The thought of finding a new dentist may feel similar to cleaning out the attic-something you put off until you need a crown at 2 AM. Although a quick search of “Richmond Dentist” will turn up a host of providers, the number of people seeking new dental providers seems small by comparison. You shouldn’t have trouble finding a good dentist in Richmond; however, there are some key things that you’ll want to consider as you look for a new link dentist in Richmond.

When searching for a new dentist, one of the first considerations that should come to mind (though you’ll likely consider it last) shouldn’t necessarily be location, though it does play a role. It sounds convenient to have an office a block or two away, yet the office may have business hours from 9 to 4 which will not suit your work schedule. Make sure their hours are conducive to yours.

In fact, many dentist offices in Richmond are offering earlier morning and later evening hours for busy professionals with traditional in office hours of 9 to 5, which might offer a bit of breathing room around your normal workday if you need a cavity to be filled in or just want to get a standard teeth cleaning done.

In many cases, this should be one of the high on your priority list when seeking a new dentist in Richmond. Another concern for many of our clients here in Richmond is insurance. You will want to give the office a direct call and ask the person you are speaking with directly if they accept your plan. Although some dentists will say that they accept “most major insurance” and in the end will accept only about half, and they might even still have your plan covered for some services but it is a really great idea to clarify the status of your policy before setting a time for an appointment.

You will want to determine your plan number and find out if they participate in the network or if it’s out of network.

This is very important as you don’t want to be surprises when you come to check out with your bill, or get a surprise when your statement comes in the mail from your insurance provider. Finally we get to the dental office itself. Can you find a Richmond Dentist where the person looks to you like some sort of machine and seems focused only on your bill or will they take a moment and actually try to make eye contact and explain what’s going on, and then try to get all of your concerns taken care of without being rushed.

Most people will want the second type of individual, even if they do not always take a lot of time to actually listen. As you research, don’t be a follower and just pay attention to all of the 1- and 2-star reviews you will come across on many dental Web sites. Many reviews from former patients complain of hours long waits and “surprise billing.”

If it sounds like more than one of those reviews or more than a handful, and it’s written by someone with some time, you will probably want to look for another dentist, however if you come across a comment here and there which it might just be that this was one “bad day,” then do not allow yourself to over think this point.

A good word of mouth recommendation from your neighbors can tell you who to avoid and who to keep going back to over and over again. Just ask around. Your next-door neighbor who seems to know everyone will surely be able to offer a recommendation as well as your best friend or officemate. Once you make your final decision, you will also need to ascertain whether or not you have more of a humorous nature when it comes to seeing a medical provider, or if you tend to prefer someone a bit more professional who gets down to business in a much quicker manner.