25% of adults in the US suffer from untreated tooth decay.

Without a great dentist to ensure your oral health, it’s difficult to feel confident with your smile. Not only that, but untreated oral health symptoms can lead to toothaches, infections, and tooth loss.

That’s why it’s critical that you invest in great dental services.

But how do you find a great dentist? What factors should you consider during your search for a great dentist?

Keep reading to learn more. Below, we’ll explain six things to consider when selecting a dental practice.

1. Certification

Certification ensures that dentistry services remain legitimate and safe. Medical practitioners of all fields, whether they’re a surgeon or a dentist, need to register their practice with their state.

This information is available to the public. Prospective patients can check in with The American Dental Association (ADA) and The Academy of General Dentists (AG) to double-check that they select a certified local dentist.

Even if you’re searching for an affordable option, don’t choose a dental office that isn’t certified. Uncertified dentists do not possess the training or skills needed to treat you safely and effectively.

If anything goes wrong after treatment from an uncertified dentist, you may not be able to hold them legally accountable. However, an uncertified dentist will minimize the possibility of something wrong happening at all.

2. Public Reputation

A dentist’s reputation can offer a preview as to what your future appointments will be like. For that reason, the practice you commit to should have years of experience. Most of its patients should also have positive experiences with the business.

Many dental practices have Google Reviews written about them. Simply searching up their business’s name will generate a 1-5 star rating, which will let you see how generally positive their reputation is. It’s also a good idea to read their Google reviews, taking into account what they say about the practice’s strengths and weaknesses.

Experience is also crucial. All dental practices start somewhere, but for the sake of your oral health, it’s best to opt for the services of a seasoned practitioner with years of practice and a lot of happy patients.

3. Emergency Care Options

From broken teeth to broken orthodontics, there are plenty of reasons why someone would need dental emergency care. If you experience a dental emergency and are not able to access one easily, you will experience discomfort, pain, and perhaps worsened oral health.

That’s why patients must seek dental offices that are both local and equipped with emergency dental services. Not only that, but these services should be available 24/7 in case an emergency occurs after a dental office’s typical operating hours.

Ideally, these emergency services would also include a telehealth option. Some dental emergencies can be adequately addressed at home and would be inconveniently addressed if done so after a 15-minute car ride. Instead, patients can utilize their dentists’ informational support where they’re located.

4. Treatment Specialization

Finding a dentist for a specific treatment? If so, then make sure that your future dentist specializes in it. This way, you get the best care you need for that service.

Other dentists can carry out treatments that they haven’t specialized in. However, they tend to not be as skillful as other specializing dentists. They also don’t have the experience to anticipate common pitfalls or complications.

So if you’re wondering, “Are there any good dental implants near me in Raleigh, North Carolina?” then don’t stop at ensuring availability. Comb through each option and make sure they specialize in dental implants.

During a careful dental office search, understand which treatments you’re prioritizing. This way, you’ll enjoy great general care while addressing any individual oral health issues.

5. Cost

Great dental services don’t need to be costly. While some dental offices charge higher price tags, there are many affordable dental options. Don’t overstrain your finances for a dental plan unless you’ve considered every option.

Dental practices may charge more if they’re located in higher-valued neighborhoods. It’s more expensive to rent in areas such as Manhattan and Beverly Hills, necessitating price increases.

But you don’t need to live in those areas for great dental services. Instead, search for local dental offices that accept your insurance. Then, obtain estimates from each business before comparing them.

Once again, it’s still important to keep each candidate’s reputation in mind. Find an office that strikes the perfect balance between quality of service and affordability.

6. Personability

Great dental treatment isn’t only contingent on how well dentists use their tools. It also depends on how comfortable they make their patients feel too. This is especially the case for patients who suffer from dental anxiety.

After all, a professional dentist-patient relationship is still a relationship. They should still make you feel welcome and taken care of in the facility. If not, patients may feel too consistently uncomfortable to have a positive experience in the facility.

Some people may not come in at all. Even if you don’t have dental anxiety, it’s best to find a personable dentist. That way, you’ll have little qualms about committing to their services for years.

Choose the Perfect Dental Practice!

Everyone deserves a winning smile — including you! Not only will it make you feel more confident, but it will also indicate great oral health and the savvy know-how of choosing a fantastic dentist.

This guide explains six important factors to consider when choosing a local dental practice. If it helped you perfect your search for a great dentist, then check out the rest of our content! We’ve got plenty of other information for readers such as you.