Are you new to the area and looking for a dentist for your family? Maybe you just need a new dentist because you’re not happy with your present one. Whatever your situation, finding a new dentist can be challenging if you don’t know what to look for. Whether you’re looking for a Marlow/Central dentist for routine care or extensive restorations, the following tips can help you narrow down your search.
Do you need a new dentist in Bray, Velma, Comanche, Rush Springs, or Duncan, OK? At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, we are convenient to patients from all these areas. Contact our Duncan OK dental office at 580-255-4880 for an appointment.
Start with References and Online Searches
References from family and friends are a good place to start, but an online search should always be a part of your process. Google, Yelp! and HealthGrades can show you patient reviews and star rankings, as well as the location of the dentists in your area. While online reviews should always be taken with a grain of salt, a dentist’s website can tell you a lot about the practice.
Read a few pages from the dental provider’s website, browse their blog, and you’ll get a quick impression of a providers’ values and specialty areas. Most general dentists can provide care for every age level, but if a provider’s website focuses heavily on cosmetic dentistry, for example, they might not see a lot of toddlers in their office! If you have kids or a family member with severe dental anxiety, notice whether the practice seems family-friendly or offers sedation during treatment.
Patient Preferences Vary
Before you take a recommendation from a friend or family member on good faith, it’s important to remember that different patients have different needs and preferences. Your neighbor or colleague may love his or her dentist’s office, but that doesn’t mean it will be a perfect fit for you.
Some people choose a high-volume practice where they can get in and out with as little fuss as possible. Other patients prefer a more customized experience in which you have more time to spend with the doctor and hygiene staff. If you have children, and like the idea of bringing them all in for back-to-back appointments, that’s also something you’ll want to consider when choosing a new dentist.
What qualities in a dentist’s office are most important to you?
– Location
– Convenient hours
– Weekend hours
– On-call for emergencies
– Good with children
– Fast appointments
– A focus on patient education
– Multiple care options
– Comfortable amenities
– Friendly service and attitude
Take a few minutes to think about your ideal dental experience and rank the items listed above in order of importance. If the bottom line is that you just want a competent provider for basic routine care within a few miles of your home or office—that can help you narrow the list of potential dentists. If you want a dental provider that makes you safe and well cared for, that’s another thing altogether.
What is Patient-Centered Care?
One thing we encourage everyone to consider when looking for a new dentist is patient-centered care. In the past, dentists could easily sum up their job as “tooth doctor.” They were focused on the teeth, and didn’t always put a whole lot of thought into making sure their patients had a good experience.
Today however, our goal is to help patients have the best oral health possible. This means we have to make sure our patients have a pleasant experience and feel respected as individuals. We know that if you have a bad experience, you won’t want to come back. Our goal is to form a long-term partnership with you to help you keep your teeth and gums in the best shape possible. We know that every patient has a unique story and unique circumstances, and we want to get to know the whole you!
Need a Marlow/Central Dentist? Call Chisholm Trail Smile Center to Meet Our Team!
If you’re looking for a dentist in Bray, Duncan, Velma, Rush Springs, or Comanche, OK, give Chisholm Trail Smile Center a call. Our Marlow/Central dentist office provides comprehensive oral health care for families and individuals from all over the area. Contact our Marlow/Central dentist office at 580-255-4880 to meet Dr. Matthew Bridges and his staff.
