Dental health plays a big role in maintaining our general body health. Just like you wouldn’t trust any medical doctor to perform heart surgery on you, you should never trust just any dentist with your oral health. With so many dentists located all around town, making the decision to go to the right one can often be very tricky. It’s helpful to outline some qualities of a dentist that make them stand out from the rest. Here are some points that might help you make the right decision:
Actively listens to the patient:
A good dentist always wants to tell you the solution to your problems but a great dentist is the one who actively listens to the patient’s chief complaint first and takes the complete history of their complaint. Proper history-taking skills help the dentist in diagnosis and it also helps the patient to feel comfortable in the clinic. The dentist should take the past medical and past dental history of patients and put them in notes.
Cleanliness:
The mouth is one of the easiest ways germs can enter your body, so it’s important that anything working inside it is clean and sterilized properly according to dental industry standards. The dentist and the assistant should be wearing gloves while working on you and all the instruments should be placed in the clean and sanitized prep area.
Manual dexterity:
The first thing that comes in handy for a dentist is manual dexterity, the ability to make incredibly precise movements in the mouth while maintaining a sense of coordination throughout the procedure. The mouth is a relatively small space to work in. Hence, having fine motor skills and the ability to manipulate tools accurately in a small space with a steady hand is a really valuable skill.
Educate the Patients:
A good dentist explains the diagnosis and treatment plan to patients properly and in doing so he/she educates the patients about their oral health. It is the job of the dentist to guide the patients on proper brushing techniques, and preventive measures for caries and provide oral hygiene instructions.
Respect and Trust:
A good dentist will make you feel at ease in the dental clinic and make you feel like part of the family. The receptionist and dental assistants will be kind and caring. The dentist will greet you by name, ask you how you’re doing, and wish you well. Everyone will remember you from your last visit. This helps in winning patients’ hearts and making them comfortable in the clinic.
Punctuality:
Like in any other profession, being on time is very important in the dental clinic as well. The dentist should be available at the appointment time and the dental chair should be sanitized and prepared for the patient before he or she is seated on it. This helps patients in saving their valuable time.
Updated technology:
Dentistry is a field that is advancing at a very high rate. The materials and techniques keep on changing as we move into the future. For example, digital x-rays are now used to diagnose tooth issues, they emit less radiation and are quicker. This means that a patient is exposed to less radiation and this quick process helps in decreasing the appointment time.
Good treatment planning:
A good dentist includes the patient’s opinions in making a treatment plan. The dentist makes a treatment plan and provides the patient with different treatment options to choose from. The chief complaint is solved first and then the other procedures are followed if needed. The procedures which require multiple visits to the dentist are properly explained to patients orally and in written form with their risks and benefits. The estimated cost and appointment dates are provided to the patient beforehand.
Good interest:
A good dentist only tells you what is necessary. They do not ask you to undergo procedures you do not require. They counsel the patients and help them understand the real problem rather than making them make wrong decisions regarding their teeth.
Follows up:
After you are done with your dental procedure, a dentist or their staff should keep a check on you by following up through calls or texts. Knowing the patient is doing okay after their dental visit is very important. It helps the dentist know of any complications that may happen after the procedure.