Finding a great dentist should be a top priority for people of all ages. Not only will having a great dentist make dental appointments much less stressful, it will also benefit your smile’s health and appearance. There’s no sense in settling for a dentist that provides mediocre care that you don’t look forward to visiting when there are better options available.
Continue reading to learn how to find a great “dentist near me” from the comfort of your home.
Step 1: Decide what’s important to you.
When you visit the dentist, what are some expectations do you have? How close do you want the dentist’s office to be to your work or home? What treatments will be the most beneficial to you?
In addition, consider what qualities you would like your dentist will have. Here are some of the characteristics we think are the most important:
Passion for dentistry
Love for people
Prioritizes patient education
Good communication skills
Attention to detail
Though proximity shouldn’t be the deciding factor for potential patients, it should certainly be considered. Patients who have a dentist that is close to their work or home are more likely to attend their appointments.
Step 2: Start Googling.
Once you know the kind of dentist you’re looking for, go to Google to begin your search! When you type one of these phrases into the search bar, a list of nearby dentists will pop up:
“best dentist near me”
“dentist in [city, state]”
“dentist near me”
You can scroll through that list to find out what type of dentist each dentist is, their hours, their location, and patient reviews.
Step 3: Read reviews.
We recommend reading the reviews of dentists with ratings of 4.8 and above. Remember, you’re not looking for just any dentist—you’re looking for a great one!
These reviews are so important because they give prospective patients insight from patients with first-hand experience with the dentist. While reading, see if the reviews mention the qualities you’ve written down on your list.
For example, here is a review from one of our patients who deals with dental anxiety:
What a great friendly office. Everyone makes you feel comfortable in an office I’m normally very tense in. Dr. Glud took time and explained everything she was doing. I would recommend this office to anyone looking for a new dentist. –Stacy P.
After reading through the views, try to narrow down your list to three to five dentists.
Step 4: Check out the dentists’ websites.
Now, click on the link to visit the dentists’ websites. Here, you’ll want to look for the services that the dentist offers. Typically, general dentists offer the widest array of services. These include preventive, restorative, and cosmetic services.
On the websites, you’ll also find more information about the dentist’s training, education, skills, and personal life. Other factors that might be important to you include payment options and new patient specials.
Step 5: Schedule an initial consultation.
The final step is to call up to three dentists to schedule an initial consultation. During this appointment, you’ll be able to experience the office environment, meet the dentist and dental team in person, and learn if the dentist is a good fit for you.
When you meet with our friendly and experienced general dentist, Dr. Julie Glud, we guarantee you won’t be disappointed. It is our goal to provide gentle, relationship-oriented dental care.
To schedule an initial consultation at our Lombard, IL dentist office, call (630) 629-5700 today.
