Whether you are looking for a cosmetic dentist or a general dentist here in California, a great way to start is ask family, friends, neighbors, your doctor or co-workers for recommendations. You are probably familiar with the person who is making the recommendation -- what their expectations are regarding the level of care provided and the costs concerned. Recently, I referred my dentist to a good friend. Based on my first-hand experience, my friend felt confident about seeing this dentist:  the dentist was detailed in oral exams, will personally clean a patient's teeth rather than rely on a dental hygienist, took time to explain the dental treatments involved and was careful in recommending more expensive procedures.

With your dentist search, it may take a visit or even more to an office to fully appreciate and evaluate that you may or may not have found the right fit.  Don’t be harsh on yourself, be objective and allow time for it.  There are many great practices out there who can serve your needs. Here are some considerations when selecting dentists:

• If you've not yet set up the first appointment, find out if they are accepting new patients.
• Is the office easy to get to from your home or place of work? Is the appointment schedule convenient to you?
• Does the office appear clean, neat and orderly?
• Does the office keep your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file?
• Does the dentist explain dental treatment and procedures he or she recommends to you with care? Do they treat you like a partner in the process of care?
• Does the office accept your insurance plan?
• Does the office provide information on fees and payment plans before the treatment is scheduled?
• Is the dentist experienced in treating patients with special physical conditions that you or a family member may have (eg. pregnancy, diabetes, special needs in children etc)?
• What kind of arrangements do they offer to handle emergencies outside of office hours?
• Is the dentist registered with the Dental Board of CA?

Dentists listed through your insurance
If you have dental insurance, inquire with the insurance company or the person in charge of benefits at work on locating providers who accept your plan.  If you prefer, ask for the website where you can do a search and choose an office near you that you like.   Rather than looking into yellow page directory listings, you can save time and money by looking directly for dental offices that are on your plan. If you are on an DHMO plan, find out if you already have a practice assigned to be your primary care provider.  If you have a PPO plan, to minimize out of pocket expenses, find an in-network dentist who accepts your plan.

No insurance but cost is a concern?

There are affordable dental plans in the marketplace that will provide members access to credentialed practices at significant discounts off their full price schedule.  According to the US News and World report, these are fee-for-service healthcare access organizations that are able to provide members with discounted prices based upon their organizational bargaining power. 

Nancy had moved to the San Fernando valley area a few years ago.  Cost was a concern on her, so she did some research.  She found one such dental plan she liked, searched for providers online and called up a practice listed near her to verify their pricing policies and what services they offered.  That initial bit of research has allowed her to visit the dentist regularly in the last four years without burning a hole in her pocket and helped her to maintain great oral health. 

For more information on how you could also save 20% - 80% off all dental services, click here.

Another idea is to ask the dental office for discounts as a patient paying with cash. According to an experienced dental practice consultant, discounts could go as high as 8%, which could be a good dollar amount saved considering cost of care. If you do not have any dental coverage at all, it's worth giving this a shot.  Regardless of cost, make sure that you choose a good dental office that will provide you with quality care. 

If the cost of care run high and it's a challenge to pay the entire amount upfront, there is still help.  Inquire with the practice regarding credit payment arrangements that will allow you to receive the services upfront and pay for it over time through affordable monthly payments.