Choosing a family dentist requires a lot more consideration than scheduling appointments for yourself. You have to think about the dentist’s skills when it comes to both adults and children. Weighing the pros and cons for your whole family.

Ask yourself, does this new dentist have reliable qualities and a schedule that can accommodate the entire family?

You should do some careful thinking when choosing a family dentist.

If you’re looking for a St Louis family dentist, we’re here to help. The topics and questions discussed in this article can be used to help you decide on a dentist.

Even if you’re not from the area and are having a difficult time figuring out where you should start your hunt, read on. Maybe you’re relocating to a new city or have had difficulty with your last dentist. This article can help you, too.

Below we’ll cover how you should begin your search and what things you should look for in a family dentist.

Choosing a Family Dentist

While everyone has a different idea of what they want in a dentist, what we’ve put together below is a fool-proof series of topics and suggestions that can be used to find a good practice anywhere.

Whether it’s a St Louis family dentist you’re after or not, these tips will be sure to point you in the right direction.

Where You Should Begin To Look

While this might not sound like a groundbreaking idea, online forums and company reviews are great ways to gain a better understanding of a dentist’s practice.

Customer reviews are excellent snapshots of people’s experiences, and most are penned by people who aren’t afraid to speak their mind.

First, you’ve actually got to find a family dentist before you can do any research on them. So, where do you begin?

Start With People You Know

Research shows 84% of consumers trust recommendations from family, colleagues, and friends about products and services.

Start off by asking the people you trust to see what St Louis family dentist offices have a good reputation for interacting with children and providing great results for the whole family.

If you listen to the advice of family and friends, pay attention to any who offer similar or identical recommendations and comments.

Magazines And Blogs

You know those magazines often found on tables at the dentist or doctor’s office? They usually include at least a handful of publications about health and dentistry.

If you’re looking for a St Louis family dentist, another good place to start is in the ads and back pages of those magazine stacks. You might even find business cards or brochures for dentists around the same area.

Look for magazines like health awareness periodicals or the Journal of the American Dentist Association and local listings. Chances are if there aren’t any reviews or quotes under a particular ad you’ll at least have a website to start with.

Blogs are another great resource because they act a lot like forum comments and reviews but aren’t pressured into being brief. A family-oriented blog will probably return many details of a family dentist office that reviews might leave out.

Blogs get personal, and when you’re choosing a family dentist you should probably get as personal as you can.

What You Should Look For In A Family Dentist

When you find a potential family dentist, how will you know what signs to look for that tell you it’s the right one? What are the red flags?

Here are some questions you should ask to determine a good fit when choosing a family dentist.

Will they accept emergency situations?

Who knows when an actual emergency will arise: church, a birthday party, a regular Tuesday morning. Say your kid falls and breaks a few of his front teeth, but it’s eleven at night on a Friday. Do you wait until Monday to have it checked out?

Probably Not. That’s why it’s good to have an emergency plan with a dentist you can rely on day or night.

The best dentist offices will have plans in place for sudden visits after hours or on the weekends and will attend to emergency patients without a fuss.

Is it in a convenient location?

Check within your neighborhood or around your children’s schools for family dentist offices. You won’t want to drive far whether it’s an emergency or a regular checkup.

If you can find a local family dentist office that provides excellent service and is on one of your major routes, it’s a huge bonus. Swinging in on the way home from work or dropping by after you pick up the kids from school would be ideal.

Do they adore kids?

It’s pretty easy to see based on the way a dentist office is presented whether or not they fully cater to kids. We’re not talking just pediatric dentistry, but a true understanding of how to curb the fears children might have for the dentist.

Are there toys, games and coloring books in the waiting area? You might want to stop in and see how the receptionists and dentists interact with children before you book an appointment.

Now To Find A St Louis Family Dentist

Getting your family’s teeth cleaned and going in for regular checkups greatly impact health and well-being. It’s important to know what to look for in a family dentist.

At Forest Park Dental, we strive to give patients the quality care they deserve from a truly compassionate team.

Our dentists have served patients throughout St Louis, Central West End, and the Clayton areas, and have helped countless individuals maintain their dental and oral health.

If you’re looking for comprehensive dental care in the St Louis area, contact Forest Park Dental and schedule an appointment.