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Visiting the dental clinic is a hard decision to make: and it becomes harder when you don’t know a trusted dentist.

So, you need to take your time in finding a good dentist who makes you feel comfortable. You don’t have to wait till you feel pain to start looking for one. Being in a rush because of pain may lead to choosing the wrong dentist, can make you lose money, tooth structure, health, and even your life!

Here we will discuss some guidelines for choosing the right dentist.

  • Has an applicable license

 

You need to know the status of his license, and whether he has ever had disciplinary action taken against his license.

 

  • Is easy to reach

 

It will be better if the clinic is in your neighborhood, so it will be easy for you to keep your dental appointments. Also, in case of dental emergency, you can reach the clinic fast. Another benefit of the nearby clinic is that when you are exhausted after a difficult dental procedure, you can easily reach your house.

 

  • Follows the guidelines and recommendation for infection control

 

Due to the nature of dental procedures and instrumentation which deal with body fluids (saliva and blood), and the close contact between the respiratory systems of the dentist and the patient, transmission of diseases like hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS and TB can happen.

So, the doctor should take infection control measures to protect himself and his patients.

Some of the measures you have to look out for are:

  • The clinic should be clean and tidy, and there should be a container for disposal of needles.
  • The dental clinic should not contain fans or carpets.
  • The dentist uses a new pair of gloves for each patient, and doesn’t touch any unsterilized object.
  • The nurse puts out a new cup, suction tube and napkin.
  • The instruments are straight out of a sealed bag. If the bag is not sealed, it means that the instrument may have been used for another patient, or it could have been contaminated from the air after being sterilized.
  • Has an effective sterilization method (autoclave).

 

 

  • Conservative and updated

 

Some dentists prefer to go for easy profitable solutions like extractions, and then you may need to have a bridge or implant. The good dentist should do a conservative procedure to preserve the tooth structure where possible. He should be familiar with the advanced techniques, instruments and materials.

He should also be familiar with prophylactic measures like fluoride application and pits and fissure sealants.

 

  • Working with a good dental lab

 

Sometimes the dentist does a perfect job, but the inexperienced technical staff mess it up. Ask previous patients how they feel about their dental appliance. Whether they are comfortable or not? This way you can get a clear picture of what is happening.

Finally I have two main pieces of advice for you

  1. Don’t be afraid of asking your dentist about anything you want to know about. Ask him about his license, about his infection control measures, and about the materials he uses.
  2. Don’t let the cost become the main influencing factor when you choose your dentist. I know it may be difficult, but your health is invaluable.

Contact a dentist or dental hygienist at Water Brook Dental in Washington DC for a dental check-up and other dental needs. Water Brook Dental has two locations in Washington DC. The Columbia Heights location is very  conveniently located to Downtown DC, Northeast DC, Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Logan Circle, U-Street Corridor, Mount Pleasant and many other parts of Washington. The Eastern Ave NW location is conveniently located to Downtown Silver Spring, Takoma Park MD, Silver Spring MD, Colesville, and other parts of Maryland as well as Northern Virginia and other parts of Virginia.