Are you the kind of person who only thinks about the dentist when a tooth starts to ache?

If yes, you’re not doing your oral health, and indeed your overall health, any favors. If you’ve got a family, you’re putting your loved ones at risk too.

It’s time to put you and your family’s dental health first. This means finding a good dentist for your family. With over 186,000 dental practices in the United States, it can be challenging to find a good dentist.

That’s where we come in.

Continue reading to learn how to settle on the best dentist for your family’s needs.

Get Recommendations

In your local area, there are probably a handful of dental practices. If you’ve never visited them, it can be hard to rate the quality of their services. This is why the first step to finding a good dentist is to get recommendations from family and friends who live in your area.

There’s a good chance most of them use dental services, so you’re likely to get a couple of recommendations. Note down the name and contact details of those dentists or dental practices.

If you’re not able to get a recommendation, don’t give up. Go online and do a local search. Your search engine will return several results of the top-ranked dentists in your area. Pick about three practices.

If you’re particular about finding a dentist who follows a certain customer service principle, such as the Willow Creek way, search “Willow Creek Way dentist near me” and pick a couple of dentists from the top results.

Understand Your Family’s Dental Needs

Having a list of good dentists in your area won’t be of any value if you don’t have a good understanding of your family’s dental needs.

First, because you need a dentist for the whole family, you need a dentist or a dental practice that offers dental services for families. 

Second, do you have young kids? If yes, they will need to see a pediatric dentist. As such, you need to settle on a dental practice that offers both adult and pediatric dental services.

When you have a good grasp of what your family’s dental needs are, it’s easier to narrow down to one or two potential dentists.

Consider Your Finances

Dental services are costly. In fact, most Americans who don’t keep up with dental appointments do so because they can’t afford it.

On average, an adult dental checkup and cleaning can set you back anywhere from $150 to $250. So, if you have a family of three (your partner and one child), a single appointment can cost you about $1,000.

It’s for this reason you should consider your finances before choosing a dentist. If you’ll be paying in cash, for instance, you need to choose a dentist whose pricing falls within your financial range.

If you’ve got a dental insurance plan, you need to ensure your preferred dentist accepts your insurance.

Find a Good Dentist for Your Family

Taking care of you and your family’s dental care needs should be a priority. With this guide on how to find a good dentist, you’re in a better position to settle on a professional who will give your family the best service.

Keep reading our blog for more health tips and insights.