

Cosmetic dentistry is another example. Although most clinics will offer some cosmetic procedures (as many are used in restorative treatments), they do not all specialize in this field. If you want more involved cosmetic procedures in the future, it’s best to choose a clinic that can accommodate you.

You should also inquire about emergency services. If something goes wrong, will your dentist be available? Or will you have to go elsewhere?

Inquire About Their Availability

Exactly how available are the dentists at the clinic? Are you in for a headache whenever you want to book an appointment, or will you be able to see your dentist relatively quickly? It is excellent information to have.

Good dentists tend to be in high demand with full schedules. However, the best dental clinics manage their bookings expertly, ensuring patients can make appointments with minimum hassle and maximum convenience. It speaks to the staff’s organizational skills as much as the skill set of the dentists!

Double-Check Their Location

Location isn’t everything. After all, many of us are happy to commute a little farther for the right fit! However, with traffic, gas prices, and your busy schedule, it’s still a good idea to take a closer look at the dental office’s location before you commit.

How far away is their location- and how much more will you have to pay for gas to get there? How much traffic should you expect? What’s the parking situation once you get there? Is there ample parking, or will you have to fight for a spot on the street?

Explore the Dental Office

If you can spare time, visiting the clinic you’re considering is helpful. Looks won’t tell you everything that you need to know. However, you may be able to spot some serious red flags.

Cleanliness, for example. The clinic should be immaculate, since an unclean workplace is a health hazard. If the office looks bright, clean, and well cared for, it’s a great sign.

Get to Know the Team

Many of your interactions with the clinic will be with their staff. Consequently, you want to know they are kind, compassionate, responsible, and organized. They should know their stuff and treat you with warmth and respect.

You can gauge a lot about a clinic simply by calling with some general questions. Ideally, the front desk staff should be attentive, happy to help and have no problem answering your questions.

Ask How They Handle Insurance

Dental procedures can be expensive, so you want to know how the clinic handles insurance. They should have processes and policies that make your interactions as smooth and streamlined as possible.

You never want to find yourself in a scenario where you must unexpectedly foot the bill for a costly treatment.

Visit Bristol Dental Offices in Mississauga

Bristol Dental Clinic provides family, cosmetic, specialty, and emergency dentistry services in Mississauga.

Our full-digital dental clinic is equipped with the latest technology, allowing us to deliver the highest dental care and comfort standards. We look forward to welcoming you to Bristol Dental!

To book an appointment in Mississauga, call Bristol Dental Clinic at 866-673-2109 or contact us here.