Who Else Wants To Find The Best Dentist For You And Your Family Near Plymouth Mn? Part Iv

Finding a good Dentist for you and your family begins with homework

, after which visiting the Dentist's office makes sense. Now that you've narrowed the field and made an initial appointment, what should you expect on that first visit? From the moment you step into that office you should be measuring what you see against your expectations. Once you are in front of the new Dentist, resume your questions. I cannot imagine a better gauge of a professional's integrity than face-to-face questions. All the while, you must feel comfortable that your questions will be answered, and answered in a manner that makes sense to you. This article further explores these details. If you are serious about finding the best Dentist, especially here in the Plymouth, MN area, I've researched this topic and outlined my system in this series of five articles.

(1) What should I expect during my first visit?

During your first visit you will learn a lot about whether or not the Dentist is right for you and your family.

When you arrive, talk to the office staff about your Dental Benefit plan. If your plan uses a special claim form, be sure to bring one with the patient/employee portion already completed. The staff will probably have forms for you to fill out. These forms gather information about your medical and family history as well as information about your Dental Plan, so they can bill appropriately. Make sure you disclose all medical problems including any allergies you have and all medications you are taking.

Now is the time to begin judging your comfort level in this new environment:

- Don't be embarrassed to ask the staff about fees. The Dentist and his/her staff should be willing to discuss fees and/or financial arrangements in advance of treatment.

- Look around the office. What is the general appearance of the office, the Dentist, and the staff? Is everything neat, clean, and orderly?

- Does the Dentist seem genuinely interested in your health? Your medical and dental history should be recorded and placed in a permanent file to assist in the evaluation of your future dental health needs.

- Do you find the Dentist easy to talk to and easy to understand? Does he or she seem happy to answer questions? Is the practice a high-volume operation in which the Dentist rushes from patient to patient?

If you are not satisfied with the Dentist's answers to your questions or if you are not comfortable with the Dentist's manner, consider using another Dentist from your list. You need to feel comfortable with your decision.

During this first visit the Dentist should evaluate your teeth, gums and bite, looking for hidden signs of problems that don't hurt until it's too late.

(2) Will you take time to explain what dental problems I have and offer suggestions for best treatment choice?

What does this treatment recommendation mean? If you don't understand any part of what your Dentist recommends, don't be afraid to ask for more information.

Among the routine services you need are examinations, cleanings, check-ups, conservative gum treatment, fillings, root canals, crowns, bridges, removable partial dentures, and full dentures.

Are other treatment options available? You may want to ask your Dentist the following:

- How do the options differ in cost?

- Which solution will last the longest?

- Do all the options solve the problem?

Among the Dentist's recommendations:

- Which treatments are absolutely necessary?

- Which are elective?

- Which are cosmetic?

- Which procedures are urgently needed?

- Which ones are less urgent?

Your Dentist should be able to prioritize a treatment schedule to help you distinguish problems needing immediate attention from those that are less urgent. Often, treatment can be phased in over time. Be sure you understand the consequences of delaying treatment.

At this point, I was fairly certain that I'd found my Dentist near my home in Plymouth, MN.

by: Mike Schleif

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