Having access to a dental professional is just as important as having a family physician. Whether you're new to the area or need to make a change, there are steps that will make it easier for you to find the best dentist in Westfield, NJ and be happy with the choice. Put these tips to good use, and it won't be long until you find one who is ideal for you and your family.
Begin By Looking at The Provider Network
If you have dental coverage, the first place to look for ideas is the provider network. Why does this matter? The network listing supplied by your insurance provider contains contact information for every dentist in the area who accepts your dental plan. That means the dental office or clinic will handle filing claims on your behalf, rather than you paying the full cost and having to file the claim yourself.
Using a dentist on that list also means you can take full advantage of your benefits. Choosing to use a dentist outside the network will mean that along with filing the claim yourself, the insurance provider will cover less of the cost.
Scan the List of Providers Based on the Type of Dental Care Needed
As you look over the list of providers who accept your coverage, make a note of which ones offer the sort of dental care that you want. Perhaps you're looking for a family or general dentist. Maybe you want to see a dental professional who focuses primarily on pediatric dentistry. In some cases, the focus may be on finding an oral surgeon.
Your goal is to develop an idea of how many dental professionals in the area offer what you're seeking. Depending on the policy that you have in place and the kind of dental care needed, there could be a number of choices.
Select Three or Four of the Most Likely Candidates
Prepare a short list of dental practices that seem to be a good fit. In addition to the type of dentistry offered, you may want to consider factors like the distance from your home or place of employment. Knowing that emergency dentistry is offered may be a reason to include a clinic on the list.
While you can always come back and add more later, many people find that beginning with a list of three or four candidates is sufficient. If one or more of those doesn't turn out to be so great, return to the network listing and select another one.
Find Out Which Ones are Accepting New Patients
Not all dental offices within the provider network will accept new patients. Some providers maintain information on which dental clinics are currently open to new patients. With others, your best bet is to make preliminary contact with the clinic and ask the question yourself.
Any office that confirms they are taking new patients can remain on your list. If one of them indicates they are not accepting new patients, move them to the end of the line. You can always revisit them later if necessary.
Read Their Websites and Social Media Carefully
Now that you know which clinics would be willing to take you on as a patient, put the Internet to good use and check out their websites. That provides you with information about all the dentists involved with the practice, their backgrounds, and areas of expertise. The better websites will also contain information about how to schedule online, a link to the dentist's blog, and other data that you will find helpful.
Don't stop with the website. You also want to check social media and see if the practice has an account or business page. If so, visit the social media site and see what sort of posts are made. That provides you with more information about what the practice is all about, especially if they routinely respond to any remarks submitted by other readers.
Check Out Online Reviews and Comments
While online, look for reviews and comments left by other patients. Don't rely solely on reviews left on the clinic's website; look for reviews collected by your favorite search engine. You also want to check out consumer sites and see what you can find.
The goal is to get a good idea of what other patients think about the demeanor of the office staff, how well the dentist relates to the patients, and even what they think about being able to schedule appointments and receive prompt attention when they arrive. If you like most of what you read, that practice is one that you want to seriously consider.
After your due diligence, it won't be difficult to determine which local dentist in Westfield is the first choice. Schedule an appointment and see how the first exam goes. If you find that everything went well and you are satisfied with the level of care that was received, the search is over. If something isn't quite right, try the next dentist on the list. Once you find the right one, settle in and look forward to years of excellent dental care.
Call today and set up your first dental examination. We're sure that you'll be back to see us again.