Maybe your child is looking to go to the dentist for the first time? Perhaps you’re moving to a new town or city? Whatever the case, you’re looking for a dentist for kids.
However, before you choose the first dentist you come across, you want to make sure that you’re making the right decision. That’s why you’ve come to this article. You’re looking for advice.
The good thing is that we can give it to you. So, without further ado, here’s what to look for when trying to find a dentist for kids.
Insurance Compatibility
You should start your search for a kids’ dentist by looking for insurance compatibility. That is unless you don’t have dental insurance, in which case, any dentist is a possibility.
Most insurance companies have networks of providers that they’ll work with. If the provider is in a company’s network, the company will cover it. If the provider is out of its network, it won’t be covered.
Generally speaking, you can find the dentists in an insurance company’s network by taking to its website. There should be a tab that says something to the effect of “find a provider”. Click on it and see if it covers any dentists in your area; it should.
If the insurance company’s website doesn’t have a list of in-network providers, you’re going to have to call the insurance company on the phone. Once you do, you should be given a list of appropriate options.
Scour the available options, and choose a few and make sure that they do, indeed, accept your insurance. You don’t want to have to pay anything more than what your insurance dictates.
Experience
You don’t want your child to be a dentist office’s guinea pig. As such, before scheduling any appointments, make sure that the prospective office has some experience on its side.
The more experience an office has, the smoother your child’s experience will be. On the other hand, choosing an office with no experience is almost sure to present some hiccups along the way.
We recommend choosing an office with a minimum of two years of experience. This is a suitable length of time for an office to establish and fine-tune its processes.
A Good Reputation
The great thing about the internet is that it enables the everyday individual to relay information about his or her experiences. As such, a past dental patient can seamlessly leave a review of his or her dentist in a public forum. You should use these forums to your advantage as a means of assessing a dentist’s reputation.
The best sites to check out include Facebook, Google, and Yelp. Use these sites to search for a specific dentist and see what past patients have to say about them. If the reviews are primarily positive, you’ll know that the dentist can be trusted to get the job done.
When scouring these sites, it’s also a good idea to look out for star ratings. We recommend choosing a dentist with at least four stars out of five.
Ability to Work With Kids
Not all dentists are equally equipped to serve the needs of children. Some do a much better job of creating a comforting atmosphere, thus making them much more appropriate for kids.
When searching for a dentist for children, you need to—first of all—make sure it’s a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dentists specialize in children’s dentistry.
Once you’ve located a few pediatric dentists, you’ll want to call around and talk to them on the phone. This way, you can get a feel for their personalities and determine whether they will jibe with your child’s.
Kids can get quite nervous about their dental appointments. As such, it’s necessary that their dentists are able to make them feel comfortable in the dental environment.
Close Proximity
As was noted, children can get nervous about their dental appointments. For this reason, you need to do everything possible to keep anxiety at bay. One way to do this is to find a dentist who’s in close proximity to you.
The shorter the trip to the dentist, the less time your child will have to think about what’s going to happen. The less time he or she has to ponder over the imminent events, the less anxiety he or she will take on.
We recommend finding a dentist within 15 minutes of your home if possible. If you have to go any longer than that, try to find the dentist that’s in closest proximity to you. Keep the experience short and your child is sure to get through it with flying colors.
Affordability
Different dentists charge different rates. Whereas one might charge $75 for a checkup, another might charge $150. For this reason, if you don’t have insurance, you need to receive estimates from several dentists in your area.
After all, you have kids, so your budget is probably important to you. Receiving an estimate enables you to make a full assessment of the financial situation.
Any reputable dentist will provide you with an estimate the second you ask for one. If a prospective dentist doesn’t provide you with an estimate, you shouldn’t utilize his or her services.
Note, it’s generally wise to stay away from dentists whose rates are exceedingly low. If the rates are much lower than those of other dentists in your area, there could be a catch (ie. poor dental work, bad with kids, etc.).
Need a Dentist for Kids in Brentwood, Tennessee?
If you’re looking for a dentist for kids, and if you’re in the Brentwood, Tennessee area, we here at Brentwood Pediatric Dentistry are the people to see. Our dentists are well-versed in working with children and will create a comfortable and relaxing environment for your child.
Contact us today to schedule an appointment!