Keep Your Child Smiling: How to Choose a Pediatric Dentist You Can Trust

Posted August 18, 2019 by in Health + Fitness
how to choose a dentist

Raising tiny humans can be a scary thing. You have to make sure all of their needs are met and you want to always provide them with the highest quality of everything in life. This is especially true for anything to do with health and medical-related issues.

Finding a good dentist for your kid requires you to pay attention to a few things. You definitely want to make the right decision for someone who is responsible for the management of your little one’s teeth and oral health. 

Keep reading to check out these tips on how to choose a dentist for your child.

Request a Consultation

The first step of how to choose a pediatric dentist for your child is to schedule a consultation. During the consultation, you’ll be able to observe the dentist’s personality, how they interact with the child and whether or not their skills and knowledge are up to par with your expectations of a dental professional.

Although your child isn’t getting any actual work done at the consult, you should still be able to gauge the overall interaction. Pay attention to whether or not your little one looks comfortable and if the dentist seems genuine in their urge to help with oral health.

Schedule a Dental Visit

If your child does need work done then you should go right into scheduling a dental visit. There are certain key procedures that you the pediatric dentist should complete -otherwise, this should raise some red flags.

Firstly, the child should have an oral examination and x-rays. The dentist should not make any guesswork without properly assessing the current state of their teeth and gums. There should typically also be a thorough cleaning.

Speak with Staff

Good customer service is important in any environment and the dentist is no exception. It would be beneficial to talk to some of the staff and see how helpful and professional they are. Take this tip on how to pick a dentist so that you don’t want to get stuck later on down the line with a serious issue and a rude secretary. 

Visit the Office

Whenever you’re in a place you get a certain vibe or feeling from being there. Your children will also be to sense if the atmosphere is unwelcoming. This is a great method on how to choose a dentist.

Make sure the dental office looks child appropriate (books, toys, bright colors, etc.) and can take some of the edges off of a visit that is already typically scary for kids.

Check Hours of Operation

Fitting children’s needs into your schedule is usually a challenge. That’s why you should search for a dental office with hours that coincide with your current schedule. It would also be beneficial to find an office that is flexible with scheduling options and tries to accommodate the needs of their patients.

Ask for Referrals

One of the quickest ways to find a good pediatric dentist for your little one is to ask other parents. Moms and dads are very protective of their children so they will understand that you want an honest review. Checkout parenting forums for some inside scoops.

Wondering How to Choose a Dentist for Your Child?

Children need regular routines for their teeth and so you have to put someone in charge of that. Learning how to choose a dentist is an essential part of your child’s oral health.

Follow some of the tips above to help you with your search. Check out our blog if you’re looking for more parenting advice.