How to Find a Great Dentist Near You (Without the Guesswork)

Finding a dentist near you can sometimes feel like a huge task. It’s not exactly easy to find one who’s nearby and makes you feel comfortable enough to visit regularly. Our practice has been in business for a long time, and we’ve seen firsthand how nervous people can get when they go to a new practice. If you’re looking for a dentist and aren’t sure where to start, keep reading. You’ll find the three biggest things you should take into consideration.

1. The Services Offered

Some dental practices offer a wider range of services than others. This doesn’t make them “bad” or “good”—just more or less convenient for you personally.

Maybe you only want somewhere to go for twice-yearly checkups and cleanings—then a smaller office with limited treatment options could be perfectly fine. But if you’re trying to find care for your whole family, you might prefer to visit a dentist who can also provide dental implants, Invisalign, sealants, and everything in-between.

This is why it’s best not to assume a dentist can perform the type of treatment you need. Instead, look at their website or call their office to double-check before you book.

2. Provider Experience

Just as not all dental offices offer the same services, not all dentists have the same experience. This goes beyond how many years they’ve been practicing (though that’s important too).

A general dentist, for example, has gone through dental school and has broad knowledge of different aspects of the field. An endodontist, meanwhile, has completed dental school, two to three years of additional education, and is considered a specialist in root canal therapy.

A general dentist will be able to provide checkups and cleanings, crowns, fillings, dentures, and other “basic” dental services. However, they may have to refer you to a specialist for more advanced treatments, like dental implants or root canal retreatment.

A multi-specialty practice like ours, however, has one or more specialists on-staff. That means we can often perform complex treatments in-house, and our patients rarely have to worry about finding another office. For some patients, that convenience is well worth the effort of research.

3. Patient Reviews

Services offered and provider experience tell you a lot about what a dentist can do, but not how they do it. To get that information, it’s best to go to check out sites like Google, Yelp, and Reddit to read patient reviews.

A dentist with many positive reviews across multiple platforms likely treats their patients well and genuinely cares about them. However, if a dentist receives consistent complaints for poor customer service or being too “pushy,” then you might want to look elsewhere.

Finding a dentist near you who makes you feel confident, welcome, and cared for comes down to asking questions. So, don’t be shy! Making sure a practice is a good fit for you isn’t being “picky,” or “annoying”—it’s putting your needs first. Any good dentist worth your time will be more than happy to work with that.

About The Practice

At A New Smile Dental Canyon Country Dental Group, our team offers comprehensive dental care for the whole family, from preventive cleanings and children’s dentistry to dental implants, cosmetic treatments, and gum disease therapy. Our multi-specialty practice means fewer referrals and more convenience for you. Call us at (661) 251-0480 to schedule your visit and find your new dental home.