Establishing a long-term partnership with your dentist is essential for maintaining optimal oral health. It is important to find a dentist with whom you feel comfortable. When looking for a dentist, you can start by asking the following questions: What kind of dental insurance do they take? When and where are their office hours? What kind of personality does the dentist have? However, there are five key aspects to inquire about to find an ethical, moral, and competent dentist who can provide the best care for you. Once you’ve gathered this information, you can trust your instincts or schedule a checkup appointment to see if their dental practice is a good fit for you. Remember, you are not obligated to continue with a dentist’s office if you are not satisfied or at ease with their services. here are some of the information you need to gather –

Do They Have Experienced Dental Hygienists?

It is important to consider the presence of dental hygienists when looking for a dentist. While some dentists prefer to perform their cleanings, which is perfectly acceptable, most of the time, you will find a dental hygienist at the clinic. Now it’s very important to check the experience of the hygienist as he or she will be doing the cleaning. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it implies that the dentist has too many things at his disposal. So when making your initial appointment, it is a good idea to ask who will be doing your cleaning: the dentist or a dental hygienist.

Standard of Care

To ensure the standard of care, make sure that your dentist performs routine perio charting during checkups. Inquire how frequently they take these measurements, and be wary if they fail to check your gums and bone levels. Neglecting to monitor gum health can result in “supervised neglect,” a condition in which untreated, periodontal disease persists despite regular dental visits. While perio charting does not involve a lot of phone calls, you can ask to see your chart for reference. To stay informed and prevent further deterioration, ask your dental hygienist about the presence and location of any gum pockets.

Not Too Lengthy Standard Dental Cleaning

It is critical to inquire about the length of dental cleaning appointments. Unless you have a child with smaller teeth, a thorough cleaning should never take less than 15 minutes. If you are in and out in less than 10 minutes, it is best to seek dental care elsewhere. Regardless of how clean your teeth are, measuring gums, removing plaque, and polishing all of your teeth takes more time. If the dentist or hygienist only spends 10-15 minutes with you, you will not receive proper oral care. Depending on the services required, such as exams, cleanings, or X-rays, a dental visit for a new patient or checkup can last 45-90 minutes. Some visits may be shorter or longer than others, with the initial appointment typically being the longest. Feeling rushed during your visit increases the likelihood of potential neglect of your oral health.

Do They Maintain Infection Control?

Ensure your dentist maintains proper infection control practices by observing certain indicators. These include wearing gloves and masks and implementing measures to prevent cross-contamination and ensuring the sterilization of dental instruments. A reliable method to confirm sterilization is witnessing the opening of the sterilization pouch in the treatment room. Requesting a tour of the dental practice can also help assess the effectiveness of their infection control program. If the dentist hesitates to show you the sterilization area or if staff members handle items without proper protection, it may indicate insufficient attention to infection control standards. Choosing a dentist who prioritizes infection control is crucial for maintaining a healthy dental environment.

If you’re still in a haze, then don’t worry. Simply Contact The Glenroy Dental Group.

You can book a dental appointment online or reach out to us at the contact details below.

The Glenroy Dental Group

Address: 483 Pascoe Vale Road Strathmore 3041

Phone Number: (03) 9306 6511