Choosing A Dentist: Training, Record keeping And Cost of Treatment

Continuous Training

The field of dentistry continues to change with newer materials, less invasive techniques and changing schools of thought regarding best treatment options. It is imperative that your dentist be abreast of these advances and introduces them into their practice.

This part is a little difficult for you to judge, however look for things like subscriptions to scientific journals, certificates of training or even pictures from conferences attended. You can also look up at the latest treatment options on the Internet and ask your dentist about them. Ideally, he /she would be well versed in it and be offering it at the clinic. 

Follow Up And Record Maintenance

All modern well equipped clinics now have a comprehensive patient management system. It is the duty of every dentist to be responsible for the long term maintenance of all treatment and follow up records. Having complete records at your fingertips may not be something that immediately feels like something that will have a direct impact on your treatment however it is one of the most important facets of running a dental practice.

A large part of maintaining good dental health in the long term depends upon regular recall check up. The frequency of this has to be customized for each patient depending upon the oral hygiene, systemic health and the nature of treatment provided. Talking to someone who is being provided these services will help you know that the dentist is efficient and following current protocols.

Cost Of Treatment

This is slightly tricky as it will vary from person to person and what one considers affordable or fair. Paying too much or too little for routine procedures should raise a flag though. The question is how to know if you are paying too much or too little?

You can ask your dentist an estimate of the cost of the planned procedures before hand and then compare it with what other dentists of similar reputation and experience are charging for the same procedure. If the dentist is charging less than standard rates then it is likely that some compromise is being made with sterilization protocols, materials being used and the implementation of modern technology.

This works the other way as well since beyond a certain point the money being spent is no longer contributing to a better treatment. Ideally your dentist should be almost in line with other dentists of similar experience. He should also offer you good treatment options at various price points and should be able to work with your insurance company.

See Also: Warning Signs Of Gum Disease: What Should You Be Looking For?

Conclusion

It may seem like a little tough to find all the qualities in one dentist easily, however I have faith in our profession and believe that the large majority of dentists follow standard practices and are trained to take the best decisions for your well being. There are a lot more good guys out there than not. Following this simple checklist will help you find a dentist that you will not want to lose extremely easily.