A great dentist is crucial in the oral health journey, and finding one can be challenging. The reason for looking for one can be anything: you’ve moved cities, your dentist has retired, the employer has switched dental care plans, or the current one no longer meets your requirements. Finding the right dentist can be easier with some help, so here are some tips below on finding the best dentist for you and your family’s needs.

Search the database
There are several dental societies that you can follow locally, nationally, or even internationally. If you are looking to switch dentists or find a new one, all you have to do is look at the database of one of these dental societies. These societies have all the information on the dentists that are members, and you can easily read up about their work and how to get in touch with them.

Some of the organizations that you can explore include the following:

• American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine
• Academy of General Dentistry
• American Academy for Oral and Systemic Health
• International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology
• American Dental Association

If any other local organizations are well-known, you can also check with them. One of the benefits of choosing someone from a well-known organization is that this gives them added credibility for their work.

Review the dental insurance network
Another database to check is your dental insurance network. There will be a list of dentists who have agreed to work with your insurance network, so you can quickly check their availability and skills with them. Dentists who usually work with an insurance network charge a lower fee than other dentists who are not part of the network. This does not indicate their skill level but may simply mean that the dentist is willing to reach a larger crowd that is otherwise not accessible to them.

Ask lots of questions
An easy way to know more about your dentist is to simply ask them questions. Do not be shy to go with a list of your queries.

• How can I prevent gum disease?
• What should my oral hygiene routine be like?
• Do I need to brush after eating meat?
• How often should I have an oral exam and cleaning?
• How can I keep my teeth whiter?
• What dental treatments do I need?
• Any management tips for my oral health?
• Am I grinding my teeth?
• How is my nutrition affecting my teeth? Do I need to make any changes?
• Any side effects to the treatment I have to go through?
• How can I be better prepared for the treatment?

These questions will help you understand how your dentist can explain complex oral health issues in the most simple manner possible. If you notice your dentist can answer your queries in a calm and composed manner, you know you can rely on them for any queries in the future.

Check credentials
When consulting with your dentist, you can also ask them for their credentials. If you’re wondering if dentists should be board-certified, the answer is yes. Double-check their board certification and state license to ensure they are qualified. This ensures that they have completed their training and have put in the required hours to diagnose and treat you for any oral conditions.

When they are part of a board, checking their work history is convenient. Ensure that you check that there is no history of work malpractice and no disciplinary actions pending against the doctor. A transparent work history will help you make an informed decision about whether you would like to go ahead with them.

Check fees and insurance networks
While consulting the dentist, also check their fees. If they are not in your insurance network, a dentist’s fee can vary depending on location, logistical costs, and experience. So always check with them about their fee and see if it suits your budget. You can also ask them if you can get your insurance network’s subsidized fee if they are willing to become a part of it and write off the remaining amount. There are some technicalities to the appointments, but you can speak to your insurance network to better understand them.

Also, check how far they are from your home and how long you can get there. Notice how easy or difficult it is to get appointments through the staff, and if they are flexible and communicative enough. While these are minute details, they matter a lot, especially if you plan on keeping a dentist for the long term.