How to Recognize a Great Dentist:
10 Trustworthy Signs

Intro

Going to a dentist is not something you look forward to, but it’s a key part of keeping your smile white and shiny.
So finding a dentist that you can trust is crucial for a positive experience.
The last thing you want is to feel repelled by your dentist and stop giving your teeth the care they need.

Therefore, this article is intended for non-dental professionals who are looking for a dentist or are unsure about their current one.
Let’s define some guidelines that can help you decide if your dentist is the right one for you or not.

Your goal is to find a dentist who makes you feel comfortable and motivated to take care of your oral health.
What I mean by that is a dentist who you find at least okay as a person, and also a dentist who knows what they are doing and you can trust their knowledge and skills.

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Human qualities

Sometimes it’s hard to tell on a first visit, but after a short time, you can already see your dentist’s personality.
This is important because you are going to spend some time with him while you are sitting in a dental chair, often with your mouth open and unable to speak.
That’s why you want to feel comfortable and relaxed, not anxious and stressed, aside from the anxiety from the intervention itself.
Going to the dentist shouldn’t feel like you’re going to your enemy, but rather like you’re going to a friend who is helping you out with your teeth.
Here are some key points that can help you recognize if it’s a good dentist for you:

1. Dentist who is polite

The conversation feels natural, he listens to what you have to say, and he responds respectfully.

2. Dentist who has good ethics

The treatment comes first, with no compromises.
He looks for the best way to help your oral health and he is not just thinking about how to upsell you on unnecessary treatments, or how to convince you to go on an easier path, which is often just a temporary solution.
Even if you are trying to convince him that you want an easy solution.
He will still try to explain to you why it’s important and what the consequences of not doing it are.

3. Dentist who is open and honest

He doesn’t avoid saying things that you might not want to hear, but still, he does it respectfully.
If he admits that he is uncertain about something that he is supposed to know, or if he admits that he made a mistake.
This is a very good sign of a trustworthy dentist.
It’s not a sign of weakness, but rather a sign of strength and confidence in his abilities.

4. Dentist who speaks in an understandable way

He doesn’t use too many medical terms, as if he is trying to confuse you with them. Instead, he explains them to you and finds some relatable examples so that you can understand what he is talking about.

5. Dentist who is not egoistic

He doesn’t speak badly about other dentists or their work, for example, if you have something done in another dental practice, and then you come to him.
During inspection, if he finds something that is not done properly, he will explain to you what is wrong and why, but he won’t say that the other dentist is bad or incompetent.
He is not avoiding sending you to the other dentist that he thinks is more specialized for your case, or is he trying to convince you that he is the only one who can help you.
Still, to some degree, every dentist has a bit of an ego, but this should be in a reasonable way, where he is pushing himself to become better.

6. Dentist who is always doing his best work

Even if he’s not in a good mood, or even if you annoy him as a patient, he will still do the best treatment for you, just so he can meet his standards.
Here is a good example where an ego comes in as a good form.

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Knowledge and skills

Since this article is for non-dental professionals, it’s hard to tell if the treatment is done properly or not.
A dentist should be working by the book, which means he should follow the steps and procedures that are well-established in the dental community and taught at a University.
That means, a dentist shouldn’t try skipping any protocol steps or finding workarounds so that he could save himself time, money, or just convince himself.
I believe there are some obvious details for you to catch as a non-dental professional.
These key points are actually saying a lot more than they look and are most likely to be performed by a dentist who has good knowledge and skills.
If you spot one or more of these points, it just means that he is most likely a very knowledgeable and skilled dentist.
Still, if you don’t find any of it, it doesn’t mean that he is not, you just aren’t sure.

7. Dentist who uses rubber dam

First of all, what is a rubber dam?
It’s a colored (blue, green) latex sheet that is set on your tooth when, usually, a dentist performs a root canal treatment. It is used to isolate the tooth from the rest of the mouth so that a dentist can work in a clean environment without risking contamination inside a root canal.
This is a key to a successful root canal treatment.
If you see the dentist using it, this is a strong signal that he probably does everything else by the book as well.

8. Dentist who uses X-rays

Taking X-rays is essential for many cases - root canal treatment, tooth extractions, and even for diagnostic reasons.
The fact that this is the only way for your dentist to see what is going on puts him in a position where he has to take them.
It helps him a lot to have a clear overview, also to avoid complications, and make a better treatment plan.
Later, also for documentation purposes, so that he can see how the tooth was before and after the treatment.
Of course, there are some situations when it’s not indicated to take X-rays, like pregnancy, but more often it’s safe.
So if he is suggesting you take X-rays, you can take that as a good sign.

9. Dentist who uses temporary dental crowns

Temporary dental crowns or temporary dental bridges are used when a tooth is prepared for a crown, but the final crown or bridge is not ready yet.
They are used to protect the tooth and to keep it functional until the final crown is ready.
Temporary crowns are also important for the healing process so when a final dental impression is taken, the tooth and soft tissue around it is healed, so the final crown or bridge is going to fit better in your mouth.
If your dentist is using temporary crowns, this is a very good sign that he is following the protocol and not trying to cut corners.

10. Dentist who has dental magnification glasses

Dental magnification glasses are used to see the tooth and surrounding tissues more clearly so that the dentist can work more precisely.
It is a great piece of equipment, especially for root canal treatment and dental filling, where the dentist can control their work in the smallest detail, which can be very important for treatment success.
If your dentist is using them, this is a strong signal that he is taking his work seriously and is trying to do it as well as he can.

Bonus: Dentist who has good reviews

We now live in a digital age, so for everything you can find, there are other people’s experiences.
This isn’t a 100% sure method, but rather a good indicator of a dentist’s skills.
Most of the people there have finished their treatment, and they are sharing their experience, so you can get a good idea about the dentist.
If you see that a dentist has many positive reviews, this is a good sign that he is doing something right.
Still, please be very careful, often some reviews come from wrong conclusions and expectations, in both positive and negative.
I am sure that every dentist who has ever worked has a room of people who are praising him and another room of people who are saying the worst things about him as a dentist. Still in general, it’s not too bad to check it out and see what other patients have to say.

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Conclusion

Something to keep in mind - every dentist has a different style of work, so most certainly you will not find all of these points in one dentist.
Also, it depends on the type of treatment you are looking for, so you don’t get an opportunity to check it out. Some have good conversation skills, while others have knowledge and hands that are healable. Some dentists are very good at making you feel comfortable, but they are not the best at their skills. Also, the other way around, some dentists are very skillful, but they are not that pleasant to talk to. Your main goal as a patient at the end is to receive good treatment while feeling respected and comfortable. So the balance between these two is the key.

The greatest dentist in the world might be best for you, and not for me. If you don’t trust your dentist, even if he has all of these qualities, you should look for another one. There is no need for you to feel uncomfortable and have doubts about your dentist.
Often, when the patient doesn’t trust you as a dentist, there is an unwritten rule that something always goes wrong in this situation.
Please don’t mix this feeling with a feeling of anxiety and fear of dental treatment, that is perfectly normal. So if you are not sure about your dentist, you can always ask for a second opinion.

But if you find a dentist who has most of these qualities, most likely he is the one right for you, and you are in good hands.

In the end, as in life, the most important thing is to find a dentist who has good intentions in their heart and who is trying their best. If you are looking for a dentist, I hope this article will help you find one right for you so that your smile stays white and shiny.