When it comes to the health and maintenance of your smile, having a professional caretaker you trust and can turn to is important. What is the best way to proceed when, for one reason or another, you need a new dentist?
There are many circumstances in life that may lead you to seek a new dentist, a common one being relocating to a new area and being too far away from your previous dental care provider to see them conveniently as you did before. Another scenario is one in which you may be dissatisfied with the service your regular dentist is providing you - whether through malpractice, misdiagnosis, or general incompetence, you should never feel tied or obligated to a dentist to avoid hurt feelings or bad blood; your dentist should be receptive toward your opinions and observations concerning your oral health, ADA certified, meticulous in his work, well-versed in your patient history, and appropriate in his conduct toward you. If he lacks any of these essential qualities, it's a good idea to search for somebody more qualified. The need for a new dentist doesn't always necessarily mean you're looking to replace your current one; the need for a second opinion about any problems you may be experiencing or any potential procedures you may need to have done are also good examples of situation in which finding a new dentist may be necessary.
Once you've determined that you do in fact need a new dentist, there are several ways to move forward. Becoming acquainted with local offices in your area is a good idea; this is especially relevant in the case of somebody moving to a new home. The ADA offers online tools to help you find somebody in your neighborhood within their organization, ensuring that you are able to find somebody who is properly trained; your insurance provider (if applicable) should offer something similar that will allow you to find local dentists within their network. Word of mouth is another way that good dentists get connected with their clientele, as are review aggregation platforms such as Yelp; thorough research will save you time and money in the long run. After gathering enough the information of several offices, you can start paring down the options and eventually determine which is best for you.
A good place to begin is first identifying your needs as a patient and assessing how well each candidate would be equipped to handle your needs and the needs of your family. Another factor will be cost and whether or not their services will be covered by your insurance plan. Sheer proximity should also be considered, even if only as a measure of convenience. Once you've narrowed the search down, scheduling consultations with each is a great way to meet the dentist and get a feel for their office and practice.
Once you've made your decision, the rest is simple; have your records transferred from your previous dentist and register your current contact and insurance information with them. Once you've made it this far, all you have to do is make and keep your semi-annual appointments and your teeth will have a new place to call home.
Insurance Policy
Some of the major insurances we accept are displayed to the right, however, we gladly accept ALL PPO Insurance plans and are a Delta Dental Premier provider.
We will gladly help you to understand whether your insurance has limits on the doctors you can see or the services you can receive. If you provide complete and accurate information about your insurance, we will submit claims to your insurance carrier and receive payments for services.
Depending on your insurance coverage, you may be responsible for co-payments, co-insurance, or other deductible amounts. Please contact our office or call your insurance carrier should you have any questions.
YourLocalDentist.com
(800) 838-6316
8539 Sunset Blvd, Ste 16, Los Angeles, CA 90069
18399 Ventura Blvd #251, Tarzana, CA 91356
11126 Chandler Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601
6200 Wilshire Blvd #1508, Los Angeles, CA 90048
16500 Ventura Blvd., Suite 150 Encino, CA 91436
9535 Reseda Blvd, Suite 203, Northridge, CA 91324
361 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91360
4975 Whittier Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90022
11233 Valley Blvd El Monte, CA 91731
17311 Yukon Ave Torrance, CA 90504
17742 Beach Blvd Suite 350 Huntington Beach, CA 92647
925 E. San Antonio Drive, Suite 15 Long Beach, CA 90807