One of the most important decisions you will ever have to make has to do with dentist selection. Here you will find the top five tips to consider when choosing a new dentist. With a bit of research and knowing what questions to ask, you can choose a trusted dentist that will care for the oral health of you and your family for a long time to come.
1. Registration
All dentists, dental therapists, dental technicians, dental hygienists, and dental nurses are required to be registered with the General Dental Council (GDC) before being allowed to legally work in the United Kingdom. The GDC is responsible for regulating the UK’s dental professionals. Visit the GDC website to confirm whether or not the dentist is registered along with the qualifications he/she holds. You will also find a useful checklist of the standards to be expected from your dentist on the GDC website.
Besides individual dental professionals being personally registered, the dental practice is also required to be registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC is an autonomous body that’s responsible for regulating health and social care services in the United Kingdom. It also offers guidance, advice, and regular inspection reports to help you choose a dental practice.
If you check the GDC and CQC websites, you will have a better understanding of the standards of treatment and care that should be expected when selecting a dental surgery and dentist.
2. Training and Qualifications
All dentists are required to successfully complete 5 years of undergraduate training and have a Bachelor of Dental Surgery as well as the letters “BChD” or “BDS” after their name. Dental clinicians must also undergo regular training to ensure that their skills and techniques are up-to-date.
When it comes to dental practice selection always look for additional qualifications, skills, as well as interests in specialist areas, such as orthodontics in Fleet. Some dentists have extra expertise in a specialist area such as offering certain types of cosmetic dentistry or caring for anxious patients.
3. Dental Team and Dental Practice
The dental practice that you choose should be tidy, clean, properly organised and have helpful and welcoming staff too. The dentist should be approachable, professional, sympathetic, and patient with patients of all types and you should have no problem asking him/her any questions that you might have.
A good dental practice should be transparent when it comes to fees and pricing and you need to check that they provide a written treatment plan as well as estimated treatment cost.
4. Convenient Location and Hours
Attending regular check-ups will be easier and you will always arrive on time if you choose a dental practice that’s easy and convenient to travel to from home or work. You can even consider looking for a practice that offers either late or lunchtime appointments if you work full-time. The vast majority of dental practices can accommodate family bookings, which means that if you have children, you can all be seen at the same time.
5. Dental Service Selection
Dental practices currently offer a range of services besides routine dental care. A wide variety of cosmetic dental treatments are currently available and you need to check that the dentist offers a variety of treatments to help you achieve a healthy smile and mouth. Visit the dental practice website and check that it is clear and informative with news, information, and offers. All these are good signs that the dental practice is keen on attracting and keeping new patients.
Emergency dental treatment is another important consideration when choosing a dental practice. Dental emergencies can and do happen, which is why you need to understand the emergency dental services that the practice offers, whether they are during normal practice hours, weekends, or evenings.