Choosing a family dentist can be difficult because it’s important to make sure that you go to a dental clinic you can trust and that it’s a good fit for you, your spouse and your kids. Whether you’re moving to a new area, your current dentist is retiring, or your dissatisfied with the dental care you’re receiving, you need to find a dentist that you’re comfortable with and who has years of experience under their belt.
With that in mind, we’ve created a helpful guide that provides you with excellent questions to ask when choosing a dentist for yourself and your family.
How to Choose the Right Dentist for Your Family
The first thing you need to do is find out which dental clinics in your area are accepting new patients. Clinics will usually advertise this on their web site, through signs outside their offices or they’ll send out mailers to alert local residents.
Another useful method is to simply search for dentists in your area and looking into the ones with the highest ratings and reviews on Google. Then, you can contact these clinics directly and find out if they’re accepting new patients, what type of dentistry they practice or specialize in and whether they also treat young kids and teens.
The next step is to schedule a consultation with your prospective dentists to see for yourself if they’re a good fit for your family and if you and your kids are comfortable entrusting them with your oral health. Think of it as conducting an interview with your dentist. Remember, this is an important decision that shouldn’t be taken too lightly because your oral health is at stake.
Questions to Ask When Choosing a New Family Dentist
To further help you out, we’ve compiled a list of questions you should ask when searching for a new family dentist.
1. What dental procedures do you offer?
At Princeview Dental Group, we offer the following dental practices: cosmetic dentistry; crowns and bridges; veneers and bonding; periodontal maintenance and cleaning services; teeth whitening services; orthodontics including Invisalign® treatment; and snoring and sleep apnea treatment. We also accept patients of all ages and dental health backgrounds.
2. Do you have the expertise needed to treat my entire family?
Our level of expertise varies depending on the type of dental health issue that’s presented. We can administer standard cleanings, root canals, emergency dental work, and other complex procedures as needed. However, if we’re dealing with a specific type of dental health issue that needs the care of a specialist, we’re more than happy to refer you to one. Before determining that, though, we’ll need to set up individual appointments with each member of your family to examine their current oral health.
3. Are you a registered and fully licensed dentist?
Absolutely. All of the dental health professionals who work at our clinic have received extensive training in their given fields and are more than happy to discuss their individual qualifications with you. Dr. Janice Mummery is a University of Toronto graduate and holds a Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Dr. Daniel Svara studied at the University of Zagreb Croatia and the University of Toronto to earn his degree as a Doctor of Dental Surgery. Both are active members of the West Toronto Dental Society.
4. Do you perform digital x-rays on pregnant patients?
Pregnancy is a time to limit any radiation, however we can safely perform digital x-rays on pregnant patients when it required, such as in an emergency. However, we do ask that patients always disclose if they’re pregnant or undergoing any other types of medical treatment that may interfere or limit the x-rays we can take or cause an adverse reaction if combined.
5. Do you accept dental insurance? If so, what kind?
Dental insurance is between you or your employer and the insurance company. We provide all the forms required to be reimbursed and if needed can arrange for payment plans that work best for you.
6. What kind of reviews do you have?
At Princeview Dental Group, we pride ourselves on taking the utmost care of our patients. We always encourage our patients to leave honest online reviews of their experience at our clinic and we welcome all types of constructive feedback to help us improve our services and better serve our community. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that all of our patients leave our clinic with a happy and healthy smile on their face.
7. Are you willing to accommodate mine and my family’s busy schedule?
As mentioned, our top priority is to provide the best possible care for our patients and their families. We completely understand that you have a busy schedule—especially with young kids—and we’ll do our best to provide you with appointment times that work for you. Our appointments are scheduled on a first-call first served basis or the urgency of the situation. If you or one of your loved ones has a dental emergency, then that takes priority over less urgent situations like a cleaning or checkup. We also offer extended hours staying late until 7 pm some days and starting as early as 7 am.
8. Are your dentists continuing their education?
There’s no doubt that hands-on experience is extremely valuable when it comes to practicing dentistry. But, the field, methods and the standard protocols are constantly changing and that’s why it’s important to frequently update our skills and knowledge of dentistry through continuous education. Our staff is committed to learning and applying the latest skills and techniques so that we can provide excellent service to our patients.
Princeview Dental Group is located in the heart of The Kingsway neighbourhood in Etobicoke. We offer a wide range of dental procedures including routine checkups, cleanings, and even emergency dental care for the whole family. If you’re interested in becoming a new patient, please contact us or click here for more information.
