Choosing a dentist for yourself comes with its challenges. Choosing a dentist for your child comes with even more obstacles. As a parent, you want the absolute best for your little ones.
Before you send your child to any dentist near you, you want to take your time to ensure they’re the best candidate. Unlike adults, children require a pediatric dentist (a dentist who specializes in providing dental care to children). Before you pick a pediatric dentist for your child, however, there are a few things you want to look into.
Taking your time to do all the right research will not only lead you down the road to some amazing pediatric dentists, but it’ll also give you some peace of mind knowing your child is in good hands. Not sure where to begin?
Continue reading this guide below to learn how to find the best options for dentists near you!
Start Conducting Research
The last thing you ever want to do is see a doctor who isn’t reputable, professional, or legitimate. You wouldn’t schedule yourself an appointment with a doctor before researching them, so now it’s time to research some information about your child’s dentist. You can start with a simple online search for pediatric dentists near you.
Then, further your research by visiting each website. Look for professionalism on their websites. Read the “About” page to learn more about the dentist’s office and the dentists who work there.
Try to learn as much as you can about the dentists during this first step. You can then continue your research even further with the dentists you’re interested in.
Read Online Customer Reviews
Some dentists will have a section for testimonials on their websites. This is where they’ll leave reviews written by past and current patients for visitors to read. If you can’t find this section on a website, then do a simple search for that specific dentist online.
You’ll find reviews this way. Read through the reviews to give yourself a better idea of what to expect from the dentist. Don’t be completely turned off by one or two fair reviews.
Focus on what the majority of patients are saying. If you do find a poor review that stands out to you, then try to look further into the issue addressed if possible before counting them out.
Read the List of Services Provided
Although most pediatric dentists should offer the same dental services, not all pediatric dentists will. There might be some who offer a list of dental services that others don’t. For example, all orthodontists are dentists but not all dentists are orthodontists.
If your child needs braces now or in the future, then they’re going to need an orthodontist. It’s beneficial to find a pediatric dentist who’s also an orthodontist to eliminate the need to take your child to someone else in the future. You should also think about a few other dental services such as cosmetic procedures, full mouth reconstruction, veneers, and root canals.
Before having an extensive dental procedure done, such as a root canal, it’s always ideal to read through a guide on the procedure so you can explain to your child what to expect, but it’s also important to have a pediatric dentist who has experience with these various dental services and children.
Speak With Other Parents
You have a little one, which means you most likely know a few other people who have little ones as well. Don’t take advantage of the opportunity to speak with them about the pediatric dentist they take their children to.
References and referrals are just as important as online patient reviews. Speak with friends, family members, and co-workers to find referrals. Contact different dentists and ask them to provide you with a list of references.
Call each one and ask them a few questions about the dentist and why they’d recommend that dentist for your child.
Review Their Experience and Credentials
A lot of training and education goes into the process of becoming a dentist. Even more education and training are required for pediatric dentists since they must learn how to provide services to children. Before you take your child to see a pediatric dentist, do make sure they’ve met all their credential expectations.
If you can’t find information about their experience and credentials as pediatric dentists, then don’t hesitate to contact them directly and ask yourself. A professional pediatric dentist will be able to provide you with proof of all their credentials, experience, and educational background.
Schedule an Office Tour and Consultation
Once you begin to narrow down your options, it’s time to start scheduling office tours and consultations. When you do schedule your tour, be sure to bring your little one along with you. This gives them the chance to get a feel for the office environment, the staff, and the dentist as well as you.
Come with a list of prepared questions to ask the staff and dentist. Pay close attention to the cleanliness and friendliness of the office. Does your child feel welcomed, safe, and comfortable?
It might take time for some children to adjust, but the dentist and staff should do their best to make your child feel comfortable at all times.
You Can Pick a Pediatric Dentist Today
We know just how important it is for you, as a parent, to find the best dentist for your child. Your child’s dental health and wellbeing are essential. For this reason, we hope you’ve found the information in this guide to be useful.
Go through each of these steps listed above before you pick a pediatric dentist for your little one. Then, continue to check back here occasionally for more helpful topics similar to this one!
