How do I know if a dentist is good?

Answer 1

ARGHHH!!! This is a great question with some butt-*** ridiculous answers so far! What is WRONG with you people?

OK, first let me give you three rational, intelligent answers to your question, because you deserve that.
1 - Ask other people who are patients of the dentist. If you don't know any, maybe ask the office to give you some names. Obviously, they wont' give you the dissatisfied patients, but it can't hurt to hear from people who LIKE that doctor. In my case, you could walk next door as ask the woman who runs the coffeeshop about me or go the other way and ask some of the guys who make pizza at the Italian restaurant about me...you get the idea.

2 - Check it out with your state dental board. Call them up or go online and check to see if your dentist has had any action taken against them in terms of their license. They might tell you how many complaints have been made about that dentist. Now, the board usually has private hearings (innocent 'til proven guilty) but if there's a LOT of complaints, that might be a tip to go somewhere else.

3 - Call another dentist! Say, Hey, look, I'm looking at several offices, but where would you go OTHER than your office. This coudl prove illuminating if you call like 5 dentists and 3-4 all name the same person.

OK, here's why the other answerers are CRAZY.
1- Inspect his teeth. TWO people said this! first off, you assume that the "inspector" has any grasp of what they're looking at. They (probably) aren't a dentist, so what does that tell you? There are plenty of yellow, crooked but healthy teeth and plenty of good looking smiles that hae decay you can't see. Second on this point, do you honestly think we work on our OWN teeth? Jeez, people! You'd have to have like three mirrors to even attempt this and you still couldn't reach half the things....

2 - "I left when I heard a scream" OK, sure that bodes no good. But I can't even tell you how often you have patients (especially children) who come in and scream, yell, have "panic attacks," vomit and do all SORTs of stuff despite every attempt at compassion, care, sedation, etc etc. The dentist has no control over how crazy someone might be who comes in! So that answer was off the mark, I think.

Now, here's another tip - if you want to "inspect some work" don't look at the dentist - look at his staff! Ask casually how long they've worked there.... if it's five years or more, they're bound to have had some bleaching, veneers, denture, who knows...but tha'ts a better tip off. you can even come out and ask, "Did Dr Smith do any of your work?" and they'll be happy to show you.

Sorry about the length of response, but I was pretty steamed. No one likes an angry dentist! lol

Answer 2

OH my gosh, Dr Swanson you cracked me up!!!!! That was so true what you said.

Refrences from other patients is the best compliment that a dentist can get. Also I think it is a good idea to go into the office to make your appointment. You should look for the following things.

1: Is the office well put together? Does it look like they take pride in the appearance of the office?

2: Is the reception staff helpful and curtious? Do they answer your questions in a helpful and respectful way?

3: What kind of facial expressions do they have? Even the most tired dental assistant or receptionist, can still put on a happy and helpful face for the sake of the patients. If they don't, it may be that they are not really happy in their environment, which could include their relationship with the dentist or other staff members.

4: Look on the wall for PRAISE LETTERS from other patients and see what other patients have said about them.


Just some suggestions.

Answer 3

This may sound crazy , but I left a dentist office once after hearing someone scream. I always try to look at the people coming out of the office to see what expression may be on their face.Or you could listen to word of mouth, LOL.

Answer 4

He or she don't think about things when looking at your x-rays they know the problem off the Bat.But in some cases for root canal I get another opinion.

Answer 5

if you now if the dentist is good or not history about that person

Answer 6

you can also call some dental laboratories in your area and inquire if they know, or ask them for referrals to good dentists in your area

Answer 7

Reference, lots of references.

Answer 8

have him checked out
get opinions from patients
get a second opinion
make sure that who ever referred you to this dds are credible references

Answer 9

DR SWANSON GIVES SOME FACTUAL AND INTELLIGENT ADVISE.

Answer 10

Ask him if you can inspect his teeth. Make your judgment based on what you see inside his mouth.