If you have children, one of the most important elements of finding a family dentist is finding one that will accommodate the adults as well as the children. Finding a dentist for your whole family is important because it gives your provider a good picture of your family’s overall dental health. Experts agree that the sooner your little ones begin a dental regimen and start visiting the dentist, the better. If your whole family goes to the same dentist, your provider can keep tabs on patterns of care or genetic dental issues that might be happening in your household.
But finding a dentist who can handle your whole family may be hard than you think. Many dentists claim that they are a “family dentist,” but are they really? Here are 4 questions to ask that will help you find a true family dentist.
- Does the dentist work well with children? When in doubt…ask. Some dentists are very transparent and will tell you they don’t like working with children. Simply asking makes it easy to continue your search. Find out exactly how the dentist relates with children–do they give a “goody bag” at the end of the visit? Do they have fun kid-friendly toothpaste and fluoride flavors? Do they have fun things for the kids to play with or look at or read in the waiting room?
- How accommodating is the staff? Is the staff able to work your whole family into the same day, so that your semi-annual dentist appointments are streamlined? Do they pay attention to and interact with your children, as well as with you? Do they act annoyed by the commotion your family may cause, or are they understanding? In short, you’ll want to make sure that the staff are not just friendly with you, but also with your children.
- What credentials does the dentist’s office have? Do some digging and check out your potential dentist’s credentials, as well as the credentials of their staff. This will help you see what kind of experience they have, and give you a well-rounded picture of the dentist’s history.
- What does the dentist’s website say? Poke around the practice’s website. If they use language like “dental care for the whole family” or include a section on pediatric dentistry, or something similar, they are more likely to be accommodating. This could help to narrow your list. If the particular dentist does not work well with children, their website is not likely to use these types of phrases. It may be helpful in finding a family dentist to see if their website promotes them as a dentist for families.
- What do your friends say? Ask around. Who do the other families in your life recommend? Gathering the opinions of your friends can be invaluable when trying to find a family dentist. Ask, and I’m sure you will get some great feedback. This can help you eliminate the not-so-family-friendly dentists in your area, and could help you find that gem-of-a-dentist that you’ve been seeking. When you find someone who loves their dentist enough to take their whole family to their practice, it’s worth checking them out.
Establishing and keeping a relationship with a dentist near me, will only help to make your whole family at ease, and make it easier for all of you to maintain the health of your teeth. A dentist who is great with your family as a whole helps to simplify your life by streamlining your family’s dental care and gives your dentist a glimpse into your family’s dental health history.