How To Pick The Right Dentist?

Not many people “enjoy” going to the dentist, but sometimes the experience can go from merely uncomfortable to potentially disastrous.  Given the news lately, we though it would be helpful to give our readers a few tips to make sure that they are picking the right dental office to care of their oral health.

1. Referrals

The best way to make sure that you have a good experience at the dentist’s office is to choose a dentist who’s been recommended by others you trust. Ask family, friends, neighbors or coworkers for their recommendations. If they like the experience at their dental office, chances are, so will you!

2. Professional Associations

Professional associations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), and the American Academy of Periodontology maintain lists of their members which can be a helpful resource when you are looking for a reputable dentist or dental specialist.

3. Dental Insurance Benefits

Your dental insurance provider will maintain a list of participating providers in your local area. Just remember, these list aren’t maintained according to the quality of the services provided. It is still important to include other factors in your final decision.

4. Meet for a consultation

Many dental professionals offer complimentary consultations. For example new patients at our practice can meet with Dr. Berdy, discuss their case, and review potential treatment options, free of charge. So if you’re still not sure whether or not a potential office is the place for you, ask to meet with the doctor and then make your decision.

Mouthwash: Yea or Nay?

Many of our patients inquire about the best mouthwash or other oral rinses to use in order to compliment their brushing and flossing. This post will explain a few things you should know.

Brushing is meant to do just that, compliment flossing and brushing. In no way should it be considered a replacement for a consistent and thorough brushing and flossing regime. That is the only method for keeping you mouth clean and healthy.

That said, rinsing out your mouth is a good method of removing loose food and debris and is a useful practice after meals. In that respect, it does not really matter what you use to rinse. Water does the job just as well as mouthwash.

If you are going to use mouthwash, there are two main types to consider. We divide oral rinses into two main categories:cosmetic and therapeutic. Most “whitening” and “fresh breath” rinses fall in this category. These contain hydrogen peroxide which may or may not help white teeth (the jury’s still out).

As for fresh breath, no rinse “treats” bad breath. The best these rinses can actually claim is to “mask” bad breath. If someone is having a consistent problem with bad breath, the causes can range from periodontal disease to oral cancer. The only way to be sure is to schedule an examination with a specialist, like a periodontist, to diagnose and treat the condition.

Therapeutic rinses on the other hand are designed to address a particular problem such dry mouth or plaque removal. The active ingredients in these rinses can be fluoride, which aids cavity prevention, or xylitol, which is known to fight tooth decay.

The important thing to remember though is that mouthwash cannot replace brushing, flossing, and regular visits to the dentist for professional cleanings. In other words, mouthwash? It doesn’t hurt, but to do the job right, just remember to brush and floss like mom taught you!