Tips for Choosing the Right Dentist for your Family
Choosing a family dentist is about so much more than routine check-ups. High-quality dental care is important, and so is finding a Perth family dental clinic where you feel comfortable and properly cared for.
Whether you’ve recently moved, your previous dentist closed up shop, or it’s simply time for a change, your search for a family dentist has two main criteria: personal and professional. After all, your regular dentist becomes a fixture in not just your life but also your kids’ lives as they grow up.
Here are a few things to look for when assessing family dental care practices in Perth:
Broad Range of Services
Family dentists must be able to address the whole family’s needs – including the unexpected.
General dental
Most of the services you’ll require fall under general dentistry. These are things like check-ups, scale and cleans, x-rays, fillings, root canal treatments and other non-emergency procedures.
Emergency dental
When a family dental practice doubles as an emergency clinic, you know you are in good hands day and night. Dental emergencies are a part of life: from sporting injuries to toothaches and infections, the whole family may end up needing emergency dental care at some point.
Cosmetic dental
Cosmetic dentistry is a specialised area of dental care that improves the appearance of discoloured, stained, cracked or missing teeth. This includes treatments such as dental implants, crowns, bridges and teeth whitening to name a few.
Fear Management
When looking for the right dentist for you and your family, comfort and positive experience is an important consideration. For example, at Glen Forrest Dental Care we work with our patients to create a new and relaxed relationship that they can feel comfortable. Some children may have had bad experiences at the dentist before, so we make it a priority to ensure that history does not repeat itself, by making sure that they are treated with the upmost respect and always feel like they’re in control.
For patients with more severe fears, the use of gas or the introduction of gas by a dentist or IV sedation by a specialist anaesthetist may also be required to help relax them. It’s important to check whether the dentist you’re considering has these facilities available if this is something you or a family member might require.
Health Insurance
Many Australian health insurers have preferred or affiliated family dental clinics. You should check which dentists in your area are on the preferred provider list. This information is usually available on the clinic’s website, or by contacting your health insurer.
Health insurance affiliations are not just a sign of a high-quality Perth family dental practice, they also save you and your family a lot of money in the long run by reducing out-of-pocket payments for general and emergency dental services.
Certifications & Credentials
Before entrusting your child’s health to a medical professional, you should check their credentials to make sure they are qualified and experienced. Most Perth family dentists will show their experience on their website, or you can contact the clinic to find out more. (Also Read: 5 Questions to Ask When Choosing Dentist)
Friendly and Comfortable Environment
So now you have a clear picture of the dentist’s professional reputation, but what about their bedside (or chairside) manner? Building a trusted family dental practice means creating a space where children and teenagers feel safe, where adults are comfortable, the elderly are looked after properly, and everyone is respected as a member of the local community.
The best way to get a personal feel for the family dental clinics on your shortlist is to visit. Keep a few questions in mind when you do:
- Are people greeted warmly when they arrive?
- Is the waiting room set up to make children feel comfortable?
- Do the staff treat people with respect and compassion?
- Are wait times communicated clearly? Are they short?
- Do I feel comfortable here?
Glen Forrest Dental Care is a trusted family dentist with a broad range of services administered by a highly qualified, experienced and friendly team. Our dentists, dental nurses and support staff are here to make you feel comfortable not just on your first visit, but at every appointment over many years.