How To Find Great Dentist

A doctor in mask and glasses works on a patient.

What should y'all look for in a dentist?

That'due south the question we posed to nearly 30 dental professionals. While Spear Assimilate usually focuses on topics of interest to dentists, this time nosotros decided to leverage our connections with some of the best of the best in dentistry to help patients find a do that is right for them. Why? If a patient uses these tips, they will observe a practice that best fits their needs and values, and the dentist will go a patient who best fits their practice. Both volition be happier in the long run. And isn't that what we all want? A little more happiness?

If you detect some tips we might have missed, please allow us know in the comments. With patients and dentists working together, nosotros can truly accomplish Great Dentistry.

Tips to follow when looking for a dentist

These 15 different tips were compiled from nearly thirty dissimilar dental professionals who shared what patients should look for when finding a new dentist.

Here is a quick glance at our findings:

xi of the 29 dental professionals recommended finding dentists who made continuing education a priority.
10 said trust is the key gene when looking for a new dental practise.
viii said to observe a dentist who cares about what their patients desire.
three advised making sure the entire practice team was happy.
ii suggested making sure the practice has the latest technology.
None recommended seeing a barber for your dental needs ...

Savor, and we wish you the best of luck in finding a dentist that is right for y'all!

A doctor watches a Spear video on his ipad.

1. Is the dentist focused on continuing education?

"(Find dentists who) invest in their clinical skills and standing education. The superlative dentists are ever investing in themselves to ameliorate their clinical skill gear up and so they can perform the latest techniques and provide the latest advancements for their patients. Advanced cosmetic dentistry, treatment of sleep apnea, placement of implants and performing All-on-4 procedures are common areas where dentists get additional grooming." – Anissa Holmes, D.One thousand.D., founder of Delivering WOW.

"Dentists who are committed to continuing education volition frequently belong to local study clubs and organizations like Spear Didactics. Some other proficient resource would be to call the local dental society and ask them for a referral based on those two factors." – Drew Byrnes, D.M.D.

"Visit practice websites and see what their bulletin is all about. Some websites are flooded with advertisements of discounts, sales, and value messages. Other websites will have the time to really let you know virtually the dentist(due south). What kind of grooming are they continuing to take? Practice they mention organizations or meetings they attend? A dentist who prioritizes and values standing instruction and staying upwardly to date will often share this information with patients, so it'due south a good area to visit on the website." – Courtney Lavigne, D.Chiliad.D.

"The extent of a dentist's post-graduate instruction is rarely considered past the lay person who is looking for a dentist, but it should exist." – David St. Ledger, D.D.S.

"Await at their grooming. This is non just talking about prosthodontist versus general dentist. Some of the best restorative dentists in the world are general practitioners. This speaks to the delivery to connected growth as a professional person. Look on the office website or ask the staff about the standing educational activity the medico and the part attends. If they only become to the state dental society meeting every few years, the office may be behind in the latest trends in care." – Jeff Rouse, D.D.S.

"Look for signs that the owner consistently reinvests in themselves and their squad. It may be posted on the website or information technology may be framed certificates on the reception wall. Dentistry is a rapidly changing industry. It takes lifelong learners to stay ahead of the curve and provide you the best intendance." – David Maloley, D.D.Due south.

"Patients should exist looking for a dental office full of awareness. Aware of the latest procedures and diagnostic methodologies. Nosotros are learning so much more about how dentists can help diagnose conditions like airway issues that can have major implications in overall health. This awareness extends into how young patients should be diagnosed and treated, once once again with implications that may affect their health throughout life. Non all dentists have this awareness yet, but the ones who do can transcend your normal dental visit." – Jason Lipscomb, D.D.S., co-host of the Dental Hacks podcast

"Dentistry encompasses such a broad spectrum, that a dentist should have a solid 360-degree understanding of the different specialties, and then patients experience thoroughly looked after. This besides ways that they are upward to date with the current trends and technologies that make the visit to the dentist a more pleasant feel." – Ricardo Mitrani, D.D.Due south., Thousand.Southward.D.

"The field of dentistry is consistently evolving, with new technology and techniques being introduced every yr. It's important to look for someone who demonstrates dedication to continuing education. Dentists who are members of continuing didactics programs, like Spear Education, are on the forefront of dentistry and will be able to utilize the almost up to date materials and techniques to help you achieve your best state of oral health." – Andy Janiga, D.D.Southward.

"The best dental practices are committed to continuing education." – Andy Cohen, D.Thousand.D.

"You want to look for a dentist who is committed to being a continual student, who takes continuing instruction, and willing to abound personally and professionally." – Jeff Lineberry, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., F.I.C.O.I., A.A.A.C.D.

ii. Is the dentist trusted by others?

"When you lot're buying the invisible you demand a trusted source. When looking for a dentist you demand a referral from someone inside dentistry like another dentist or a dental specialist. Call your local oral surgeon, endodontist, orthodontist, or pediatric dentist and go a referral." – Howard Farran, D.D.S., MBA, founder of Dentaltown, host of Dentistry Uncensored

"TRUST. Online reviews are helpful, but not ever a truthful reflection on the dentist's intendance; however, spoken testimonies from others who needed what yous are looking for are invaluable." – Kevin Huff, D.D.S.

"Word of rima oris and online reviews are an easy way to become a sense of a do's reputation. Today, y'all can learn of the skill and expertise of the provider past their reputation in the dental customs (ask for a referral from a specialist you already see, or if you need a specialist, ask your general dentist). That might not always be feasible for a patient if they haven't been to the dentist in a while though." – Courtney Lavigne, D.M.D.

"My communication for what patients should expect for is only 'caveat emptor' or buyer beware. We live in the age of limitless information and the meritocracy of the net. Take your time and do the research on the practise's reviews, website, community involvement, and social media channels. You have a wealth of information available to you if yous are willing to put in the time to larn about the dental exercise. If you are referred to a dentist and there's no information available to you online about them, that might exist a telling sign and it may be time to seek another referral." – Craig Spodak, D.D.Due south., co-founder of Bulletproof Dental Practice

"If you are seeing a specialist for treatment (i.eastward., implant placement, root canal, orthodontics), ask them, besides my existing dentist, who would they see if they were undergoing your treatment. Having patients get out a specialist'southward role for another restorative office is not a practice-builder for the specialist and so you lot may need to push them for a proper name. Make an date with the new office to go a second opinion. Information technology will give y'all an opportunity to see some other provider'due south office, staff, and examples of their work. You will besides be able to tell if your current dentist is the all-time. The specialist will tell you that you are absolutely in the right hands." – Jeff Rouse, D.D.S.

"If I was a patient searching for a dentist, this is how I would exercise it: I would get recommendations from people who I know (traditional discussion of mouth), look online at the reviews of that dental role, as well as explore the office's Facebook and Instagram pages. This would give me a sense of the culture of the function, what happens within the function and what to await on a visit there." – Paul Goodman, D.M.D., founder of Dental Nachos

"A patient in search of a dentist should beginning by request friends and family if they have a dentist they like and trust. The dentist, their squad, and the physical environment must put you at ease. A high-integrity practice will reduce your fears and skepticism about receiving dental care." – David Maloley, D.D.Due south., founder of Relentless Dentist

"A worthy and reputable reference is, for me, a direct patient referral. Patients are our evangelists and there is no better reference than those who experienced intendance." – David St. Ledger, D.D.S.

"Patients need to first trust that their dentist is giving them honest, sound guidance. Then, they need to exist able to trust their power to perform whatever work needed and to help keep them out of the dental chair. This is sometimes difficult for patients to assess. A expert place to start it is by asking trusted friends for a referral and looking upwards the dentist's credentials." – Drew Byrnes, D.Chiliad.D., host of Fee for Service Dentist Podcast

"Look at reviews. Go on Google, Yelp or Facebook. Expect for reviews written by real people and say existent things. I'll take poor grammar and misspellings with heartfelt words (positive or negative) over platitudes whatsoever day. Online reviews take reached a point where it's easy to game the system, only sometimes you can really find out nearly the office past looking at reviews for authentic bits." – Alan Mead, D.D.South., co-host of The Dental Hacks

A doctor and a team member talking at a desk.

three. Does the dentist care nigh what their patients want?

"From the first contact, does the team (who are representatives of the do) and medico listen to my feedback and consider what they have heard? Are they adept to listening? Are clear expectations set and met?" – Mark Fleming, D.D.S.

"The saddest thing in wellness care right now is that it's hard to find someone who genuinely cares about people. When searching for a dentist, information technology'south important to observe someone who is willing to spend some fourth dimension, who genuinely cares about getting it right. Yous tin find this by looking at how much time they've spent in standing teaching and if they're willing to spend some fourth dimension with you lot at your first appointment." – Dawn Wehking, D.D.Southward., Thousand.A.Thou.D., www.dentistlafayette.com

"The most important matter a dentist can offering a patient is a willingness to customize care. Educating patients on their issues helps create a team approach where both dentist and patient are working together to come up with the best outcome. Exceptional dental care begins by listening to a patient's concerns and wishes. This is the basis behind patient-centered care." – Andy Cohen, D.G.D.

"The No. i matter patients should wait for in a dentist is compassion. Aye, the function needs to exist make clean, the staff needs to be kind, the technology upwardly to date. I consider that all a given. However, when a patient goes in for treatment and they don't have a compassionate dentist who cares truly about the patient needs and desires … that is not an function I would want to be a role of." – Sameer Puri, D.D.S.

"You want to observe someone who will have his or her time to understand y'all and your concerns, and with whom you can openly communicate." – Jeff Lineberry, D.D.S., F.A.1000.D., F.I.C.O.I., A.A.A.C.D.

"Any patient looking for a new dentist can look first at the website and run into how much of it is about the patient, and how much is well-nigh the doctor/practice. When they call the office, inquire the person who answers the phone, 'How does the doctor larn about me?' If the answer centers around what the doctor/hygienist/staff will do in the exam, that's dissimilar than if the answer is more about helping the patient to share their story and what is important to them. Neither answer is 'wrong' – simply either tin can be incorrectly matched to the person on the telephone." – Dr. Steve Carstensen, D.D.Due south., founder of SeattleSleepEducation.com

"Patients are attracted to a mixture of compassion and confidence in their dentist. These aren't mutually exclusive qualities, merely too much of ane can offset the other. To be accommodating, some dentists tin come off as wishy-washy or uncertain of themselves. On the other manus, too much conviction can seem inattentive or disinterested. Dentists need to observe their rest of compassion and confidence that helps new patients experience comfortable and that instills trust." – Chris Salierno, D.D.S., editor-in-chief of Dental Economics

"Patients should wait for a dentist with the power/willingness to mind to them thoroughly and customize treatment according to their needs." – Ricardo Mitrani, D.D.S., Grand.Southward.D.

4. Does the practice's values meet your needs?

"Patients need to think about what they want in their next dentist. I say this because despite what some patients think, not all dental offices are the same. Some offices, like mine, are going to be focused on a loftier level of personalized care while others will have a different focus. Some offices, for instance, focus but on emergency care. Our vision states, 'Nosotros expect excellence in everything we do,' and we work hard to live that vision. Just put, not all offices are non going to want to live that vision and that is OK." – John Carson, D.D.South., P.C.

"I would think of a dental office a bit similar a restaurant. Each dental practice has a different business concern model, and they can all piece of work. Some are very busy and meet a lot of patients in a day; others encounter just a few patients in a 24-hour interval and take more time to meet each patient. I style is not incorrect, one style is not right. It'southward just up to me, as the patient, to recall about which style fits my personality and would make me feel comfy equally a patient. Maybe call the office and ask them a petty flake about the experience as a patient. Information technology is not easy to choose a new anything in this earth, and a dentist is an of import selection." – Paul Goodman, D.D.Due south.

"Patients should look for an office that fits their needs. Some patients may savour a laid-dorsum approach to patient care, non intendance almost engineering, and adopt not to brand any big changes. Others may enjoy text message confirmation, new technology, and hearing about new enquiry that has inverse the clinician'southward approach to their intendance." – Michelle Foreign, R.D.H., co-host of A Tale of Ii Hygienists

"Information technology'due south important equally a patient to recognize that we are blessed to have many options. There are dentists who provide emergency care. These dentists who typically work with patients to pull croaky or abscessed teeth, getting patients out of hurting immediately. There are dentists who provide repair dentistry. This type of dentist helps yous fix cavities, crown a broken tooth, or even get gum disease nether control. The last type of dentist tin provide regenerative intendance. These types of dentists can rebuild your teeth that have been damaged from grinding or clenching, ready bad bites, replace missing teeth, and mayhap even replace someone's entire mouth with a new set of teeth. Some dentists spend years studying and practice to be experts in each expanse. Choose a dentist that aligns with your goals and circumstances and look for a squad that is passionate most what type of care they are providing to the patients." – Wes Mullins, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., co-host of The Dental Guys Podcast

"What a patient should await for in a dentist depends on what level of care they demand and value. If the dental patient is simply using dentists for their emergency services, the clinic down the street tin play that part. For a person without a cavity and perfect teeth, there is a large array of offices that will suffice. Selection becomes disquisitional for patients with preexisting, ongoing or early dental damage. In that case, the skill of the dentist and dental team is important. A wrong choice, typically, leads to a lack of care and a progression of the damage. Very rarely are patients referred out of a restorative dental practice to another one for treatment. The damage is simply monitored. The problem for the patient is being selective and understanding that non all dentists are equal." – Jeff Rouse, D.D.S.

"Patients should look for a practice that shares their values. Some people want only minimal service, while others are searching for a dental team who will embrace all their wishes for optimum health. So, the first thing patients should exist clear on is what they desire, then seek a dental team that tin encounter those expectations. I'm certain I would create the profile of an platonic patient that would match what my function civilization is like; they should look for an office that seems an ideal lucifer for what they define as optimum. As their own best advocates for health, people should be prepared to ask questions – so any dental office that is ready to reply what can be pointed questions is going to be improve equipped than those who desire to check the boxes on a class or fit everyone into a standard workflow." – Steve Carstensen, D.D.Southward.

"When it comes to finding a dentist, you want to find the 'right' dentist for yous, because anybody values things differently." – Jeff Lineberry, D.D.S., F.A.G.D., F.I.C.O.I., A.A.A.C.D.

5. Does the practise create a great patient experience?

"From the moment a patient enters the part till they exit, each patient should feel like the feel they are receiving is second to none." – Andy Cohen, D.1000.D.

"Today'due south world requires wellness care professionals who pay attention to detail, non as far as the clinical work is concerned only also being able to exhibit their human affect." – Ricardo Mitrani, D.D.S., M.S.D.

"Patients should look for an office that provides a great patient feel consistently." – Paul Etchison, D.D.S., F.I.C.O.I., F.A.Grand.D.

"Evaluate for visual and verbal clues that ascertain the focus of the exercise. What does the dentist do in the practice to assistance identify the goals and priorities of the patient specific to the health and well-being of the patient? How does the dentist remain current to continually update skills and techniques to provide options for the patient? What does the dental function do to maintain a prophylactic environment for the patients?" – Doug Benting, D.D.S., Grand.S., F.A.C.P.

six. Is the practice team happy?

"The best dentists invest in preparation for their team so their teams can better serve the patients. They besides truly care virtually seeing their squad members achieve their personal and professional goals." – Anissa Holmes, D.Thou.D.

"Non only should you feel the honey from dentist AND the staff, but you should run across clear bear witness that the dentist clearly cares about providing each and every patient the best intendance. When visiting the office, respectful staff members who appear to love their jobs says a dandy deal nearly the dentist every bit a person." – Kevin Huff, D.D.S.

"You should expect for an role in which y'all can feel how happy the employees are to be role of the team, they accept a cracking civilization, and they are committed to providing the best product and feel possible to their patients. If the staff is happy and turnover is low, you can exist sure that at the top of that organization is someone who cares near what they provide for their community and everyone on the squad feels expert almost what they provide. Basically, yous desire to find an office in which the people care about the details, because that is where you are going to get the best care." – Paul Etchison, D.D.S., F.I.C.O.I., F.A.M.D., co-host of the Dental Practice Heroes Podcast

Gloved hands use a wand in a patient mouth.

7. Does the practice take the latest technology?

"Patients should exist demanding digital engineering, digital impressions, 3D imaging, and 3D printing! All this allows dentists to be evangelize more predictable, more efficient, and more authentic dentistry that fits into the patient'southward time and budget. As a dentist, if you aren't moving frontwards at this point, you are existence left behind!" – Richard Sullivan, D.D.Southward., co-host of the Millennial Dentist Podcast

"When looking for a new dentist I think it is important for a patient to detect an function that makes their experience not only more comfortable, just more efficient and user-friendly. An office that incorporates up-to-date technology is primal. Some examples of this are the post-obit: CBCT to properly diagnose their overall clinical conditions, digital radiographs to minimize radiographic exposure, intraoral photography for improve communication, and digital scanning (with or without chairside milling) to eliminate impressions and often more predictably execute indirect restorations. If I was a patient, these attributes would be highly important to me (forth with overall comfort with the environment) in choosing a new dental function." – Mike Skramstad, D.D.S.

eight. Is the dentist involved in the local community?

"The best dentists non only perform the best clinical dentistry and invest in their teams, just they also value serving the community. Many perform free days of dentistry, provide free smiling makeover competitions and participate in local charity events." – Anissa Holmes, D.Yard.D.

9. Does the dentist document their work?

"This 1 is difficult to evaluate since a patient does not take a good filter to view quality at a micro level. However, dentists who make images of their work (not that of other dentists), and who will show you lot photos of cases similar to yours, tend to work at a higher level than those who do not. Photography is a disquisitional chemical element for treatment planning and lab/specialist communication. I would be suspicious of the care I would receive if photography was not part of the do." – Jeff Rouse, D.D.S.

10. Is the dental practise a truthful team?

"A patient should look for integrity, dedication to scientific discipline and a conservative approach on wellness preservation. In other words, a patient should await not only for a dentist but for a squad that works and grows together." – Dr. Costin Marinescu, D.D.S.

11. Does the dentist and their team practice skilful infection control?

"Clean, uncluttered dental offices, wearing proper PPE, and an overall sense of cleanliness, should be at the tiptop of the list when patients are looking for a dentist. I also believe patients should be equipped with questions that should be asked to ostend they follow the proper CDC recommendations. If they don't encounter the clinical squad doing hand hygiene multiple times during their date, they should proceed with caution. I also believe a focus on prevention should be a height priority. Nosotros tend to hunt disease in dentistry; focusing on prevention and overall health should exist another top priority for patients." – Michelle Strange, K.S.D.H., R.D.H.

12. Does the dentist teach or mentor other dentists?

"Dentists who teach others tend to focus on the care they deliver. Whether it is at a dental school or report guild, dentists who teach from their work (non corporate slides) will routinely be upward to appointment and attempt to practice at a college level." – Jeff Rouse, D.D.S.

thirteen. Is the dental practice organized?

"Being seated at your appointment time doesn't happen by accident, information technology comes from a systemized practice with solid leadership." – David Maloley, D.D.S.

14. Will the dentist work with your insurance even if they're out of network?

"Consider how y'all can finer use your dental insurance with a dentist, simply don't use a list of in-network providers to solely select who you're going to trust with your dental care. A potential misunderstanding is if a dentist is not on your list, they won't work with your insurance. More than often than not, even if a dental practice is not listed equally contracted with your insurance carrier, they can still aid you utilize your benefits. I personally refrain from signing whatsoever contracts with insurance companies considering I want to exist able to requite the quality, time, and detail to each case that it needs, but have ever assisted patients with maximizing their benefits!" – Courtney Lavigne, D.Thou.D.

xv. How does the dentist and their team make you experience?

"The patient must have religion in the dentist and function. There is not a way to measure out this, only many dental procedures are uncomfortable, and you need to believe the dentist is going to create a wonderful feel and final result." – Jeff Rouse, D.D.South.