For millions of people, the idea of visiting the dentist really is about as horrific as it gets. But the only thing worse than visiting the dentist as a nervous patient is getting the idea that the dentist you’re dealing with isn’t exactly a beacon of professionalism. Dodgy dentists are the kinds of things you’d expect to encounter in a movie perhaps, though not in real life.
On the plus side, the overwhelming majority of dentists are indeed consummate professionals. It’s comparatively rare to come across a dentist that’s in any way substandard and even if you do, you really just need to know when to walk away.
So with this in mind, what follows is an introduction to a few of the red-flag warning signs that while there’s no need to panic, you probably should consider finding yourself a new dentist immediately:
1 – They Don’t Ask For Your Dental Records
First of all, the day you get started with a new dentist is the day that said dentist should ask for your existing dental records While they will of course want to carry out their own examination and come to their own conclusions, it is of critical importance for dentists to be aware of your dental health history. The reason being that dental problems usually tend to be progressive and it is the way in which changes can be noted over time that can help dentists pinpoint problems. As such, if they do not ask for your existing dental records and show no interest in your dental history, this isn’t exactly a good starting point.
2 – They Don’t Offer Helpful Advice
While treating oral health problems represents an important responsibility for the dentist, offering helpful advice and guidance is just as crucial – perhaps even more so. You should be able to ask your dentist anything – what is the very best electric toothbrush for sensitive teeth? How can the best water flosser of 2016 improve my oral health? What should I do and not do if looking to whiten my teeth at home? They are there to provide the kind of advice that can make a big difference to your oral health, not to mention that of your family. If they do not offer it, you might as well spend your money elsewhere.
3 – They Use Dated Equipment
It’s pretty important that upon walking into the dentist’s office, you do not get the feeling that they’re using the kind of equipment that would be better suited to a museum. From the chair to the tools to everything else around you, anything but the most advanced state of the art equipment available should be considered entirely unacceptable. Use of dated equipment tells you either that the dentist is not successful enough to invest in quality hardware, or that they have little regard for the quality of the services they provide.
4 – Hygiene Concerns
There’s really no such thing as being too hygienic when it comes to healthcare environments. Which is precisely why you should easily be able to see the strictest of hygiene standards and practices going on all around you at all times. Frequent changing of disposable gloves, use of hand sanitiser and never touching anything else before getting to grips with the examination. As even the slightest hygiene oversights can result in huge problems, they really should not be overlooked.
5 – They Don’t Carry Out Oral Cancer Checks
Technically speaking, you really should not have to ask your dentist to carry out an oral cancer check. Instead, this should be something they do as standard each and every time you attend for a six-monthly check-up. It’s important that such screenings be carried out by a professional as not only may you not know what it is you are looking for, but there are areas of your mouth you would not be able to check properly without outside help. As such, it’s a good idea to ask your dentist whether this is something they are doing as standard with each check-up.
6 – They Insist Extensive Work Is Needed
If you have been seeing the same dentist for years and yet immediately upon moving to a new dentist it is suggested that you have extensive work carried out, you really need to get a second opinion. The reason being that while it is perfectly possible that the dentist you used to visit failed to pick up on something important, there is also the chance that your new dentist may simply be looking to cash in on a new patient. It’s not a case of being unnecessarily sceptical, but rather looking after your own interests and wellbeing. For the sake of your pocket and your wellbeing in general, always seek second opinions when unsure.
7 – They Can’t Provide Evidence
In the case of orthodontists in particular, these are the kinds of professionals that should and usually do showcase their success stories to date, as a means by which to win over new customers. As such, if you find yourself working with a dentist that promises outstanding results of any kind, it is not too much to ask them to provide evidence to support their claims. If they cannot provide evidence of success stories, there’s every chance they do not have any to speak of!
8 – They Don’t Care About Your Phobia
A quick point but an important point nonetheless – never work with a dentist that doesn’t show total sensitivity and empathy to your apprehensions. This always has been and always will be an immediate sign of a total lack of professionalism and a dentist you want nothing to do with.
9 – No Fixed Prices
Whatever it is you decide to go ahead with by way of essential and optional treatments, each and every service carried out by the dentist should have a fixed price. Which in turn means that before you go ahead, you should be offered a concrete price that will not change under any circumstances. As such, if you are provided with a rough quotation or the dentist is not willing to agree to an exact price prior to going ahead, the best advice is not to go ahead at all!
10 – Pain And Discomfort
Last but not least, if it seems fundamentally impossible for your dentist to do anything at all without causing significant pain and discomfort, this is not a dentist you should be bringing your business to. These days, advances in both technology and dental procedures in general have resulted in an era where excessive pain and discomfort in the dentist’s chair have been all but eliminated. Which means that if this isn’t the case with the dentist you’ve chosen, you’ve clearly chosen a dentist as outdated as their methods!
