We recently published a post detailing exactly when and where the time comes to accept your dentist isn’t the best in the business and find yourself another. In order to balance this out, we thought it was also important to look at things from the exact opposite perspective. Or in other words, how to determine whether your chosen dentist really is one of the best in the business.
When looking out for the best interests of yourself and your family, you will constantly be questioning the important decisions you make – one of which being which dentist to trust with your business. More often than not, people find themselves instinctively using the same dentist for decades on end, without actually considering whether or not they are being provided with the best possible care. It’s comparatively rare to come across a genuinely dodgy dentist, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t important to be proactive when it comes to the choices you make.
So to look at things from a more positive standpoint, what follows is a quick ten-point checklist to help you determine if your own dentist really is one of the best:
1 – They Genuinely Listen To You
First of all, there’s a big difference between a dentist that hears what you say and a dentist that actively listens to you. The difference being that in the case of the latter, the dentist in question will take on board and carefully consider absolutely everything you say, in order to tailor the advice provided and treatments suggested accordingly. If you can honestly say that your dentist is a fantastic listener and shows real interest in everything you say, chances are you have found yourself one of the good ones!
2 – They Provide Valuable Information
Another important characteristic of a truly outstanding dentist is a commitment to educating and assisting the patient on every aspect of oral health. What this doesn’t mean is carrying out an inspection, telling you the result and showing you to the door. Instead, it means educating patients on positive oral hygiene habits, options for procedures and treatments they may not be aware of and so on. It also means that if you want to ask your dentist what’s the best toothpaste on the market for whiter teeth or how to get the kids interested in flossing, they’ll always offer a genuine, intelligent and helpful answer.
3 – They Demonstrate Excellent Punctuality
There will always be instances where the unexpected occurs and you are forced to wait longer than normal to be called in for your appointment. However, when you are constantly left waiting beyond your appointment time, this demonstrates a lack of professionalism and little regard for the patient’s time. As such, if you have found yourself working with a dentist that demonstrates excellent punctuality on a consistent basis, it’s nothing but a positive sign with regard to their professionalism in general.
4 – They Have an Immaculate Office
As far as leading dental professionals are concerned, one of the most immediate signs of a reputable and responsible dentist is an absolutely immaculate office. This includes every part of the building; from the moment you walk in to the moment you leave. From the entrance area to the office itself to the public bathrooms provided, the cleaner and more orderly the place is in general, the more likely it is that the dentist is a genuine and committed professional. By contrast, untidy and unhygienic dentist surgeries should be avoided at all costs.
5 – They Don’t Try and Sell You What You Don’t Need
There’s a very big and important difference between a dentist and a salesman – the only problem being that some take the position of both. In many instances, there will be a variety of treatment options available to you with extremely different price points. They should always be brought to your attention to give you maximum freedom of choice, but the moment you say ‘no’ to any given option, your dentist should not in any way try to sway your opinion. Professional dentists are respectful when it comes to the spending decisions and budgets of their patients and should never try to sell them what they do not want or need.
6 – They Remember You
Considering the fact that your dentist probably sees hundreds of very different patients, the fact that they remember you each and every time you visit really is something impressive. For a dentist to remember who you are and the specifics of your oral health history demonstrates that they have taken a genuine interest in you and the care they provide for you. You cannot expect them to know you inside and out without forgetting a few things here and there, but still – it’s both reassuring and nice in general to be remembered!
7 – They Treat Other Staff Members Well
Another hallmark of the genuine professional is a dentist that clearly has nothing but respect for all other members of the workforce. It should be pretty obvious whether or not this is the case when you see them interacting with those around them. If there is a genuinely pleasant atmosphere about the office and morale is high, this is nothing but a positive sign to take comfort from.
8 – They Acknowledge Your Nerves
Whether slightly apprehensive or downright terrified of the dentist, any care provider worthy of your business should be comprehensively respectful and understanding. If they clearly work hard to make you as comfortable as possible and keep you in control at all times, they could well be a keeper!
9 – They Make You Feel Comfortable
While professionalism is of key importance, so too is ensuring that the whole experience doesn’t come off as overly formal, stuffy and intimidating. It’s important for a good dentist to remain professional, but it’s just as crucial for you to be 100% comfortable, relaxed and ideally happy in their presence.
10 – They’re Great with Kids
Last but not least, while some dentists will genuinely try their best to be friendly but still scare kids to death, others get on with younger patients like a house on fire. If you and the kids alike have developed a genuine rapport with the family dentist, it might well be a dentist that’s worth hanging onto long term!
