What to Look for in a Family Dentist

Choosing a dentist for you and your family is a major decision. You’re entrusting this person or this practice with a big part of your family’s health and well-being. And let’s face it: for a lot of folks out there, you’re trusting them with something you may be apprehensive about. This is not a decision to be made lightly. So just what should you look for in a family dentist?

Proper Specialization

While all dentists are trained in proper dental care, different practitioners are certified in different specialties. For example, a periodontist possesses specialized knowledge in proper gum and tissue care. When it comes to finding a family dentist, it’s a great idea to look for a pediatric dentist. These practitioners have received training on how to provide dental care to children.

The Right Setup for Your Family

Let’s face it, we’re all busier than we’d like to be. Choosing a dentist who makes you jump through hoops to get into the office or to get out on time will almost certainly ensure that you and your family won’t be able to stick to a proper dental checkup schedule. Do you need early morning or evening appointments? Do you need someone who’s available on weekends? Check reviews: Is the office you’re considering known for running behind, or do they have a good track record of getting people in and out when they say they will? Do they take your insurance?

A Reputation You Can Trust

In this day and age, no one goes in cold anymore. There are online reviews for everything and everyone, including dentists. This is a good starting place for your search. But there is a limitation to online reviews. While they’re good for turning up red flags and alerting you to the practitioners you should stay away from, they’re less useful when it comes to zeroing in on the dentist that’s right for your family. We always recommend that folks start their search online, but finish offline by talking to friends, relatives, and parents of other children. Who do they like? Why?

Someplace You Feel Comfortable

Once you have your information—you found someone with the right specialization, hours that work for you, and plenty of support from folks you trust—there’s one more thing to do: visit! Many providers will let you come in for an introductory appointment or checkup. This will help give you a feel for the office, the staff, and the dentist or dentists. After all, you don’t just want someone qualified, you want someone who you can trust. You need to find a dentist who you feel comfortable asking questions of, and who explains things in a manner that’s right for you.

Ease of Scheduling

Regular dental appointments occur every six months, so they’re easy to schedule well in advance. But they’re also easy to forget about when they’re scheduled so far in advance. And even if you keep them top of mind, life happens. Try to make sure the dentist you choose is flexible enough that a missed appointment doesn’t mean a several-month delay. Regular checkups are the backbone of dental health, and you want a practitioner who will help you keep on track. If you’re searching for a family dentist in the Deerfield, IL area, we humbly recommend that you check out Smile On Dental Salon & Sleep Apnea Center. Give us a call today at 224-267-8142 to make an appointment.