Searching for a good dentist can be a daunting task for anyone. The worst thing you can do is look in the yellow pages for someone you want to be in charge of your oral hygiene. One of the best places to start is referrals from friends and family members. Individual preferences play a large part in selecting a dentist. Your friends and family members may recommend a dentist who has been practicing for 20 years, who just doesn't give you that comfortable feeling you like. Either way, keep in mind that a good dentist will provide a great word of mouth.

Many people have taken to the internet to find a good dentist. While this is a great way to research information about dentists; you may become overwhelmed with all the dental sites and directories on the internet. With the use of the internet, you are able to find information about various dental procedures, pricing, and qualification pertaining to that dentist. Here are a few key questions you need to ask yourself when seeking a dentist:

How convenient is the dentist's location to your home or work?

Does the dentist treat younger children? (if you have small children)

Does the dentist accept your insurance?

How helpful are the dental assistants and hygienist?

How long does it take to get an appointment with the dentist?

Does the dentist have a nice, comfortable office environment?

Here are the top ways to find a dentist broken down:

Yellow Pages and Word f Mouth

Again, a good dentist will provide excellent word of mouth. If you look in the yellow pages and see a large ad, feel free to call them. Ask them key questions about the situation you are in and if they provide a welcome packet to new patients. Secondly, ask your friends, family, neighbors, or church clergy members if they have heard of this dentist and if they would recommend them.

The Internet

The internet has revolutionized the way people search for dentists. Not only can you search for a dentist, but you can read testimonials from current or past patients. Dental web sites can provide information about their services and procedures. Many web sites will even provide you with information about what types of insurance they accept and how much you can expect to pay out-of-pocket for certain procedures.

If you have just moved to the area and you are looking for a dentist, here are a few tips:

Check to see if there is a dental school nearby. Dental schools provide you will a large number of practicing dentists that are faculty members.

Check for hospitals and health care centers that provide dental services in your area. You may not be able to see the dentist in charge of those centers, but they can recommend you to a couple dentists with good reputations.

If you have already found an orthodontist; ask them who they recommend as a dentist. Orthodontists are familiar with several different dentists in the area.

Once you have narrowed down your list of dentist's, you need to ask the new dentist a few questions upon your first visit, or when you are calling their office on the phone.

Is the dentist accepting new patients?

How long has the dentist been in practice?

Does the dentist treat patients with special conditions such as special needs children?

What types of relaxation techniques does the dentist offer for patients with phobias?

Does the dentist see children as well as adults?

Is there a charge for a missed or cancelled appointment?

Does the dentist take educational classes to stay up with the latest technology?

Does the dentist provide emergency care hours? Do they provide a phone number to call for dental emergencies?

What types of payment plans does the dentist offer?

What types of dental insurance does the dentist accept?

What types of procedures is the dentist qualified to perform? For example, many dentists do not offer root canal services and will refer you to an endodontist.

Once you have found your new dentist, they should carry out a few first visit procedures with you. Upon your first visit, they should carry out a thorough medical and dental history questionnaire and perform a head and neck examination. Your dentist should provide you with knowledge on how to take care of your teeth and perform good oral hygiene. You should also expect to make appointments for regular check-ups, usually every 6 months. The dental hygienist should also perform an oral prophylaxis or dental cleaning every 6 months. Again, you should feel comfortable in the dentist's office. The office should be sanitary and clean from infection. The dentist and their assistants should wear gloves and facemasks when treating their patients.

What is the difference between a DDS and DMD?

If you have found in your search for a new dentist that you keep stumbling upon different educational titles and you don't know what they mean; we will provide you with some clarification. As you know a dentist is a qualified healthcare professional trained to practice dentistry. A dentist can graduate with a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent), Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc), or Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS). In order to earn the title of DDS or DMD, the dentist must complete at least 3 years of undergraduate study (a Bachelor's degree is required) after which they must complete 4 years in dentistry study at a dental school.

Dentists can further their training to become specialized in different areas of oral hygiene such as oral surgery, endodontics, orthodontics, and others. Many dentists have the luxury of choosing which services they will provide, unlike a specialist. Some dentists will train at a dental school that teaches them to perform root canals on certain teeth before they have to refer patients to an endodontist.

If you are still unsure of how to find a dentist, we will go over a few places you can begin to find a credible dentist in your area.

American Dental Association

The American Dental Association provides a free listing of all qualified dentists in your area. Approximately 7 out of 10 dentists belong to the American Dental Association. Dentist's who are members of the American Dental Association adhere to high ethical standards of conduct.

1-800-DENTIST

Many people call 1-800-DENTIST to find a qualified dentist in their area. 1800dentist.com also provides you with the same information you can get from the phone operators. They will match you with a dentist that fits your needs pertaining to insurance, financial assistance, dental needs, and family issues. If you are looking for a pediatric dentist, you should research them on 1800dentist.com as they can provide patient testimonials about a particular dentist

The Academy of General Dentistry

The Academy of General Dentistry provides you with a complete listing of general dentist's and what types of procedures they practice. The Academy of General Dentistry provides you with recent podcasts, blogs, and articles pertaining to dentistry. You are also able to search for a general dentist in your area.