It can be hard to work up the courage to visit the dentist. It can be even more difficult to decide which of the many contacts in the phone book to go to. Although there is no perfect dentist for every person, knowing what their needs are and what to look for in a good dentist can help you decide which one is right for you.
Dentists must be licensed and have one of two equivalent doctoral degrees: a doctor of dental surgery (DDS) degree or a doctor of dental medicine (DMD) degree. Dentists must complete two years of pre-dental college work followed by four years of dental school. However, most dental students have a bachelor’s degree. Because of all the training required to become a dentist and the costs associated with that, there are many dentists who are driven more for the money they can earn than for the quality of work they can produce and the health of their patients.
There are some specific things to look for in a dentist to determine if he / she cares about your health and your best interests. Some of the things that should be characteristics of a good dentist are:
o Show a genuine interest in you and your health.
o They focus a lot on prevention.
o They take X-rays unless their previous dentist has provided them with the proper films.
o They perform a complete dental exam that includes inspection of the teeth, gums, tongue, lips, the inside of the cheeks, the roof of the mouth, and the skin of the face and neck. This also includes a sensation of the neck for abnormal lymph nodes and an enlarged thyroid gland. In adults, a periodontal probe should be inserted between the gums and teeth to detect abnormally large cracks.
o Record their findings in detail.
o They send you reminders to let you know when your next appointment is.
o They take the time to make sure the work is done correctly and that meticulous attention is paid to the details of their dental work. Dental work should not be done as if it were part of an assembly line, rather every situation is different and should be treated as such. Remember that high-quality dental work will last a long time, while low-quality work can fall out or deteriorate within a few years.
Regular checkups are the key to preventive oral hygiene. Everyone should undergo routine dental cleanings, bite evaluations, periodontal exams, early interventions, and fluoride treatments to avoid costly repairs. Depending on your specific situation, you may need more frequent maintenance than the average person. For example, if your evaluation determines that you have cavities, you may need to schedule appointments over the next several months to treat them. However, once your treatment is complete, your dentist must place you on a recall program so that you will be notified when your next checkup is due, usually every six months.
Make sure you know what results you want to see before embarking on any treatment. This will help you determine if you like your dentist and his job. Also, consider treatment options, because there may be more than one way to achieve a goal.
Along with the things to look for in a good dentist, there are also warning signs of things to look out for in a poor dentist or poor dental practices. Although these signs may not indicate that a dentist is in the wrong, they are things that you will want to examine before committing to any type of treatment. Some of these include:
o Extravagant advertising. This may mean an emphasis on mass production rather than quality care.
o Advertising that emphasizes cosmetic dentistry or comprehensive one-visit treatments too much, because they may not be interested in long-term maintenance care that does not generate high income.
o Low fees charged for service can sometimes mean that the amount of services provided is high, resulting in a higher overall cost.
In short, make sure you know what is really important to your dentist. The best dentists are concerned about your dental health, not about making a quick buck from you.