Going to the dentist on a regular basis is one of those things that adults don’t do as often as they should. According to the Center for Disease Control (the CDC), over 80% of children visited the dentist in 2014 but only about 60% of adults went for an annual checkup. Of course, the proper dental patient goes every six months rather than once per year, so these adults presumably have a reason to slack. Part of it might be fear, part could be being too busy to schedule appointments, and part could simply be not knowing a good way to find a dentist.
Going to the dentist is no longer just about getting a tooth pulled or getting a cleaning. A recent uptick in cosmetic dentistry has expanded the services offered by many dentists. It’s now common to find a dentist who performs teeth whitening or dental implants in addition to standard cleanings. While these cosmetic procedures may seem trivial to some, almost 75% of adults believe that an unattractive smile can inhibit future success. With numbers like that, these procedures are far from trivial.
If you’re one of the people who doesn’t go to the dentist because you’re not sure how to find a dentist, there’s good news. The internet has turned into one giant database of user reviews. Sites like yelp.com are best known for their restaurant reviews, but many of these sites allow users to review any business of any kind. As such, a random Yelp search of “dentists in Coral Gables, Florida” returns dozens of dental offices with reviews from clients. Some have as few as one review, others as many as 30 or 40.
If Yelp isn’t your speed, sites like 1800Dentist, Angie’s List, or Healthgrades.com all offer similar services and provide client reviews and rankings. The internet can be a scary place, but it can also make it easy for you to find a dentist.
The great news is that if you find a dentist and don’t like them, you never have to go back to their office. You’re not signing a contract to be a permanent client by going to one dentist one time. While you may occasionally receive a postcard reminding you to schedule your next appointment, you haven’t signed your life away. If it doesn’t seem like the right office for you, take solace in all those other results from your web searches — at least one of them will take care of you!