Tips for choosing a dentist in Buckinghamshire
When you move to a new area, one of the first things to do is to register with a local dental surgery. Depending on where you have moved to, this may initially seem like an easy task, especially if you are in a smaller community where there is only one!
However, in larger cities and towns, there maybe many surgeries to choose from and you could be spoilt for choice, so what should you look for when picking a dentist?
Reputation
When checking the reputation of any surgery, the internet is an invaluable tool.
Look for reviews, patient comments and any other information you can find about the surgery separate from the official website (if they have one). If you find a mixed bag of reviews and are unsure, the best option is to visit the surgery yourself to decide if it is right for you.
A review of a surgery may be about a particular dentist, so it is always best to check if there is another member of staff with higher reviews and a better reputation.
Services
All dental surgeries, including NHS based, offer general dentistry along with some whitening and restorative treatments.
If you are interested in having procedures like veneers, implants or even clear braces, you need to check that the dental surgery you are interested in not only performs this procedure, but that they perform it well. This is especially important for more extensive dental cosmetic work like implants that need to be undertaken by a skilled and competent dental surgeon.
Staff qualifications
An obvious one that is often overlooked when hunting for the correct dental surgery, is to ask about staff qualifications.
Any dental team worth their salt will be happy to tell you about their dental qualifications, training and how much experience they have with certain procedures. Cosmetic dentists may even have a portfolio of work that they can show you, to reassure you of their skill in this area.
Up-to-date technology
Up-to-date technology does not mean a modern drill or X-ray machine.
Is the dental surgery able to send out text reminders? Or emails to remind you about your upcoming appointment? Do they also offer phone calls to remind you that you are due for an appointment? These are extremely useful tools for any surgery to have and ensure that your oral health is being looked after professionally by people who care about regular visits and check-ups.
Professional attitude
Nothing is more off putting than a medical professional with an uncaring, judgemental attitude. If you are a nervous dental patient, you will not want to be the subject of scrutiny at your next dental appointment, so it is best to meet with the staff members before undergoing any procedure to get a feeling for their overall attitude towards their work.
There are plenty of dental surgeries out there for you to choose from, so do as much research as you can.
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