Strange as it may sound, dentists near you hope only to see their patients roughly three times a year — once for annual professional teeth cleaning and twice during regular checkups every six months. Of course, most dental offices offer a wide range of complementary services such as cosmetic dentistry and would be thrilled to welcome you at any time to help you achieve your cosmetic goals. When it comes to urgent and emergency treatment or restoration dentistry, dental clinics want to be ready and responsive, even if — for our patients’ sake — those services rarely need to be used.
When you and your family are looking for a dentist, what should you look for? Here are five questions to consider when choosing a dental clinic near you for your family’s lifetime dental needs.
Has The Clinic Invested In State-Of-The-Art Technology?
We know how anxious many patients are about attending the dentist for even routine preventative care, not to mention for help in emergency cases. Many people’s dental fear and anxiety are rooted in recollections of dental procedures of days gone by. Continuing advances in dental technology have made dental care safer, more effective, more efficient, and much more comfortable for patients of all ages.
When you’re considering your options for a dentist in Edina, ask about the clinic’s recent technology investments that can transform patient care — things like sedation dentistry, digital x-rays, CEREC, VELscope Screening, and laser dentistry.
Are The Dentists And Staff Constantly Looking To Improve?
As technology continues to evolve, so must the training and education received by general dentists, specialists, assistants, hygienists, and all clinic staff. Before entering into a new dentist-patient relationship, ask about the clinic’s commitment to participating in and leading professional development and education. Just as you would want a teacher to be up to date to teach your child, your dentist should constantly be up to date to care for your health.
Is The Clinic Welcoming To Children?
If you have or intend to start a family, you should consider a clinic that practices dentistry for the entire family while understanding children’s particular needs. Child patients are not merely miniatures of adult patients. Pediatric dentists are specially trained to understand and respond to the unique clinical and emotional needs of children. In particular, look for a clinic that demonstrates a commitment to reducing dental anxiety in children. A clinic’s waiting room, furniture, atmosphere, and even the equipment’s scale should reflect the priority placed on its youngest patients’ comfort.
Is The Clinic Clean?
Does The Clinic Provide The Bare Minimum, Or Exceed Expectations?
Every patient needs a dental clinic that will react effectively to a dental need or emergency. Every patient deserves a dental office in Edina that will anticipate their family’s evolving dental needs and proactively support good oral health over a lifetime. Patients have — whether you know it or not at any particular moment — needs that go beyond the expectations of a responsive clinic.
What support and information make your possible clinic offer between and around your twice-a-year checkups and annual cleaning? Do they ask questions about conditions related to your general oral health — things like TMD screening, oral cancer screening, your sleep habits, your children, and your personal cosmetic goals beyond the essential fillings? Do they offer services complementary to primary dental care, such as mouth guards or Botox injections and dermal fillers?
As you consider partnering with a dental clinic in Edina for your lifelong oral health — or the dental needs of your family — ask them these questions.