With nearly 200,000 dentists in the United States, you may not be sure how to pick a dentist. Don’t be overwhelmed—we have 3 resources to make your dentist decision easier.
Use these three resources to find your next dentist.
Here’s how to pick a dentist:
Get Referrals and Recommendations
Make the most of your connections. Reach out to your doctor, friends, family and coworkers for dentist recommendations. Relocating? Before you move, ask your current dental office for a recommendation.
Research Dental Societies
Seek advice from local dental societies. The Arizona Dental Association has a search tool to help you find an ADA member dentist.
Use our Dentist Search Tool
Seeing an in-network dentist will save you money. Use our dentist search tool to find a list of Delta Dental network dentists in your area.
Once you’ve made your dentist shortlist, do some online and in-person research to find the best practice for you.
We just moved to a new area and need to find a new dentist. Thank you for your suggestion about asking your current dental office for a recommendation. We only moved a few hours away so there’s a chance that this would work great for us.
Hi there, great question! First, it is important to find a dentist that is in-network for your dental coverage. If you have Delta Dental of Arizona, you can use our dentist search tool here: http://deltadentalaz.com/provider-search/dental/
Thank you for the 3 resources to help pick the perfect dentist. I definitely like the idea of getting references before choosing a dentist. References allow you to speak with previous clients so you can better understand how the dentist works and if you’ll be comfortable with them.
Your comment about getting referrals for a dentist makes a lot of sense. It would be smart to consider this because it would show that they are qualified. My brother is looking for a dentist, so he’ll have to consider getting referrals.
My wife and I are looking for a new dental office to take the kids to, so thanks for sharing these tips on how to find the perfect one. I like that you suggest asking friends, family, and your doctor for recommendations. We might need to ask our doctor since he seems to know a bit about dental health as well.
I didn’t realize how helpful it was to choose a dentist that is recommended by others and has positive reviews. Thanks for explaining how they should be associated with some sort of dental society as well. My husband and I definitely want to find a reputable in our new city to whiten our teeth; thanks for the tips.
We’re happy to help, Ashley!
These are some pretty good tips, especially the one about getting recommendations. After all, considering how important oral health is, you have to be careful when you are choosing a dentist. It might even help to ask your general doctor if they have any dentists that they can recommend you check out.
That’s a great point, Callum!
I appreciate your tip to pick a dentist that is well-reviewed and referred by others. Io also loke how you said they should belong to some sort of dental society. My husband and I just moved with my parents, and we are trying to find a good and reputable dentist near us for my mother who needs a tooth extraction.