Access to reliable dental services remains a challenge for many Americans. Recent surveys have shown that about 0.5% of people in the United States lack dental facilities within a 30-minute drive.
Now, 0.5% of the population may be significantly low compared to many Western countries. But it still underscores the acute shortage of dental clinics in a country with one of the most developed healthcare systems.
So, count yourself fortunate if you’re able to find a reliable dentist.
However, there may come a time when your loyalty to a dental clinic begins to waver.
Perhaps because your dentist no longer responds to your simplest queries. Or, the clinic has consistently raised its fees, and you’re no longer able to meet the cost of basic dental care.
It could also be due to the fact that your dentist has relocated their practice out of state, and you must now travel thousands of miles to keep up with your routine appointments.
But how do you determine it’s time to sever links with your current dentist?
Below are seven tell-tale signs it’s time to find a new dental clinic.
1. Your Dental Problems Persist (Or Worsen)
If your dental issues linger on despite scheduling multiple appointments, that’s sure proof your dentist is unqualified.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a persistently aching tooth, bleeding gums, or bad breath. Dental problems require quick and effective solutions.
The city of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for instance, boasts one of the most vibrant dental health sectors in the state. But with a practice at every corner of the street, finding the right clinic can be daunting.
Seek out a reputable dentist Fort Wayne with a proven record of successful patient outcomes, rather than one who only engages in lip service. Act fast if the problem gradually deteriorates. Waiting only increases the risks of complications, making the condition even costlier and more challenging to treat.
2. Loss of Professionalism
Dental clinics should be held to the highest standards of professionalism. Staff misconduct can erode patient confidence in a practice, leading to a massive client exodus.
Unprofessionalism can manifest in various ways. Examples include a clinic’s staffers showing up to work drunk, facilities placing profit over patient, and deplorable hygiene standards.
Breach of patient privacy is another tell-tale sign of unprofessionalism.
If you’re no longer confident in your dentist’s ability to treat your condition, it’s best to find a new clinic immediately.
3. Lack of Personalized Care
When it comes to dental issues, there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all. Shun dentists who prescribe general treatments without proper diagnosis.
For instance, you visit a clinic complaining of a toothache! But before you can even explain the circumstances leading to the pain, your good dentist immediately recommends an extraction.
What if the tooth could be filled? And what if it’s actually the gums, not the teeth, which are aching?
Taking on a general approach to dental care may boost a dentist’s revenue. But sadly, at their clients’ detriment.
4. Inconvenient Location
Your current dentist has moved out of state.
Initially, a five-minute drive was all you needed to get to their former practice. But should you continue patronizing the clinic, you’ll now be forced to fly there or endure several hours of a road drive.
Road trips may be thrilling. But when dealing with a numbing toothache, a dental facility located across the street would serve you better.
Besides, traveling hundreds of miles to a dentist can compound your dental costs.
5. Persistent Billing Disputes
When a dentist is fixated on the bottom line, they’ll employ every trick to satisfy their greed. That may include overcharging their patients.
Encountering frequent billing disputes is a reliable sign to switch dentists. That’s especially if you’ve raised the issue with the facility multiple times to no avail.
Usually, billing disputes result from hidden charges. A dental clinic that’s not transparent about its fees isn’t worth keeping.
Photo Credit: Pixabay.com
6. Gradual Communication Breakdown
A dental clinic would promptly reply to your concerns when you were a new client. But several months later, they seem almost entirely unbothered by your queries.
Your emails go unanswered. Sometimes, your calls get dropped by the facility’s support.
Even worse, you frequently run into appointment mix-ups, but with no apology from the clinic. And when you somewhat force an audience with the dentist, they swiftly dismiss your concerns with brazen contempt.
If these issues continually crop up, it’s time to seek a more professional dentist.
7. Using Outdated Medical Equipment
Many dental clinics stick to obsolete technologies and legacy systems, ostensibly to maximize their revenues. After all, advanced equipment comes with hefty price tags.
But contrary to the misconception, outdated dental practices can reduce operational efficiency and patient outcomes. That makes them potentially costly in the long run.
Besides, traditional dental technologies like film X-rays pose long-term health risks to patients.
You may not compel your dentist to embrace cutting-edge dental technology. But you can always switch to a facility that takes patient safety seriously.
Wrap Up
Any of the above signs is your cue to cut ties with your current dentist and find a new one. To avoid experiencing similar frustrations, conduct extensive research while scouting for a new dental clinic.
Prioritize a board-certified facility that employs qualified practitioners. You can ask for proof of individual credentials, just to be sure you’re committing your dental health to safe hands.
Besides, insist on local dentists. Local clinics provide personalized services, are more accessible, and make scheduling remarkably easy.
Remember to also sample online reviews for a better understanding of a dental clinic’s reputation. And needless to mention, determine that the facility caters to your unique dental requirements.
