Your mouth and smile are huge parts of who you are and your appearance. In fact, it’s well known that people notice a person’s mouth first, and a survey by Philips Sonicare found that 47% of respondents noticed someone’s smile before anything else about them.
If that’s not reason enough to care for your pearly whites and embrace good dental hygiene, then what is? But seriously, trusting the care of your teeth with your dentist can help you preserve and maintain good oral health and keep those pearly whites looking good, as well as strong and healthy.
But how do you choose the right dentist for your oral care needs?
Reviews
When it comes to finding a new dentist, reviews are not just helpful; they’re your best friend. Whether you’ve moved to a new area, your dentist isn’t practising anymore, or you’re dissatisfied with your current care, reading online reviews from current or previous patients can guide you and provide the support you need to make an informed decision.
In addition to reading online reviews, talk to people you know, family, friends, co-workers, etc., and ask them about their dentist; this can help you determine where to start your search and what to avoid.
Services Provided
Checking the services provided by a dentist can be a great way to check if they practise what you need. Some practices only deliver preventative maintenance, others are cosmetic only, while others might practise both emergency dentistry and preventive care. The more you know about what they do i.e., whether they treat children or adults only, whether they provide orthodontic care too, or just standard dentistry services, the more you can use if they are right for you.
Check Out Socials
Don’t underestimate the power of social media in your search. Check if the dentists you’re considering have active social media profiles. You can even find a dentist on professional platforms like LinkedIn to gauge their professional status. The more they share, the more you’ll know about them and the more empowered and informed you’ll feel in choosing a dentist you can trust.
Visit The Practise
There’s no substitute for a personal visit when it comes to evaluating a dentist. By stepping into the practice and talking to the receptionist, you can get a feel for the atmosphere, the service, and the level of care provided. This hands-on approach can reassure you and give you the confidence to make an informed decision about your oral health.
Use The ADA
The ADA (Australian Dental Association) has a search function that lists all of the dentists in the country so you can pinpoint your search and find registered dentists in your area. Not only will this give you peace of mind that the dentist you are registered with is qualified, you can further verify this with the AHPRA, which is the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, but it can also cut down hours of research in finding dentists in the required area.
What do you think?