I’ve never really liked my current dentist, but it is always so expensive starting over. Plus, they all require x-rays and I don’t want to end up with countless x-rays and die of radiation poisoning in my search for a dentist. Any tips to make this easier? I don’t need any cosmetic work, but just because I want a general dentist doesn’t mean I don’t want one who is high quality and easy to deal with.

Kathleen

Dear Kathleen,

You have brought up some interesting points, the most important being that finding the best dentist for you varies from person to person.
Here are my recommendations for whenever someone is ready to find a better dentist.

Check their Websites

Your first step would be to see if the dentist has the services you need available. Some people, like yourself, don’t want any cosmetic procedures at all. You are just looking for a top-quality general dentist. Others would like just basic cosmetic services, like Invisalign or teeth whitening. Then, there are those who want the full cosmetic treatment. There are also people with specialized needs, like metal sensitivities, who need a metal-free dentist. Or maybe they suffer from TMJ Disorder and need a dentist with that training as well. I always recommend going through their website to see whether they do the procedures which will be important to you.

Check their Reviews

There are several great review sites available these days which can give you a decent picture of what to expect. Often people only post reviews when they are thrilled with service or they hate it. Either way, you’ll know. If there aren’t many reviews, it may mean they’re just average. Not so awesome people rave about them, but they don’t seem to mess anything up or behave rudely to patients either, so no one is unhappy with them.

Some great review sites to check are:

• Google Reviews
• Yelp!
• Facebook

Ask for a Complimentary Consultation

Some offices will let you come in and tour the office, meet the staff, and possibly even consult with the dentist to get a feel for their practice. They should be putting their best face forward, so if you’re not happy then, you certainly wouldn’t be happy on a regular basis there.

Best of luck to you in your search. One side note to put your mind at ease about your x-rays. These days, most dentists do digital x-rays. These are WAY less radiation than we used to get exposed to during regular film x-rays. You would have to be seeing several new dentists a day, every day to get enough radiation to even begin to be a problem. So, I wouldn’t be too worried about radiation poisoning.

This blog is brought to you by Decatur, AL Dentists Drs. Drake and Wallace.