Going to the dentist shouldn’t be something you dread. You should feel comfortable and relaxed. Trusting your dentist is crucial in maintaining preventive care. An estimated 36 percent of people living in the United States have anxiety when it comes to seeing the dentist. This may stop them from receiving proper oral health care.
Knowing your dentist and understanding what to expect before going for a cleaning can help you feel more comfortable and will likely keep you returning to the dentist. Read on to learn how to choose the right dentist for you.
Tips for choosing the right dentist
- Ask for recommendations — You ask your friends and family for restaurant and gadget recommendations; why not do the same for your dentist? Use their feedback and take what they think into account.
- Create a list — Once you have advice, use our provider search tool to look for dentists near you.
- Schedule a consultation — Your first trip to the dentist doesn’t need to be a cleaning or procedure. Instead, set up a consultation. You can visit the office, meet the dentists and staff, and become comfortable with everything involved before deciding to move forward with the dentist.
- Dentist interview — The consultation is your chance to interview your potential new dentist. Use this time to familiarize yourself with the services, location and more. Make sure to prepare questions and address any requirements you have before committing. That way, both of you know what to expect.
- Tailor your visits — Once you have a relationship with your new dentist, you can begin to tailor your dental experience to your needs and expectations. Scared of dental tools? Request that they keep them out of sight. Prefer to have music playing during your appointment? You can bring headphones to your appointment.
- Insurance accepted – Using an in-network dentist will likely provide you with a straightforward payment process. There’s no need to pay in full and wait to see what could be reimbursed. Delta Dental pays your in-network dentist directly. Then, we’ll send you an Explanation of Benefits (EOB). Your EOB is not a bill, but it explains what costs you may be responsible for after we compare your plan to the dentist’s charges. Click here to learn more about how your Explanation of Benefits works.
These tips can help you feel comfortable choosing the right dentist. Read about more ways to eliminate dental fear and anxiety on our blog.
*Updated September 2022