When choosing a dentist to start visiting it is important to consider certain aspects of what it is you should be looking for. Just like any doctor, you do not want to jump around from one place to the next, but should want to find someone you can stick with long term so that the doctor will become familiar with you and your medical history. When deciding to embark on any long term relationship you must consider whether you feel comfortable with that person and also whether you can afford to enter into this commitment. It is important to note that the most expensive dentist is not always the best, but that does not mean you should go to the cheapest. You must make sure you know what you are paying for when you choose a dentist and in that way decide if he or she is right for you.

Choosing a Dental Specialist

When choosing a top dentist it is important to inquire whether the dentist is a board certified dentist by the American Dental Association. To become certified the dentist must have past an examination in one of the eight specialties recognized by the Association. These specialties are:

• Dental Public Health: The prevention and control of dental diseases in a community
• Endodontics: Root Canal Therapy
• Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology: Diagnosis of tumors of diseases in the area of the head or neck
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: Tooth extractions, treatments of diseases through surgery
• Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: Diagnosis and modification of tooth abnormalities and facial distortions
• Pediatric Dentistry
• Periodontics: Diseases in the gums and related areas
• Prosthodontics: The use of crowns, bridges, and dentures

Make sure to ask your dentist which specialty examination and specialty he passed to see if he is really a board certified dentist.

Equipment and Services

Positive Signs in a local dentist you are considering making your permanent doctor are:

• The dentist takes a personal interest in his or her patients and their health
• The use of x-ray films
• Suggestion of Full-mouth study
• Oral Cancer screenings are available
• The dentist checks for improper jaw alignment and any asymmetry
• Checking to see if there is any evidence of tooth grinding
• A thorough examination of the teeth, gums, tongue, lips, inside of cheek, palate, and the skin of the face and neck
• The use of a periodontal probe in adult patients to check for large crevices between the gums and teeth
• Whether the dentist customizes his care for his individual patients
• If the dentist’s work lasts a very long time it is a good sign.
• The amount of time spent on your treatment. Good quality work takes meticulous attention
• The number of options available if a course of treatment is required
• Sedation options

Questions to Ask Yourself

When you are looking for a dentist it is very important to find a dentist you can trust and makes you feel comfortable when you sit in the chair. If you are usually anxious about visiting a dentist, especially a new one, schedule an appointment in which you can get acquainted with the doctor and see if his demeanor and professionalism is right for you. Consumers Research has listed these questions as optional and additional ways to judge the skill of the dentist after you have received treatment. Ask yourself:

• How does my bite feel?
• Is the work irritating my gums?
• Does the tooth still look like a tooth?
• Does dental floss or my tongue get caught in my tooth?
• Did the dentist polish my filling?
• Any feeling of pain when drinking hot/cold liquid?
• Any leftover debris left in my mouth?
• Was a water spray used in my treatment during drilling to cool my teeth?

If finding a dentist that matches all these requirements been problematic and stressful try going online to a dentist directory, where you can see what dentists in your vicinity offer the treatment and payment plans that suit you.