What to Look for in a Pediatric Dentist
One of the many responsibilities you have as a parent is to seek out proper care for your children. That includes finding them the right doctor, as well as the right dentist. Pediatric dentistry can be a challenge, of course – kids don’t always want to cooperate – but it is also very rewarding. At Lakeside Dental, we love offering dental care to every member of the family, from the parents on down to the little ones.
So, when you are looking for a pediatric dentist to care for your children’s oral health, how do you make your selection? We hope the tips below will be of assistance.
Find One that Serves Kids!
Okay – so this point is a bit of an obvious one, but it’s where we need to start. If you are just driving around town and happen to see a dental office, you shouldn’t just assume that it will be a good place to take your kids. You’ll want to find an office which actually focuses on pediatric dentistry1 and makes it an important part of the practice. That doesn’t mean it must be an office which serves only children – plenty of great dental offices serve both kids and adults. It simply means that you’ll want to look for an office which takes pride in offering excellent dental care to all members of the family. When in doubt, a quick visit to the dentist’s website should tell you everything you need to know about the kinds of services available.
A Comfortable Environment
As you know, it can be difficult to take kids to certain public places, especially if those places make them a bit nervous or apprehensive. To make your dental appointments go as smoothly as possible, you’ll want to find an office that works hard to make kids comfortable. Maybe they have a kid-specific waiting area with some toys waiting to be enjoyed, or maybe the staff is careful to interact with the kids in a way that they will appreciate. Whatever the case, the dental office should strive to make your entire family as comfortable as possible.
Social Proof
You don’t want to rely on online reviews alone when making decisions, but those reviews can be a good starting point when trying to pick a dentist or make other important choices. Take a moment to read some reviews and see what other parents are saying about dentists in your area. Does the dental office in question seem to have a good reputation with regard to their pediatric offerings? Or are kids made to feel unwelcome and in the way? If there seem to be plenty of other parents who are happy with the way their kids are treated in a given office, that’s a good sign that you should keep that one on your list.
Staying Ahead of the Game
Although their mouths may be smaller, the dental care offered to children is the same as what is offered to adults in many ways. Toward that end, you want to make sure that your pediatric dentist has a plan for preventive care for your child’s oral health. Just as with adults, staying ahead of problems with routine cleanings and exams will help to steer clear of problems and spot any problems that do come up early in their progression. You’d obviously like to keep your child away from any significant dental work if at all possible, and one way to accomplish that goal is to make sure they are keeping up with regular dental visits.
Suitable Billing Practices
The financial side of this equation should be considered as well, so be sure to discuss money with any prospective dental office. Are they going to be able to work with any insurance coverage you may have in place? What are the billing terms on the costs that you will need to pay out of pocket? You don’t want to get too far into the process of appointments and treatments before you realize that the billing practices or policies or the office are going to present a problem for you and your family.
A Range of Services
In the event that one of your children has an oral health issue that needs attention, you’ll want your dental office to be able to deal with that problem right there in-house. That won’t always be the case, of course, depending on the problem and the treatment required, but do look for an office that can do a variety of things without having to send you somewhere else. Of course, if you develop a good relationship with your pediatric dentist, you’ll be able to trust a referral that you receive, if it is necessary to see a specialist.
The Right Feel
Besides the objective points that you can evaluate when considering a dental office, you should also give some weight to your ‘gut feeling’ on the matter. When you visit the office to ask about their services and talk with the staff, how do you feel? Does it seem like they want to make you a part of the family, or will you just be another patient to add to the bottom line? It’s important for all dental care to have a personal element, but that is even more important when kids are involved. You’ll want your children to feel comfortable and relaxed during their appointments, so make sure the dental office you select is going to welcome you with open arms each time you arrive.
If you live in the Moses Lake area and have been searching for a pediatric dentist for your children, Lakeside Dental would be happy to serve you and your family. We take great pride in the dental care we offer to children, and you can be sure that you’ll always feel welcome in our office. With any questions, please contact2 us during normal business hours. Thank you for stopping by!
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Contributed by DentalROI
DentalROI provides relevant dental content to help providers educate patients. The statements, services, and products referenced in this article have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration, and they are not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dental provider with any questions or issues you may have. Specific recommendations may vary in different circumstances, so individual consultation is important.
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