Dental fear is the fear or anxiety about dental visits and dental treatments.  It is estimated that as many as 75 percent of adults in the United States experience some degree of dental fear, ranging from mild to severe.  It may be that people are searching for the wrong things when looking for a dental care.  Finding the right dentist for you will help alleviate your dental fear.  When choosing a dentist, here are a few things to consider.

Referrals

Asking friends about who they use for their dental care is important.  Gather information from them.  Make a list of important questions to ask, and document their answers.  Ask questions about things that you care about.  If years of experience are important, ask about this.  If their ability to relate to elderly people is important, ask about their experience with that. Friends are there for you for the important parts of your life.  Making dental decisions are important.

Research

Use the Internet to search for patient experiences with dentists in your area. Check out the dental office websites to see what services they provide, the dentist’s goals, how they are involved in your community, and the location of the office.  There are also sites that people can write in and give both their positive and negative experiences.  This can be helpful.  A word of warning about these sites, people often write in only when they have a bad experience.  Take all reviews with a grain of salt and look for what the majority of the reviews are saying.  Focusing on one bad review might distract you from making a fully informed decision.

Reconnaissance

After asking friends, and searching for information on the Internet, pick your top three dental office choices.  Go in and check them out for yourself.  Schedule a consultation, or ask the receptionist for a brief tour.  Ask questions, check out the facilities, and take notes.  Trust your feelings when you visit.  If you felt at home and at peace at one of your visits, choose that one!

Don’t continue being dissatisfied with your current dental care if you’re feeling anxiety or fear.  Search for the dentist who makes you feel at home and comfortable.  At Hudson Oaks Family Dentistry, Dr. Reagan prides himself on his patients’ satisfaction.  His goal is to make your visit as peaceful and enjoyable as possible.

Call Hudson Oaks Family Dentistry today to find out more!

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