The best dentists provide next-level service with a smile that will keep you and your family healthy. However, it’s important to know everything about your service when calling. Otherwise, you might walk in confused or even get the wrong care. Thankfully, we’re here to help you! Here are six questions you must ask before working with a dentist.

1. Do You Provide Kid-Friendly Service?

According to the CDC, about 64.9% of adults aged 18 and older visit a dentist yearly. Typically, adults need the most support as they age — but what about kids? Not all doctors provide pediatric dental care, so ask yours ASAP to learn more.

Why don’t all dental experts provide pediatric service? Some simply do not work with kids, while others don’t get the training. It’s a tight market, and many people focus on specific care to stand out, with many leaving out kids entirely.

2. How Often Should I Visit?

Here’s the thing about dental visits: many people can go for a year without needing it. Does that mean you can always wait a year between visits? Well, not necessarily. We know that’s devastating, but here’s the good news: you probably don’t have to go constantly.

How can you know for sure? Your dentist will do a quick assessment of your oral health. Once they know what to expect, they can create a visit schedule. If you’re lucky, yearly visits might be all you need. The same goes for your kids: Ask them to learn more.

3. Will I Need X-Rays?

Visiting dentists is about more than just cleaning your teeth and fixing cavities: serious work is also necessary. For example, they may need X-rays to spot long-term teeth problems. These may include minute cracks that you or the dentist can’t see inside your tooth.

If you’re nervous about X-rays, we understand that: they can seem scary. However, your dental team will do what they can to protect you. For example, your face and body are masked by a lead blanket. That blocks stray X-rays and avoids potential issues.

4. What Insurance Do You Take?

Don’t just assume that your dentist can take your insurance: they may not! Too many people walk into the dentist confident that their policy will be taken — to be fair, they’re usually right. However, some providers may not take all policies, requiring you to rethink who you work with here.

Sometimes, you can find those details on a company’s website, but not always. Some even have insurance verification services, but these may require calling them directly. Whatever the situation, make sure your insurance is accepted before working with a dentist.

5. Can I Get Specialized Services?

Your dentist can typically do so much more than basic cleaning; in fact, they’re often specialists in various types of care! Ask about special treatments they can provide to learn more. Doing so can help you make a smart dental care decision.

Note that you can often find this information on their website; these useful sites often list all their services in great detail. What if you can’t? Then, you should ask them; in fact, you should ask them anyway. After all, they can give you more information and keep you better informed.

6. What Can I Do to Keep Myself Safe?

Lastly, make sure you ask your dentist about any steps you can take to keep your smile strong. When you ask your dentist for tips and tricks, it puts your oral health in your own hands. You must do the work outside of checkups and cleanings. It also helps spot potential mistakes impacting your oral health.

They can teach you proper flossing and brushing techniques — trust us, most people do both wrong — and even help you choose teeth-safe diets. Furthermore, they can support you in teaching your kids these tricks. Emphasizing early oral care lessons can keep your kids set for life.

Anyone visiting dentists should ask these and other questions to ensure that their family gets the high-quality help they need. Not understanding your treatment could cause serious long-term problems, especially in your kids: nobody wants that! Please call Shoreview Dental today and get ready to ask whatever questions you want! You can even ask our operators to get the inside scoop you need.