Since May, I’ve been looking for a new pediatric dentist for my kids. I thought I found the right one, so I scheduled an appointment for my kids in mid-June. They went for their first cleaning appointment, but the kids don’t like the dentist and neither do I. I think that the dentist seems too much in a hurry. She seems like she really doesn’t like kids either. I asked her how many children she has, and she looked at me and said, “Are you kidding? None.” Why would I have been kidding, and why would she respond like that to me as the parent of her patients? It was rude. Based on her response with my children I was wondering if she likes kids at all. It does help me understand her behavior toward her patients, though. Now my search is back on, but I don’t want to keep putting my children through experiences like these. I want to get it right before their next cleaning in December. How can I find the right pediatric dentist for my kids? Thank you. Xenia
Xenia – There are several ways to find reliable information on a pediatric dentist. There is a lot of information online and there are other things you can do to help make your search successful. We have several suggestions:
Patient reviews – You can find candid patient reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Read each review carefully, and look for details provided about the care received. Keep in mind that for each dentist, you can find good and bad reviews, but the negative reviews should be few. Don’t be overly alarmed about a few negative reviews, but pay attention to details given for reasons that a patient or parent isn’t satisfied. Ensure the dentist has plenty of reviews for you to be able to make a good decision.
Recommendations from people you know – If you have friends, family members, or co-workers who have children, ask them about their pediatric dentist. If you know their kids, ask the parent for permission to speak with the kids about their dentist. Ask them what they do or don’t like about their dentist. Sometimes the best recommendations come from referrals.
Request a complimentary visit – It provides an opportunity for you and your kids to see the dentist’s office, meet staff members, and meet at least one dentist in the practice before you schedule exams for your kids. Let the scheduler know you are looking for a new dentist. If an office refuses to schedule a complimentary visit, it’s probably not the best option for you and your kids anyway. A complimentary visit will give you a chance to see how your children respond in the environment and how staff members respond to children.
Best wishes.
This post is sponsored by Naperville dentist Dr. Anthony LaVacca.
