11 Jan Tips and Tricks for Choosing the Best San Diego Dentist

Dental fear affects around 36% of the population. It happens for a variety of reasons — it could be fear of pain, judgment, or just simply uncertainty surrounding the unknown.

What makes a huge difference to any dental visit and encourages ease at future visits is choosing the right dentist. Whether you’re looking for great oral hygiene or more cosmetic treatments such as Invisalign or whitening, the professional standing next to that chair makes all the difference!

Here’s how to choose the best San Diego dentist.

Ask Friends

When it comes to how to choose a dentist, asking friends is one of the best places you could start. Many of them will have promising recommendations of dentists (and may even suggest someone to avoid, which is useful in its own way).

The names you gather from friends and family will give you a starting point for your research.

Read Reviews

People, on average, are willing to spend 31% more on a business with good reviews. Reviews are a powerful tool to help businesses but, not just that, they help customers too.

They tell you where to spend your money and who to put your trust in — as well as who to avoid.

When you have names, it’s time to Google them. Look at the reviews that pop up. They should have a good overall score at the very least.

You can also do a deep dive into the reviews. Look at the one-star reviews and the five-star, and make a fair judgment accordingly.

Read Their Website

Any dentist should have a clean, professional website. It may not be full of super fancy web design tricks, but it should have contact information services laid out in a clear and accessible manner.

This can be very important when it comes to choosing a dentist. You’ll want to look for someone who is good at what you’re looking for, and the first place to start is their website.

You may just want good oral hygiene. However, you may want something more specialized, like Invisalign or teeth whitening — or you may need a dentist who specializes in patients with anxiety.

If you want the best dentist in San Diego for any of these things, scour the website first. It might be mentioned on there.

Ask Questions

When you first contact anyone involved in San Diego dentistry, you should ask them a lot of questions. The best dentists in San Diego won’t mind answering them, because they’ll understand the importance of choosing the right dentist for you.

Some questions to ask include:

• How long has this dentist been in business?
• How many times has he done this specific procedure?
• Do you have any before-and-after pictures?
• What’s the best way to contact the office?

The last question is particularly important because you want to know if it’s best to message or call, and what will get you the fastest communication in the future.

In general, you should feel comfortable asking all the questions you want, and the inquiries shouldn’t be limited to this list.

Consider the Dentist Themselves

When you first meet the dentist for your consultation, you should listen to your intuition. Everyone feels a little anxious at the dentist, and that’s normal — but they should have the ability to put you a little at ease and make you feel like they’re friendly and professional.

One of the best tips for choosing a dentist is to assess their demeanor in person. If they increase your anxiety through something they’re doing, they may not be the best choice for you.

It’s also important to consider the office they work in. A good waiting room will have neutral colors and a relaxing atmosphere to try and lessen the nerves.

Ask About Their Availability

If you want this procedure done very soon and they don’t have any time, it may be time to go back to Googling, “best dentist near me.” Likewise, they need to have appointments at times that you can fit into their schedule.

It’s important to assert this at the consultation. It’s best if you can be flexible though because that’s what will get you a top San Diego dentist. Good dentists are in demand!

Consider the Quote

The last thing you should do is consider the quote.

Many people will ask for multiple quotes and choose the cheapest dentist, using money as their only factor. While it’s essential to make sure a dentist is within your budget, choosing the cheapest can be a mistake.

They might be the cheapest because they have less experience or have bad reviews. They may skip steps other dentists would take.

Ask for the quote, consider it, but consider it alongside all of the other factors. If a dentist makes you feel comfortable, has a soothing office, and top-tier experience, then there may be a reason they’re a little more expensive — and they may be worth it.

Choosing a San Diego Dentist Can Be Daunting

Choosing a San Diego dentist may, in fact, seem like an impossible task. There are so many of them around, and how can you be truly sure they’re the one for you?

The best thing to do is to ask your friends, read reviews, and ask the dentist all of the questions you can think of. The right dentists in San Diego won’t be put off by the questions or make you feel like a burden — they’ll answer patiently, and give you confidence.

If you’re looking for a trusted Invisalign service in San Diego, contact us today. We have various discounts and deals, as well as giving free consultations.