Looking for a good dentist may not be easy as it sounds. At times, it can be as hard as finding a needle in a haystack! Compounding the problem is the presence of quacks and other illegal practitioners who may do more harm than good to your teeth.
To avoid trouble, don’t be ashamed to ask around. Your family, friends, neighbors or co-workers may come in handy with their recommendations. Other good sources of information are your family physician or local dental organizations like the American Dental Association (ADA).
Of course, it helps if you “shop” around until you find the dentist of your choice. This will ensure that you get the best possible care from the right person. If you decide to look around, here are some practical tips to consider:
Is your dentist a dentist? That may sound silly but many illegal practitioners abound and they’re responsible for a lot of horror stories you hear about dentistry! Check your dentist’s credentials carefully. Is his or her diploma and/or license prominently displayed in the office? What school did he or she graduate from? Is that person an ADA member or other professional organizations? When in doubt, don’t be ashamed to ask or you might regret things later.
Is the dentist easy to reach? Is he or she available when you need help? If you live far away from your dentist, you’re in trouble. It makes no sense going to that person if you have to cross four states or four rivers. By the time you get there, you may loose all of your teeth! Choose one that works right next to you if possible. That way, you save time, energy and money.
Does the dentist explain everything to you and take time to answer all your questions? Since you’re a paying customer, you have the right to know the kind of treatment you’re getting. A good dentist will patiently tell you in plain English what’s wrong with your teeth and what can be done about it.
Treatment options must be clear since this will help you decide the right course of action. If your dentist sounds Greek to you, go someplace else. A little misunderstanding can prove disastrous later, especially when it comes to oral health.
Is the dentist’s office clean, neat and orderly? You can’t expect good service from a dentist who wears dirty clothes or one who works in a meat locker. Professional dentists follow strict guidelines and universal safety procedures to prevent the transmission of the AIDS virus and other diseases. That’s why cleanliness is important because your health is on the line.
Part of these safety measures means your dentist and his or her staff must wear protective gear, gloves, and masks during treatment. Instruments must be sterilized before they are placed in the patient’s mouth. When a new patient comes in, the gloves should be discarded and the dentist must wash hands before putting on a new pair of gloves.
“Dental instruments are cleaned and sterilized at very high temperatures after each time they are used on a patient. Recommended sterilization methods include: an autoclave (steam under pressure), a dry heat oven, or chemical vapor (commonly called a chemiclave). The sterilization equipment usually is not in the treatment room, but if you'd like to see how and where it's done, ask the dental staff to show you,” the ADA explained.
These simple measures will make your visit to the dentist a trouble-free experience. If you like your dentist, chances are you’ll visit that person more often and get the most out of his or her services. This will give you healthy teeth and more reasons to smile.
To complement your beautiful smile, use Lumnaderm, a whitening cream that eliminates freckles, unsightly age spots, sun spots, blemishes and hyperpigmentation. When used as directed, Lumnaderm will balance uneven skin tones and illuminate your skin. For more information, visit http://www.lumnaderm.com.
Related Articles
Your Guide to Dental Specialties
By: Sharon Bell | 20/05/2008 | Dental Care
Shakespeare once said that a rose by any other name would still smell as sweet. But that’s hardly the case in dentistry that has a lot of specialties.
Goiter and Body Odor
By: Sharon Bell | 07/03/2008 | Skin Care
Can people with body odor (BO) be “immune” to their own unpleasant odor?
That’s correct. The human nose can recognize 4,000 different scents and a really sensitive proboscis can detect up to 10,000 different scents. But if you smell something for a long time, your nose gets overwhelmed by the odor and can no longer detect it.
Tretinoin for Acne
By: Sharon Bell | 07/05/2008 | Acne
Vitamin A acid or tretinoin, available in cream, gel or liquid form, can help acne patients but it may be difficult to tolerate because of its irritating effect.
Brighten your Day With Good Skin
By: Sharon Bell | 28/09/2007 | Wellness
In the market today, there is Lumnaderm, a cream that helps reduce the appearance of sun spots, age spots and freckles. It also balances uneven skin tone. Lumnaderm has shown good results to the people who have tried it. It illuminates and rejuvenates dry, dull, lifeless-looking skin. It reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Fatty Foods and Body Odor
By: Sharon Bell | 07/03/2008 | Skin Care
At what age does body odor (BO) begin? Will an intestinal problem or eating too much fatty foods and meat cause BO?
Oral Antibiotics for Acne
By: Sharon Bell | 14/05/2008 | Acne
Oral antibiotics like tetracycline do not work quickly against acne as they do against sore throats and earaches. It may take three to six weeks before your face shows any improvement. Eventually, you will have fewer pimples and reduced inflammation.
Perspiration and Body Odor
By: Sharon Bell | 07/03/2008 | Skin Care
Is lack of perspiration a problem?
While others hate sweat and the corresponding body odor (BO) that it brings, people who have been blessed with little perspiration have a lot to be thankful for.
Special Candy Helps Fight Tooth Decay
By: Sharon Bell | 14/05/2008 | Dental Care
When it comes to dental health, candies are often a no-no. Dentists are quick to tell patients to avoid sticky sweets since they greatly contribute to tooth decay and other dental problems.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost for mini dental implants
By: mreinaldo | 22-07-2008
what is the cost for mini dental implants
I need to make a dental appointment to get some ...
By: Silky B. | 22-07-2008
I need to make a dental appointment to get some teeth filled, the only niumber that I can find is for teeth extractions and I cannot speak to a live person, Please supply a phone number
Dentist
By: laurie | 21-07-2008
Hi looking for a dentist in south florida specializing in taking out mercury fillings. Better yet a biological dentist.
Root canal gone wrong
By: sonja | 18-07-2008
I had a root canal a week ago. dentist claimed I had an allergic reaction to bleach after she drilled whole through tooth. My jaw blew up and painful After several visit to dentist this week, antibiotics, draining infection(by dentist) and pain pills I'm still in pain and swelling (golf ball size in lower jaw).
What should I do?
Do I have to pay charges above the insurance company payment Toronto
By: larry stanley | 18-07-2008
does anyone know a dentist who wll work with the fees that my insurance company pays?
Dental implant maintenance
By: mrun92229 | 16-07-2008
I have recenty had tree implants placed. I asked the surgeon aobut the implant maintenance program. He told the mthat the hygieinist does most of it. She cleans your teeth and implants every three months. I asked aobut Xrays and was told that I would have one more full set and after that my general dentist could take them. I am wondering if this is adequate for implant maintenance. If so what should I ask aobut the plan.
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Dental Care Articles
Choosing the Dentist That’s Right for You
By: Patricia Woloch | 25/07/2008
Whether it’s a painful cavity that needs a filling, the replacement of a tooth that’s been knocked out, or repair of broken, chipped, or crooked teeth, your confidence in your dentist’s expertise will make all the difference in the world.
Simple Home Remedies for Whitening Teeth
By: Adam Hefner | 25/07/2008
There are many treatments to get whiter teeth. There are laser treatments, whitening strips, whitening toothpastes, gels, chewing gum, and even whitening markers just to name a few.
Finding the Right Lancaster Teeth Whitening System
By: Adam Hefner | 25/07/2008
Everyone longs for healthy and white teeth. They enhance your natural beauty and increase your confidence. There are several ways to gain a brighter smile, but where does one even begin to start?
A Look at Home Teeth Whitening Kits and How You Save
By: Adam Hefner | 25/07/2008
I would love to go in and have a quick one-hour laser whitening, but at this point in time I am too broke, so I turned to home teeth whitening kits for help. I am a college student and not surprisingly,
Teeth Have Roots?
By: Patricia Woloch | 25/07/2008
It may sound silly but it’s true. Your teeth need a good root structure just like your flowers do.
Pros and Cons of Teeth Whitening Methods
By: Lyla Feldman | 25/07/2008
We all want a bright white smile. It is just a matter of how much you are willing to spend and what you are willing to do to get one. Some things are better left to the professionals to take care of and others can be treated at home. I have struggled with yellow teeth because I love red wine and grape juice. We are going to examine the pros and cons of the various whitening treatments available to you to obtain those pearly whites.
Brushing Prevents Heart Attacks
By: Sharon Bell | 24/07/2008
What’s the simplest way to prevent a heart attack? Just keep your mouth clean by means of brushing and flossing. Experts say this simple act could save your life.
Creating Your Own Teeth Whitening Recipe for a Sparkling Smile
By: Adam Hefner | 24/07/2008
There are many products out there that promise to whiten your teeth, but they often cost a pretty penny. While asking my friends and family for advice on what worked for them, I came up with my own home teeth whitening recipe. I wanted to share the concoctions I have made right in my kitchen that have given me the best results.
More from Sharon Bell
Brushing Prevents Heart Attacks
By: Sharon Bell | 24/07/2008 | Dental Care
What’s the simplest way to prevent a heart attack? Just keep your mouth clean by means of brushing and flossing. Experts say this simple act could save your life.
Huxley's Blunder
By: Sharon Bell | 24/07/2008 | Diseases and Conditions
Dr. William Horatio Bates died in 1931 but his wild theories are still with us. Among other things, he wrongly believed that eye exercises could correct vision problems and people could get along without eyeglasses.
How to Protect Your Child From Dangerous Baby Walkers
By: Sharon Bell | 24/07/2008 | Babies
Because they are dangerous, Canada has banned the use of baby walkers. Since 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics has asked the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to do the same.
Why Mobile Walkers are Dangerous?
By: Sharon Bell | 24/07/2008 | Babies
What makes mobile baby walkers dangerous? Experts say their very design helps kids move easily - often much too easily for them to sustain serious injuries.
Vasectomy and Prostate Cancer
By: Sharon Bell | 19/07/2008 | Sexuality
One scare story about vasectomy is that it causes prostate cancer. This began when two new studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that men who had a vasectomy more than 20 years earlier faced an 89 percent greater risk of prostate cancer than those who have not undergone the procedure.
Sterilization for Birth Control?
By: Sharon Bell | 19/07/2008 | Sexuality
Sterilization as a means of contraception was practiced for a long time. After learning that castrating animals prevented pregnancy, early Chinese doctors did the same thing to men and were successful in their attempts.
Are Hormonal Implants Effective?
By: Sharon Bell | 19/07/2008 | Sexuality
The history of contraception reached a new high with the development of hormonal implants. One popular brand is Norplant which is more effective than the pill and has other advantages as well. There is no need to take any medication daily or use any physical device. What's more, Norplant is effective for five years from the time it is used which makes it a worry-free method.
Does the Pill Cause Cancer?
By: Sharon Bell | 19/07/2008 | Sexuality
Like other drugs, the modern birth control pill is not entirely free of side effects. Weight gain, nausea and vomiting have been reported. So have irregular bleeding and a feeling of fullness in the breasts and pelvis.
Health 
| Posted: 14-05-2008 | Comments: 
