Selecting a dentist for your family can be stressful. Dad wants to be in and out of his checkups fast, one kid needs braces, another hates going to the dentist, and Mom just wants everyone to be happy and healthy. If you’re choosing a family dentist in Duncan, OK, these five questions will help guide your decision-making so that you can please everyone, including yourself!
A Note About New Patient Appointments: Parents commonly send their kids for an appointment with a new dentist before visiting the dentist themselves. We suggest the family decision-maker, Mom or Dad, be the first to visit a new dentist because a kid’s priorities are different than a parent’s.
Here’s an overview of questions to ask when looking for a family dentist in Duncan, OK:
- Are the support staff and dentist friendly, welcoming, and attentive to patient needs?
- Is the office on a route you normally travel?
- Does the dentist’s office accept your insurance?
- Are all the services your family needs available?
- Is after-hours emergency dentistry available for patients of record?
Now, let’s explore the intention behind these questions and customize the best answers for your family. (This is part one of a two-part blog.)
Are the support staff and dentist friendly, welcoming, and attentive to patient needs?
The only way to know this for sure is with a visit. You can call a dentist’s office and gauge how the front desk team serves patients over the phone. (Sometimes this is enough to strike through a potential dentist’s office.) However, you won’t really know if a dental team prioritizes patient service unless you visit the office as a patient.
While you’re at a new patient exam, consider how your husband/wife and kids will feel under this particular dentist’s care. The dentist’s personality is a significant factor in whether your family will enjoy dental visits. Also, as for a special request, like a pillow or bottled water and see what happens.
As a patient, also evaluate the gentleness and attentiveness of the dentist and assistant. After the clinical part of your visit, if you like the appointment so far, ask the dentist questions that will help you decide whether he/she is right for your family.
Is the office on a route you normally travel?
Making time for dental checkups and cleanings is difficult enough with busy schedules and lots of commitments. Finding a great dentist whose office is on or very near your regular daily driving route will make appointments more convenient.
How often will you visit your dentist? You and your household members will always need six-month preventive denitstry appointments, and being able to book them back-to-back or simultaneously is a benefit you should inquire about. You may also need restorative procedures after your checkup, and those can take one to three appointments, in most cases. Restorative dentistry includes fillings, crowns, bridges, etc. Also, if someone in your family wants Invisalign treatment, you’ll need to visit the dentist every six weeks until treatment completion.
Your Family Dentist in Duncan, OK: Dr. Matthew Bridges
Call Chisholm Trail Smile Center at 580.255.4880 today, and schedule an introductory meeting with Dr. Bridges. You can get a checkup or consultation, experience our five-star service firsthand, and ask questions so that you can return home with answers for everyone. You love your family, and they deserve the best. We agree.
