Finding a great dentist is much like finding a trusted doctor or contractor. Once you find someone you like, you want to stay with them for the rest of your life. You can deepen your trust over time and feel confident that they are guiding you correctly.
I think there are three things you should look for when choosing a dentist. It all starts with a comfortable environment, reasonable prices, and experience.
Attractive Dental Office
Just a few days ago, I walked into an emergency medical clinic, and I turned right around, and got out of there. I have no idea if the doctor or staff were good because they overall office design was run down and felt very unfriendly.
At Thrive Dental and Orthodontics, we design all of our offices to feel like home. We know that coming to the dentist is not want people commonly want to do in their free time, so we ensure they feel as comfortable as possible.
It’s important to have a beautiful environment that makes everyone feel calm and relaxed. These days there is no need for anyone to go to a dental office with a sliding window near the check-in counter or a completely sterile feel.
It does not matter if you have the best insurance in the world or have no insurance, there is no need to go to an office that does not feel like a home.
You can easily go on Google or on a dentist’s website to see what the interior feel is like. It should be relatively modern and look like the dental office planners took time to think of patients’ needs, not just having a blank, sad office.
Affordable Dental Prices
Dentistry should be affordable for everyone. That is a common mission that we have at Thrive, and we try to achieve this to the best of our ability.
If you have PPO insurance of pretty much any sort, you know you will get an outstanding deal and service at our office. There is no need for any patient to go to a dental office where the dentist is not in the network.
What’s the difference between being in-network vs. out of network? When a dentist is in-network, this means they have contracted with the insurance company to provide a service at a specific rate. When a dentist is out of network, they do not have a contract with that insurance company, and they can charge whatever they feel is reasonable.
Also, most dental offices should be able to offer you a monthly payment plan that works within your budget. There are various in-office plans and services, such as CareCredit, that allow you to extend payment plans for many months.
Dental Companies with Experience
When trying to find a dentist near you, you should find a dental office with experience. Having dentists with experience is important, but equally important is having a company and team that has been around for years that understands how to provide excellent dental care.
So much is involved in providing great customer service, and it is very hard for newly formed dental offices to obtain high service levels.
Services you should expect from your dental provider are:
- Online booking so that you do not have to call in unless you want to.
- Billing is completed by the dental office, so you do not have to spend endless time trying to file dental claims by yourself. The dental office should also be very organized and send claims out on time.
- Efficient scheduling is necessary because your time is valuable, and you do not want to wait at every appointment.
Conclusion
When searching for a dentist in make sure to check for a great-looking office, with affordable pricing and an experienced team to make your checkup as smooth as possible.
