One of the best sources when choosing a new family dentist is your friends, relatives or colleagues at work. Ask who their dentist is? Are they satisfied with the treatment and quality of care they receive? Other health professionals, such as your doctor or pharmacist, may be able to offer some suggestions as well.

When choosing a dentist you may wish to consider if the practice offers the services you are looking for. A family dentist’s services may include:

• Routine checkups, fillings and teeth cleaning
• Crowns and bridges
• Root canal therapy
• Extractions
• Sport mouth-guards
• Dentures and partial dentures
• Gum disease screening and treatment
• Cosmetic dentistry

Once you have narrowed your list to two or three possibilities, contact their offices and check if they are accepting new patients. During this call you may wish to ask some preliminary questions, such as:

• Does the practice accept your dental plan?
  Is payment requested at the time of the visit or will the dentist file your insurance claim and bill you for the balance?
• Is the dentist willing to set up a payment plan for more comprehensive treatments or treatment not covered by your plan?
• What is the protocol for patients who have emergencies after office hours and when the dentist is away?
• Are all patients recalled every six months or is the recall period adjusted for individual need?
• Does the dentist treat children?

A few other things you may wish to consider when choosing a dentist:

• Location - Are you able to easily get to their offices?
• Hours of operation - If needed, are you able to schedule your appointments outside of regular (8-5) office hours or weekends?
• Language - If English is not your first language, you may wish to find a dentist that speaks your native language.

If your family dentist determines you have a problem requiring special skills, knowledge or equipment, he or she will refer you to a specialist. Your dentist will explain to you why the referral is recommended, and in most cases an appointment can be scheduled before you leave the office.

Choosing a family dentist can be an intimidating task. Remember, all dentists must complete the same rigorous training and it is often a matter of taking the time to find the best "fit" for you.

Click here to search for a general dentist near you.

Click here for an alphabetical listing of all general dentists.

Click here for a listing of specialists.