Fortunately, there are many brilliant dentists out there who offer services for the entire family
to receive their dental care in just one location. Here’s how you can begin the process of
choosing the right dentist for you and your family.

Ask About Insurance and Payment Plans

An important first step is determining if practice accepts your dental insurance. If they do
accept your insurance, this is great. If not, you’ll need to evaluate whether or not you want to
pursue this dentist or find one who does accept your insurance.

In the event that you don’t have dental insurance, ask your potential family dentist if they’ll
accept payment plans or whether or not they accept a dental discount plan or credit from a
third party such as CareCredit. Having flexibility in the event that your insurance carrier changes
is helpful even if they initially accept your insurance.

Consider Their Location and Hours

Before you consider the dentist and the practice, you’ll want to consider location and hours
first. This is because both the location and their hours of operation will tell you how likely you
are to be able to make appointments.

For example, do they offer weekend hours and time after traditional business hours to
accommodate your busy schedule? Are they located nearby, and not in an area where traffic
would be an issue?

When you take into account the practice’s convenience based on your schedule, you’re better
able to evaluate the likelihood that you’ll be able to keep appointments.

Talk to the Dentist and the Staff

Once you’re able to verify that a location and hours of operation will work for you as well as
whether or not they take your insurance, it’s time to actually visit the practice. You can even
bring along the kids to see how comfortable everyone is there when talking to the dentists as
well as the staff members.

You want to choose a dentist that you feel comfortable talking to, asking questions, and calling
when you need advice. Your family should feel good about communicating with them too, so
don’t hesitate to make an appointment to simply visit and see what everyone thinks!

Don’t Forget Emergencies

Emergencies are unfortunately a part of life. Ask the dentist about their emergency policy—will
they come in after hours to treat you or your child, will they have the flexibility to get you in for
an emergency, or if they can’t, do they provide a referral to another dentist or just advise you
to go to the emergency room?

You may also consider their memberships to professional organizations, what type of
continuing education they do and how often, and their experience with up-and-coming dental
tools such as laser dentistry. Don’t be afraid to ask questions during your visit!

When it comes to finding the right dentist, don’t underestimate the importance of having a
great fit for the entire family, even if you need to visit a few dentists before you find the one
that feels right. You can have the best dental care and convenience with your dentist of choice!

The post How to Choose the Right Dentist for You and Your Family appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

CareCredit is a healthcare financing service provided by Synchrony Bank. The focus is on types of healthcare that are not often covered by insurance such as dental procedures. Promotional financing options may even allow an extended period of time for a procedure to be paid for with no finance charges. This has made it possible for many to have necessary dental procedures taken now instead of having to wait until the money is saved up. Then a low monthly payment allows for the procedures to be paid off in a far less expensive manner than using a credit card.

What Types of Dental Financing Are Offered?

CareCredit allows patients to finance preventive, restorative, and cosmetic procedures. While you can get a comprehensive list on the CareCredit website, some of the options that can be financed are:

Root Canals – Don’t lose a tooth that could be saved by a root canal simply because your insurance only covers extractions.

Mouth Guards – Protect your teeth while playing sports with a custom-fit guard rather than a generic store-bought one.

Invisalign – This is a discrete option for straightening teeth.

Dental Implants – Don’t settle for dentures just because that’s what your insurance wants to pay for.

Whether you need dental care to maintain your smile, correct your smile, or repair your smile after an accident, CareCredit provides options that can allow you to afford your treatment now instead of later when it may be too late.

Does My Dentist Accept CareCredit?

Many do, and the list is growing, so be sure to ask. Remember, CareCredit is not a discount plan but rather is a financing option. You’ll be responsible for the full amount. However, CareCredit breaks the cost down into affordable monthly installments, often with no interest over a set period of time.

Whether you need some last minute endodontic work to look perfect at a wedding, or you are trying to take care of a procedure that you need but haven’t been able to afford, CareCredit is a great solution for financing your dental procedures.

The post Spotlight on CareCredit: Financing the Smile of Your Dreams appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.