How To Pick a Dentist in Charlotte When Choices Are Overwhelming

Seeing a dentist regularly is fantastic for your oral and overall health. But like so many other industries, dentistry has an almost dizzying number of providers in Charlotte alone. So, how can you find a dentist that’s an ideal fit for you without getting stressed and bogged down by all the different options?

1. Get some feedback from others.

First, look at what reviewers are generally saying online about their experiences, such as which procedures they had done and the quality of the work. How they express the experience matters, too. For example, if they’re referring to dentists by their name, then that’s usually a good sign that the dentist made a real connection and impression on the reviewer. Up-to-date reviews can also show that the dentist is still current in their skills and attracting new patients to their office. Pay attention to the number of reviews, as well. 80 5-star reviews is a lot more telling than five 5-star reviews, for instance.

People you know, such as your neighbors, can also give referrals that are based on their own long-term relationships with a provider. Ask those you trust who they see, and note how enthusiastic they are about their dentist.

You can even turn to professionals that work closely with dentists to see how the dentists come off. For example, if you contact a dental laboratory, then they can give you the names of several providers they think are technically great in their field.

2. Check dentists’ websites.

Just about every dentist who practices has a website for their office that they can use for general information, dentist biographies, scheduling, and patient communications. The real gold, though, is in case portfolios. The dentist should have pictures of real patients, not generic stock images, that offer a sense of their expertise, procedures, and typical results. Dentists usually have these available in the office, too. But additional digital availability suggests that the provider really is proud of and confident about their work and that they recognize how ingrained technology has become in how patients get information, interact with service providers, and receive care.

Once you’ve looked around a dentist’s site, see if the dentist is featured anywhere else, such as in videos or articles. Those sources can give you good additional information about the dentist’s office, personality, techniques, and professional network strength.

3. Do some meet-and-greets.

Even if you look at reviews and talk to others, you might not really know whether you’ll personally click with a provider or understand everything about the office until you actually meet in person. Take your reviews and references and pick a few top-choice dentists to call. Then schedule a time when you can come into the office, for free, without getting any work done, just to ask questions and look around in order to get a feel for the office.

These types of interviews are important because, ideally, you’re not looking to find a dentist for just one appointment. You want to find someone you can keep going to for years. Dentists who are truly concerned with great quality of care are going to understand that you’re trying to find this kind of long-term relationship. They will be happy to give you the flexibility to choose the person right for you, put you at ease, and get to know you. So, if the dentist won’t do a meet-and-greet, then cross them off your list and assume they’re not for you.

4. Evaluate the physical office.

When you do a meet-and-greet, take a look at whether the office is tidy and organized. This says a lot about how efficient and professional the staff and dentist are and their attention to small details. Successful dentists might have very different aesthetic tastes, but they’ll all invest in keeping their space maintained and up-to-date to give a good impression and keep patients safe.

Pay attention to the cleanliness of the office, as well, including spaces like the bathroom. Like any healthcare provider, dentists should be concerned about keeping their entire office sanitary so that they reduce the potential spread of disease and improve your chances for quick, complication-free recovery after more involved procedures. This should be true, always, both during and after COVID.

Even though there might be dozens upon dozens of good dentists in Charlotte to pick from, it can be simple to make an informed choice if you do good preliminary homework, face-to-face interviews, and office assessments. Take your time through these tasks, and you’ll find a long-term provider relationship you can feel great about.