How to choose a dentist

April 18, 2009 10:15 PM

How do you go about choosing a dentist when you don't have any friends or family in the area who can recommend one for your specific problem?

I feel like this is a silly question, but after perusing the yellow pages for the last half hour I'm left feeling more and more like all dentists who take out large ads must be charlatans; while those who don't give me no clue of what sort of work they do (I want alterations to implanted false teeth that I've never liked the look of; my last dentist visit was nearly ten years ago and in another city). What would you do? Close your eyes and point? Choose one with a functioning website? I had settled on one that didn't look too hokey but now I'm second guessing myself. Bonus complication: I'm socially phobic and even the thought of calling to make an appointment sometime in the upcoming days makes me nauseous and quaky (hence living years with ugly teeth). Will I have to explain to the receptionist what I want? Gahhh. help

posted by frobozz to health & fitness (21 comments total)

You post a question on AskMe! What's your problem, and where are you located?
posted by halogen at 10:29 PM on April 18, 2009

I went through several dentists when I got my first real job (after about 6 years of not seeing a dentist period). The first one I just picked out of the insurance list and she was horrible. The next was on recommendation from a coworker, and they were nice, though I think they tended to want to over-treat. I had a root canal there I probably didn't need. Then, they stopped taking my insurance. So, back to the list I went. The third dentist was completely overbearing and arrogant, not gentle and so-forth, so I switched again. Another pick from the insurance list, but this guy had a website that said some of his specialties included cosmetic dentistry. (I needed to get a bridge done, and definitely didn't want to trust something so expensive to the previous dentist.) The result is that I'm finally happy with a doctor who doesn't seem prone to over-treating, but does really good work.

As far as calling, I am truly AWFUL about making appointments. I hate the feeling I get thinking about talking to the receptionist. I don't know why, but I do. So, I totally empathize. But with your situation, it is really as simple as saying, "Hi, are you taking new patients?" They'll say no or yes and ask insurance info, if you have any. Then just tell them you need a check-up, which is true. That's all you need to say on the phone. For a new patient, they're not gonna do anything before they get a good set of x-rays and cleaning in there.

If there's some special procedure you want but aren't sure if the office offers (e.g., ZOOM or Invisalign or something), definitely ask that before giving insurance info and/or making an appointment. If you know off the bat you want that, you can eliminate any hassle if they don't offer it.
posted by eldiem at 10:30 PM on April 18, 2009

I just rode around on my bike until I found an office that I liked, walked in, and asked to make an appointment. Good dentist.
posted by mrt at 10:38 PM on April 18, 2009

halogen: I'm in Knoxville, TN - I don't think there are that many other mefites here :) I want the dentures over the implants improved - the teeth are too large and one piece has shifted slightly.

eldiem: I'm so glad someone else feels the way I do about appointment-making. I'll be sure to have my insurance info available at a glance, I hadn't thought of that.
posted by frobozz at 10:38 PM on April 18, 2009

Yelp? Not sure how much it's being used in your area, but if you can get some personal reviews, that might help you narrow it down.
posted by padraigin at 10:41 PM on April 18, 2009

Doctoroogle.com is decent for finding dentists. You could also ask the dentist who did your implants for a recommendation. (I assume s/he was a surgeon and did not do the cosmetic work?) This is true even if s/he's outside your city; dentists tend to know people in other cities.
posted by raf at 10:44 PM on April 18, 2009

For very visible cosmetic work like that, I would try one off of mynewsmile.

http://mynewsmile.com/cosmetic_dentists/tennessee.htm

He has one recommendation in Knoxville proper, Sequoyah Dental Arts.

I found my current dentist from mynewsmile, although I'm in another state. This dentist was the fourth dentist I saw before getting treatment. Since you don't have an emergency, I would advise you to make an appointment for a consultation (usually not very expensive). If you don't like the first dentist, cross them off the list and keep looking.
posted by Violet Hour at 12:19 AM on April 19, 2009

I just had my last appointment with my current dentist. His advice when seeking my new dentist was this: ask friends, family, co-workers, etc. who they go to and recommend. DON'T use sites that search for dentists in your area... "findadentist.com". Listings go to the ones who have the most money.

If you have reasonably healthy teeth (maybe not your case), don't accept it when they suggest $3000 worth of fillings and crowns. Hopefully you at least have an idea of your baseline. Don't go to chain dentists because they get paid for suggesting such things.

Considering your phobia, try to find a dentist (and hygeinist) with whom you can converse comfortably. If you live in a large city, you may have a lot of options. Maybe not. Either way, use your social circles to whittle those options down. The only two dentists I've regulary gone to were dentists who could shoot the breeze. Their hygeinists were just as easy-going, and I love going to the dentist because of them.
posted by cothebadger at 1:32 AM on April 19, 2009

Are you saying you have no natural teeth? You have full dentures being held in place with implant abutments?

There are many general dentists who are more than capable to handle implant/denture cases, but if there are any prosthodontists on your insurance list, I'd at least get an evaluation from one. I don't know what implant system you have, whether there are posts or bars and clips involved, a prosthodontist will have all of the needed equipment.

When you do call an office, please let them know your specific intent in making the appointment. You don't want to get all of the way there and find they aren't prepared to address your concerns/haven't set aside enough time/can't work with that implant system, etc.

In fact, please have the information about the implants: Brand name and size, date placed, date prosthetic was placed. If you have to contact previous office for that, do so ahead of time. Have that information and copies of xrays already in your possession.

If it is easier to communicate with them through email, then do so.
posted by Jazz Hands at 6:01 AM on April 19, 2009

I looked at my dental insurances' member directory, looked around for the closest ones to my house, and picked the one with the best website. Worked out good, my dentist now is a nice guy and a professional.
posted by Mach5 at 6:16 AM on April 19, 2009

Do you (did you) have a dentist before in some other town? Call him or her and see if they can recommend someone in your area; they may have dental school or professional contacts there. I found my current fantastic dentist this way when insurance switched our network.
posted by nax at 6:38 AM on April 19, 2009

Trigger finger on the mouse, sorry. I gave my old dentist the network list, and she scanned for her dental school and familiar names; came up with a guy that she really liked who also she recalled as being at the top of the class. She also pointed out a couple to avoid.
posted by nax at 6:40 AM on April 19, 2009

Well, in my town there are tons of reviews of dentists located on the Internet. I doubt yours has an awesome wiki like mine to find them in one place, but I'd at least look off the insurance list (or ads, however you're finding names) and Google the names to see what came up about them. If you get lucky you'll find personal reviews, if not you find lawsuits and know who to avoid, right? I also checked their personal websites if applicable to see what they specialized in. (I tend to think that whoever actually goes to the time and trouble to put useful information on their website beyond a token name and phone number is going to be a good egg.)

In my case, when I called my first choice dentist, I actually asked the receptionist if the guy could deal with gagging (I'd just gotten booted from my dentist because I gag too much and he had no idea how to deal with it). She said they'd try, and wasn't at all "Oh no, gagging? Why can't you be normal about it?" Indeed, the fellow knew ways to deal with it, has been nothing but awesome and I really should get around to reviewing him on the wiki sometime for that :)
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:41 AM on April 19, 2009

I'm in grad school, and called the health services office of my university and asked them if they had any recommendations. They did. Might be worth a shot.
posted by craven_morhead at 7:43 AM on April 19, 2009

I find that doctors usually give good recomendations of other practitioners. Do you have an internist or another doctor you can ask?
posted by radioamy at 8:54 AM on April 19, 2009

If your dentist walks in with a fake tan in January and calls you "dude" walk right out. I had my teeth cleaned by the hygienist first and she also took the x-rays. She looked at them and said she didn't see any cavities. Dr. spray tan walks in, doesn't look at the x-rays, barely looks in my mouth and concludes I had one cavity. My hygienist started to talk then stopped. He scheduled an appt for me in two weeks to get my tooth filled, I never came back. Went to a different dentist - one that I found through asking for a recommendation on a local community forum - and 6 months later my cavity mysteriously healed itself because he couldn't find any. I've always been suspicious that some dentists find cavities depending on their boat payment that month but it was pretty disconcerting to be proven correct.
posted by any major dude at 9:13 AM on April 19, 2009

Are you saying you have no natural teeth?

I have three posts which hold nine false teeth (the upper ones; my lower teeth which no one can see have always been perfect). I mainly want to see if those can be reshaped somehow, rather than totally redone, since cost is an issue.
posted by frobozz at 9:30 AM on April 19, 2009

Recommendations (especially from other practitioners) but don't overlook location. You might check with your neighbors.
It is fabulous to have a practitioner (medical, dental, optical) that is also conveniently located. It makes it so much easier to actually go see the person. You can avoid driving (or at least driving very far) when your mouth is anesthetized, eyes are dilated or you are otherwise hurting.
A coworker helped me find an optometrist that I liked who is within walking distance. Then his office recommend a dentist also in the neighborhood who is also the best dentist I have ever had, who run a very efficient yet personal office. I love my dentist & my hygienist.
posted by easilyamused at 1:30 PM on April 19, 2009

As a dentist I would second Jazz Hands. Dentures are tricky, especially implant-retained overdentures. We always say dentures are not a replacement for teeth, they are a replacement for no teeth. I always try to knock down patient's expectations about dentures. Sure, you hear about people that are happy with their dentures and are eating corn on the cob, etc....but trust me they are the vast minority. At least you were wise enough to get implant dentures!

Get all your info about what type/brand/size of implants you had placed and then find a prosthodontist. They go to 3 years of specialty training after dental school to study this stuff and are usually very knowledgeable and can do wonders with tough cases or patients unhappy with previous work. I looked in the ADA directory and there are two prosthodontists in Knoxville, TN.

Dr. William H Smartt (Active)
Type of Practice: Prosthodontics
6230 Highland Place Way, Ste 102, Knoxville, TN 37919-4037
[phone]


Dr. Steven J Locascio (Active)
Type of Practice: Prosthodontics
8904 Executive Park Dr, Knoxville, TN 37923-4707 Map
[phone]


Otherwise, try to find an older dentists that has lots of experience with implant dentures.

Good luck!
posted by amalgamator at 3:14 PM on April 19, 2009

Thanks, amalgamator. I know all about the annoyances dentures can cause since I had a partial one from the time I was 3 yrs. old up until getting the implants as a young adult. (Although as a young child it was fun to be able to stick my teeth out at unsuspecting people.) As far as functionality is concerned I'm completely satisfied with the implants; I would just like to improve the aesthetics.

Regarding getting records of what type of implants I have: how long do dentists keep this information on patients? It's been 9 or 10 years since I've seen the dentist that did the procedure. Should that info be gathered from the dentist that did the dentures or the oral surgeon that put the implants in?
posted by frobozz at 5:20 PM on April 19, 2009

Either office would have the information, the problem is that the law for keeping records is to keep them for seven years since last activity/treatment. Your previous dentist may or may not have that information anymore. If they don't, you can ask the oral surgeon office what system the doctor was using at that time. It's at least a start. You might have something that the new dentist will look at and immediately recognize or he may need help identifying it.

At my office we had a patient come to us from out of state, her implants were 20+ years old, we had no idea what they were. We took xrays and impressions and sent them to several implant makers' labs, it took a couple of months to get someone who could help us match up with current fittings. But we didn't have wrenches/drivers to fit them. We ended up having to cut them flat, cut a slot to fit a screwdriver head, unscrew, and replace with new parts. I'm just trying to save you that hassle.
posted by Jazz Hands at 6:55 PM on April 19, 2009