beautiful woman in a sweater smiling to the camera
Photo: Andrea Piacquadio

When it comes to oral health and visiting the dentist, a lot of us become fraught with anxiety and worry, either because we’re not too keen on someone poking around in our mouths, or because we’re a little worried about what the dentist might find. However, with the right dentist by your side, you will be able to rest assured that you’re in good hands and able to relax when it comes to visiting the dentist and having your bi-annual cleaning and checkup.

One thing to keep in mind is that you’re going to want to make sure you spend the time choosing an excellent dentist with a practice you love to visit down to the fact you’ll actually want to go to the dentist, rather than skipping the visit out of worry. With all that said, here are some tips for you below when it comes to choosing the right dentist for you or your family.

1. Change Your View of the Dentist


Off the top of our list, the biggest tip for all of you is to mentally rebrand your dentist. As children, we’re often scared of the dentist simply because the line of work they do is a little concerning and confusing, and this feeling tends to travel through into adulthood – keeping us away from the dentist for far too long.

And with this, specialists suggest changing your understanding of the dentist and working to see them as your partner in dental health, rather than someone to be afraid of. Besides, dentists such as the Australian Dental Specialists are in fact here to help out and ensure you’re not going to be in pain or dealing with any issues when it comes to dental health in the future.

Photo: cottonbro

2. What to Look For in a Dentist


Now that you refreshed your look at a dentist, there are a few more things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing one for yourself or your family.

You want to make sure that you’re choosing a dentist that is either close to home or work, and you’re able to get there without too much trouble. If you’re seeing a dentist that is on the other side of the city, for example, you’re not going to be too chipper when it comes to getting ready to go and see them.

Added to this, take a look at the services your dentist offers and determine which (if any) you’re likely to make use of, or going to want to rely upon in the future – think of things such as whitening, orthodontics, and other services. You should also take a look at whether your dentist is accredited and able to meet a set of stringent regulations set out by regulatory bodies in the country.

3. Evaluating Your Visits


The final point is to make sure you take a visit and evaluate your experience with the dentist. You can only learn so much from reviews and a dentist's website, so making an appointment for a checkup and going from there is a great place to start.

A few things to keep on the lookout for include:

  • Friendly and approachable team members who are warm and ready to help out with questions.

  • Your dentist is focusing on letting you know as many tips and as much preventative information as possible.

  • Your dentist or oral hygienist is explaining, in detail, the process of cleaning or checkup before the process is taking place.

  • The team is offering up information on fees and costs when asked.

You want to make sure that you’re choosing a dentist that is either close to home or work, and that you’re able to get there without too much trouble. If you’re seeing a dentist that is on the other side of the city, for example, you’re not going to be too chipper when it comes to getting ready to go and see them. This is also true when it comes to emergency care, with "Where can I find an emergency dentist near me?" being probably one of the most important inquiries connected with dental care. After all, if you have severe unstoppable ache, fever, or bleeding you want to make sure you know where to locate the best emergency care locally too!

Taking these sorts of things into consideration when you’re visiting your dentist is going to let you know whether they’re a team that you can trust with your oral health, or whether you should consider looking elsewhere for your needs.

You might also want to make sure that your dentist accepts your private health insurance, or whether they have special offers for your specific provider. This can save you a tonne off your visit and you might even be eligible for free dental cleanings each year.

The Takeaway

Now that we have all of those points out of the way, we’re sure you have some direction as to how to choose the right dentist for you and whether you may want to look elsewhere for your needs. Always remember that your dentist should, in no way, be someone intimidating or scary, but rather someone who is here to help you deal with any potential problems, or simply to keep your oral health in check.

Evaluate their services from your first appointment and if you’re feeling as though you’re in good hands and being well looked after you’re in the right place.

Lots of love,
Liz