Getting into a dental school is not necessarily that hard, however, only the choicest ones have what it takes to be a great dentist. It takes a little more than having great knowledge or expertise on treatments such as removing stubborn wisdom teeth in Blacktown or having amazing manual dexterity. There are a few other traits that are important for a competent dentist to have.
Some of the patients find bedside manner, a clean and welcoming ambiance, and a sorted appointment system important while considering the medical doctors we choose to go to. With so many dentists to choose from, there is no possibly easy way to know if we have chosen the right one. Therefore, we are trying to make it easier for you with extensive guidelines about what makes a quality dentist while opting for your current care provider or deciding if you need a new one. If you’re wondering whether or not yours is top of the line, we believe these are ten qualities that make a good dentist:
#1. Actively Listens to You
A good dentist intends to help you, but the best ones utilize their skills as much as use their technical knowledge and wisdom. A great doctor lends his ears to listen to all your concerns, never rushes with the treatment, and will pay heed to solve any concern that might lead you to make uncomfortable, like if you have dental anxiety or fear for any procedure and so on.
#2. Educates You
Let’s get this right, you didn’t go to a dental school, they did. so, you are dependent on them to educate you on your oral health conditions, good dental care habits, and the available options to treat your issues. An ideal dentist is usually interested in taking some time out to explain these to you to be able to work on what is convenient for toy and enhance your confidence. This could range from teaching you how to brush your teeth properly to explaining and discussing the step by step of the potential procedure you might require.
#3. Respects Your Time and Resources
Ideal and thoughtful dentists are usually punctual and respect your time as well as their own when suggesting treatment or while scheduling an appointment. They have staff members who are responsible for calling and leaving you a message reminding you of an upcoming appointment and also helping you schedule your other future appointments with enough time for you to plan.
#4. Keeps a Clean Office
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends checking to ensure that your dentist’s office is “clean, neat, and orderly”, and that all dental instruments are thoroughly sterilized. If you happen to notice things like old gloves and dirty or rusty instruments in the dental operatory, your dentist could be contaminating the examination room, which might lead to the spreading of germs and can make you and other patients sick.
#5. Only Promotes What Is Necessary
The ideal dentist won’t try to upsell you on products and treatments that you might not necessarily need or didn’t ask for before signing up for the examination. A competent dentist will also have a team that is meant to help you figure out what your dental insurance could partially or fully cover for procedures, products, or devices that you might want to have or you might need.
#6. Gets to Know You
When a dentist invests some additional time in getting to know you and your routine better, it becomes easier for them to provide you with better and more convenient care options that will be appropriate to your regimen and medical history. They will also be able to assist with the underlying issues that could go undiagnosed in a hurried impersonal visit. However, it is not be confused with flirting. When your dentist greets you warmly and asks about your family or work, you may be thinking these are signs your dentist likes you. They’re also just indications that you have a quality dentist who cares about you and cares about your comfort during your dental appointment.
#7. Values a Long-Term Relationship
A good dentist invests in keeping you for the long term. This means following up when it is time for the next appointment, scheduling regular screenings or X-rays, and making you and your family members when you are in their office. If your dentist treats you like a one-time thing or a job, it might your cue to look for another dentist.
#8. Cares About Their Staff
If you happen to work in an office, it might be a slightly funny concept for you to think of your dentist as a boss, managing his staff. It is worth observing the existing hierarchy among the staff and how your dentist interacts with his colleagues. It is going to give you an idea of their management style, the mood of the team who would be working with you, and the kind of manners your dentist has as a person. It is a good sign to see a dentist treating their staff with kindness and passion because it speaks a lot about their nature and their professional ethics as a whole.
#9. Follows Up with You
Some dental procedures can be complicated and can tend to be long and arduous, leaving you feeling restless and uncomfortable for a few hours afterward. The best ones will always find it necessary to follow up with you after a long or strenuous procedure to ensure you are improving or feeling better as expected and that no complication or issue comes in the way of your process of recovery.
#10. Values You as a Patient
Most professional dentists have a special language for their patients to know that they care for them. Whether it is the time and space that they give you to clarify your doubts, their thorough assessment at the routine check-ups, or explaining to you the different options for a procedure that you might require, your dental health expert can express their care and concern for their patients and their job in many professional ways.
Your relationship with your dentist is very personal and choosing the correct professional can be very overwhelming. They are meant to see you as a patient for life and not once or twice. The best ones always give you the care and compassion that you and your family needs and deserve. If your dentist missing some of the qualities that we have enlisted below it might be your cue to look for a new and better dentist.