Dental care is something that every member of the family should have high on the priority list. Most of the time kids aren’t thinking about their teeth, so it’s up to parents to choose a good family dentist and make sure everyone in the household gets the treatment needed for a beautiful smile. Finding the right dentist for your family is important, so here are some tips on how to make a selection.
Staff
The dentist you are looking for should be friendly and make patients feel at ease. Being supportive of your needs and addressing any concerns is key to making patients feel confident in the dentist’s work. Hygienists should be kind and encouraging, making patients comfortable while in the dental chair. Front office staff should also be welcoming and helpful so that your entire experience from start to finish is good.
Scheduling
Busy families have to juggle school, work, sports, and appointments. Selecting a dentist who has flexible hours for appointments is important to families on-the-go. Weekend or evening hours are becoming more common with family dentists. This promotes scheduling all family members in a block of time with concurrent or back-to-back appointments, making a single trip to the family dentist possible.
Office
A benefit that most family dentists provide is an entertaining and comfortable environment. The waiting room should be full of engaging activities to distract children while they wait, which sometimes can be a scary situation for kids. Many dentists also provide entertainment during treatment, such as movies playing on video screens or headphones for music. Bonuses such as these give dental offices the edge over others, especially when children are involved.
Outreach
Good family dentists realize that you are busy. Look for a dental office that gives reminder calls before appointments, mails a friendly postcard with your appointment time, or sends emails to jog your memory. Outreach like this shows that the dentist cares about your family and helps you stay on top of your schedule to get the dental care for your family members without missing a beat.