Finding the right dentist for dental implants is not an easy task, as much as we would love it to be. There is a lot that goes into the process, including researching, analyzing, and decision making. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that Arizona has dozens of dental implant offices, each with their own sets of strengths and weaknesses.
Since these dental facilities aren’t created equal, you shouldn’t just pick the first option that comes your way. It is your smile that’s at stake here, and a little mistake could cost you money and confidence too. According to Dr. Shanahan in Flagstaff, AZ, here are some top tips for finding the right dentist for your implants:
Consider specialization
First, you want to look at what the dentist specializes in. You might not know this, but dentists, like doctors, lawyers and teachers, specialize in different areas. Although a mathematics teacher can still teach physics, they won’t be as effective as a physics teacher. The same scenario applies to the dental world. So, you want to find a dentist who specializes in dental implants, because that would mean that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to handle your kind of issue than any other dentist would.
Check their experience
Specialization is necessary, but experience is critical. A dentist may be specialized, but with zero experience executing dental implants – meaning they won’t be your best option. Find a dentist who has successfully performed dental implants procedures of the same magnitude and nature as yours – after all; it is the only guarantee that they will get it right.
Look at their reputation
You can tell a good dentist by what other people are saying about them. A simple search online for “dentist name” or “dentist office name” review will reveal a lot about the dentist in question. And if the dentist has a website, you can also check out their customer testimonial page to see what their past clients are saying about them.
Ask for before and after pictures
“Pictures are worth a thousand words” may sound cliché, but it’s totally applicable here. You don’t want to take your dentist’s words and run away with them. Ask for before and after pictures of their past patients. This will show you how good a dentist is in rendering the dental implant services.
Look at the cost
As stated earlier, these dentists are not created equal – neither are their prices. So, it is important to find out how much they charge for a procedure. Ideally, you want to work with a dentist whose charges are within your budgetary preferences – not too low or too high.
Consider your comfort
Another critical thing to consider is your comfort. Do you feel comfortable enough to ask questions and explain symptoms? Do you feel like the dentist listens to and understands your concerns? Are you confident about asking them for pain medication, asking about the procedures or expressing your anxiety or fear? If you not, then you may want to continue with your search.