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Questions to Ask Your DentistFirst you should have a list of potential dentists. If you do not, then see our section on: How to Find Dentists to Review. Once you have your list, you will need to contact each of the potential dentists arranging a time to meet. Explain that you are looking for a family dentist, and want to ask the dentist a few questions regarding their service and techniques. Tell them that you will need about a half hour of their time. If the office or the dentist refuses for whatever reason, you may want to consider not using their services. Typically, if a dentist doesn’t have time to sit down and consult with a new potential patient, then that dentist may not have your best interests at heart. Remember, you want your dentist to care about you; you do not want to be treated like just another dollar sign, where the dentist whirls in and whirls out.
Below you will find the reasons and what to look for as far as responses to the questions above.
How long have you been practicing dentistry? This question shouldn’t even need explaining. Typically, you want someone with experience. Most people do not generally want a dentist fresh out of school. However, if you find a recently graduated dentist that has wisdom, and feel that you can trust them. There is no reason not to give them a shot. There are plenty of exceptional, young, fresh dentists out there that have both wisdom and skill. How have you continued your education? Here you are trying to establish that the dentist is still learning, and not just getting by on what they learned back in school. It’s important that your dentist not only enjoys, but has a passion for what they are doing. This means that they most likely care not only for the work, but for you as a human being, a patient, and a client. Do you keep up with the latest dental techniques? With this question you are insuring that your dentist hasn’t been “locked in” to one procedure or mind frame. Dentists that don’t keep up on the latest techniques have typically hit that point in their career where they are simply coasting, trying to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives. You want to avoid these types. The second thing you are trying to discover, is whether the dentist likes to make guinea pigs of their patients. Believe it or not, there are dentists out there that like to “try new things” on their patients, simply because they are the latest techniques. What study groups do you belong to? You are simply trying to further establish that the dentist is truly active in their profession. You want your dentist to be up to date on all of the options and techniques available today. That does not indicate that you want them to actually use all new techniques. But you do want your dentist to be aware of new treatments and conditions to give you maximum flexibility in your options and dental health. What services does your dental practice perform? This question seems very innocent but you are looking for potential red flags. If the dentist indicates that they do “everything”, you should definitely look into this claim in depth. You want a dentist that knows their limitations and sends you to specialists when required. There are dentists out there that try to be all things to all people. Not only is this not possible, it’s dangerous. You are looking for a response that indicates confidence, yet wisdom when faced with problems that require specialists. What hours are you open and how do you handle emergency dental care? It is always a good idea to know what the typical hours of operation, and days the office is open. It’s also exceptionally important to know how the dentist handles emergency cases. If you or one of your loved ones develop a painful oral situation, the last thing you want to do is end up with a dentist you don’t know and trust, or worse yet, waiting for the next day or the weekend to go by before you can be treated. Do you heat sterilize all of your instruments between patients? This shows the dentist that you’ve at least done a little bit of homework. The response should generally be a simple yes, and possibly, an explanation indicating that some equipment is heat sensitive and is sterilized with chemical processes. How do you know if your sterilizer is working properly? Basically what you are looking for as a response to this question is a calm rational explanation. At a dentist office, like a doctor’s office, sterilization is paramount. You might even ask to see their instrument processing area. The actual response you are looking for should be something like: We sterilize all instruments with heat or chemical sterilization processes. Every month (at least) they should use biological monitoring to determine if the sterilizer is working properly. Biological monitoring is a process that involves introducing spore strips to the sterilizer and then culturing the spores to insure they’ve been killed. If the dentist doesn't volunteer this information, ask them if they do the above. Do you feel threatened when patients seek a second opinion about procedures recommended by you? This is probably one of the most important questions you could ask. Many dentists take second opinions as personal insults. It’s irrational, and in my opinion irresponsible, but it’s a fact. When you ask this question, look for obvious discomfort or uneasiness. The fact is, it’s your body, you health, and your right to seek another opinion. If the dentist acts insulted or outraged by this question, politely thank them for their time, get up, and LEAVE! Do you typically offer options to choose from when making a recommendation? In almost every case, there are options. If your dentist refuses to discuss options, or indicates at any time that there are no other options, RUN, don’t walk to another dentist. You need to be aware of your options so that you may make an informed decision by weighing the risks and benefits of the procedure. Your dentist needs to be comfortable providing those options to you. As discussed later, try to get all treatment options provided to you in the form of a written estimate, this allows you time to consider them later when you’ve had a chance to think about what you’ve discussed with your dentist. This practice also insures that you won't forget any of the options and their details. What is your policy regarding missed and late dental appointments? It is imperative that you keep your appointments, and keep them on time. The dental office has scheduled a block of time for you that, if not filled, will cost them money and force the costs of all patients up. Be courteous, and be punctual. If you are going to be late or unable to make the appointment, call your dental office and let them know as soon as possible. That being said, it is important for you to know what the dental offices policies are regarding late or missed appointments. Let’s face it, sometimes things happen that we have either no, or little, control over, when this happens, you need to know how strict they are. The dental office may require you to pay a fee, and you need to be fully aware of this fact and be able to plan for it. Was the office clean, neat and orderly? A sloppy dental office whose front desk is rude or incompetent is a sure sign of trouble ahead. You want to make certain that the dental staff on hand is competent. Incompetence typically leads to confusion at the very least, and at worst, misdiagnoses and unnecessary costs. It is exceptionally important that your dentist know about your past. This will allow your dentist to accurately, and safely recommend procedures for you at minimum risk. Did the dentist explain treatment options and fees? The reason for this question should be fairly self evident. You don’t want any surprises. If possible, whenever you discuss treatments with your dentist, have them create written estimates for every treatment option. This way you will be able to go home where you are comfortable, and not under pressure, to decide which treatment is best for you. Is the office easy to get from your home and/or job? It’s important that you can get to the dental office quickly and easily, relative to where you live of course. This allows you to be prompt for appointments, and insures that you won’t have far to go if you have to endure a painful procedure. However, this is not the most important thing. If you find a great, or even a good, dentist, distance may not mean that much. It is increasingly difficult to find good dental professionals that have the patient’s best interests at heart. If you find one, hang on to them for all your worth. If the dentist seemed impatient at any time during the interview, this is a sign that they are too busy to take your time seriously. Remember, your time is just as important as your dentists. Another sign of impatience; short non-descriptive answers. You want details, make certain that they are aware of this. If the dentist was uncomfortable when you asked your questions, it may be a sign that they themselves are not comfortable with how they, or their office, handles whatever you were asking about. Should this happen, continue the line of questioning further. Your intent should be to engage the dentist in casual conversation in order to get as much of their true feelings as possible.
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