How Winter Illnesses Affect Tooth Health
It's everyone's least favorite part about this time of year. No, not the cold weather; we're talking about the cold season. As the temperatures drop and the winter season sets...
Whether you’ve just moved cross-country or to a different city close by, there are a lot of tasks to accomplish. From renting moving trucks to changing your address, there is certainly a lot to do. Once the boxes have been unpacked, and your family starts to settle in, the next step is to find new health care providers for everyone in your new home.
Finding a new dentist in an unfamiliar area may feel daunting, but we have a few helpful tips to ensure you find the perfect fit after a big move.
Ask For Recommendations
One of the easiest ways to find the right dentist in a new place is to ask new acquaintances for a recommendation. Asking neighbors, other parents or new friends about the dentist they use is a great place to start. You can also utilize a new relationship with a family doctor or pediatrician to find recommendations.
Check for ADA-Certified Providers
The American Dental Association requires certified dentists to abide by specific codes of ethics and professional conduct when interacting with patients. Because of this, the ADA website database is a great place to start when searching for a trustworthy, skilled dentist in a new area. You can find ADA-certified dentists across the country by using the ADA Find a Dentist tool.
Review The Provided Services Page on Websites
The best place to check the services a dental office provides is by looking at their website. Most dentists offer general dentistry services, while others specialize in a particular area. For example, if you are looking to straighten your smile with Invisalign soon, choosing a dentist that offers this service in-office may be a better fit than an office that doesn’t.
Call and Ask Questions
A quick phone call can help you determine if a dentist will be right for your family. Prepare a few questions ahead of time and call a few offices you’re considering. Common questions to ask include how long they’ve been in business, what their specialties are, how long the wait time is for an appointment, and what type of dental insurance they accept. Asking the same questions to a few different offices should give you a strong feeling of which interactions you enjoyed.
Schedule a Consultation
Once you’ve narrowed your list down to one or two dental offices, scheduling a time to go into the office and meet with the staff is a great next step. An office’s waiting room should appear clean and neat, and the office staff should be friendly and approachable. When you speak with the dentist, ask any questions you still have about the office. Allowing your child to interact with the dentist is a great way to help your child feel comfortable in a new surrounding.
Re-Evaluate If Necessary
Once you feel like you’ve found a great new dental office for your family, schedule cleanings and exams. This is a necessary step in ensuring you’ve made the right choice in finding a new dentist. During a routine cleaning, you can see how the staff interacts with you during a service. A routine exam will allow you to talk with your new dentist and see first hand how they care for their patients.
Your first interactions with a new dentist and the office staff are essential. If you ever feel as if the dentist or staff are not listening to your concerns during your appointment, or if you do not feel valued as a patient, it may be time to re-evaluate.
Choosing a dentist shouldn’t be done lightly. If you’re new to the Marrero area, contact Aubrey Baudean DDS today to learn more about our office and the services we provide. We look forward to meeting you!
