How to Select a New Dentist

When you’re looking for a new dentist, the choice can be overwhelming. Where do you start looking? How do you know if a dentist is qualified? There are many factors you might consider when searching for the right dentist, including experience and the number of services they offer.  Above all, you’re looking for a dentist you can entrust with your health.  Explore the guide below for ideas on how to find a dental practice that fits your needs.

Getting Started

First, gather a list of dentists that are located in your area. Ideally, your dentist will be easy to travel to and have office hours that work with your schedule. Take a look at their website or give them a call to learn more about their services and specialists. There are a few questions you should ask during your search:

• What are the dentists credentials? Are they a member of the American Dental Association (ADA)? How long have they been practicing?
• What sort of services does this practice cover? Will they be able to help you with dental concerns beyond hygiene (i.e. jaw pain, braces, implants)? They may not have everything, but a good practice will offer a variety of services.
• Does this practice accept your dental insurance? What sort of coverage will you receive, and how much should you expect to pay for an average visit?

Investigating these basics can start to narrow down the number of candidates. If the dental practice doesn’t offer clear information online or you have difficulty contacting their office, remove that one from your list. A good dentist will communicate clearly and effectively to their patients.

Reviews and Local Impact

Looking through reviews can also provide insight into which dental practice is right for you. Their websitemay have a page for reviews, or you can search for the practice on Yelp or Google Maps. At Stanley Dentistry, we ask our patients to leave reviews on Google Maps so we can improve and so potential patients can read feedback on our practice from peers. You may also find recommendations from other sources beyond the internet. Ask your friends and co-workers which dentist they use, and you can learn which practices are popular in the area. Local magazines are another helpful source – Cary Magazine, for instance, has often featured Stanley Dentistry as a top practice in Western Wake County, North Carolina. The magazine hosts yearly MAGGY awards for local services, restaurants, and shopping, and the winners are chosen by popular vote. We’re thankful that our patients have voted for us to win several MAGGY awards over the years. Your local media outlets may offer similar awards or lists of top-ranked practices in your area.

Meet Your Candidates

Once you have only a few potential dental practices left on your list, it may be useful to visit each one in person to make the final choice. This way, you can personally meet the specialists who will be taking care of your health. You can also ask questions that are more specific to your needs—for instance, if you have a particular health concern that isn’t discussed on their website.

At Stanley Dentistry, we don’t want a dental visit to be something you dread. We work with patients to help ease their anxiety and we strive to make our office a welcoming and comfortable place. When you are looking for a new dentist, be mindful of the atmosphere of
the office and the attitude of the staff. You may need to visit a few practices to find the right fit, but a good dentist is worth the time.

If you’re currently looking for a new dentist near Cary, North Carolina, we would love to have you as a patient. Please call us at 919.460.9665 and we can set you up with an appointment or tell you more about our practice.