Time for a Dental Appointment

There are few things worse than a toothache. Not having a regular dentist to call for an appointment is a close second. I am a dental hygienist who would like to offer some tips on finding a dental home. Why would you need tips, you may be thinking. Well, there seems to be a dental office on every corner these days. But not all dental offices are created equal.

So you wake up one day and realize it has been (fill in the blank) months or years since you have seen a dentist. What to do? Ask for recommendations, google, drive around until you find an open office?

My main tip is googling dentists in your area and reading the reviews. Reviews are so important in finding an office that will fit your needs. Now I understand, not every patient and office make a good fit, finding one or two less than stellar reviews need not discourage you from considering an office, five or six should. Pay close attention to any bad reviews regarding the front desk. They are the people who file your insurance and do the billing, they have to be on top of their game. A dentist can be an excellent clinician, but not have the best chair side manner. Sometimes, it is a trade-off. I also advise staying away from corporate or chain offices. I have found that money is the underlying theme in these offices and patient care is lost. The hours are usually very convenient, but if you walk out with a $5000 treatment plan, it may not be worth it to see an office because they have Saturday hours, and are open much later in the evening. With corporate offices, it is likely you will not see the same dentist for treatment each time you have an appointment. You will probably see a different hygienist for each 6-month recall appointment as well. One of the realities of a corporate office.

Ok, you have found a dentist close to your home or office, the hours seem convenient, they take your insurance, so you make an appointment. Most offices do set aside emergency appointments throughout the day, so you may not have to wait too long, If the appointment is for a regular cleaning and check-up, you may be waiting for a few weeks. A very good office will fill up these appointments for weeks ahead. But the day finally comes, so now what?

The day of your appointment come in at least 15 minutes early to fill out paperwork and really just look around. Watch how the staff interacts with each other and the other patients. Is the waiting room full, are patients being called back, is the waiting area clean?

Are the front desk personnel talking amongst themselves about personal things? I have no problem with personal conversations, but the whole office does not need to hear about someone's domestic problems, their politics, or their latest boyfriend.

When you are called back you should expect to have x-rays taken, a cleaning and exam by the doctor. Ask questions about anything you do not understand. If you have not seen a dentist in a few years, you may require a deeper cleaning or debridement, do not be timid about asking the price. The hygienist will be glad to ask the front desk to check your insurance benefits to make sure anything other than a normal cleaning will be covered, or if you will owe a portion of the charges. Please beware, some offices say deep cleaning just to make money. You can always decline if you really do not feel it is necessary. There are guidelines to go by, bone loss, pocketing around your teeth, bleeding, and inflamed gums. But there are offices that do deeper cleanings to make money. If you are given a treatment plan, the front desk should go over it with you, give you the prices, and can even file a pre-treatment estimate with your insurance company. That way you will have no monetary surprises. Also, if you are given flouride, please make sure you will either not be charged, or your insurance will cover it. Usually, fluoride costs around $36 a treatment. You can buy a bottle of fluoride rinse to use at home for about one-tenth of that price.

Some newer offices do offer discounts for first-time visits, I have seen them as low as $69, and for this, you get an exam, cleaning, and x-rays, which is a great deal if you do not have insurance. These deals work pretty well if you just need a cleaning, you realize it has been a year or so, and nothing is giving you any trouble in your mouth. It can get expensive if you need a crown or root canal. Check the financial policies of the office, do you have to pay all upfront, or can you make payments, usually you can break it into three payments, to be paid in full when treatment is completed.

My main tip for anyone in a medical or dental office is to ask questions, make sure you understand the treatment proposed, and remember, you can always get a second opinion. It is your mouth, your health, your right to ask questions, and be treated with respect and fairness. Because no dental office can stay in business without the patients who are paying for their services.

I hope these tips will help you when it is time to look for a dental home. There are wonderful offices that will fit well with your needs and likes, you may have to do a little dental shopping until you find it.