How to choose a dentist

It may seem a silly question – but a lot of people want to know how they can choose the best dentists. If you think about it, are the general public expected to know what dentist qualifications stand for? Do you know the difference between a veneer and a crown, between an implant and a mini implant, and invisalign or conventional braces?

Ok – so we’ll address the terminology shortly and provide a glossary in another post, but the next question is “how good is the dentist?”. This is so important, and again, how are you supposed to know the difference in our qualifications, what being accredited as a specialist means, and what sort of work we carry out.

We have put together a few guidelines to follow when choosing a dentist. We hope you find them helpful, but please let us know if you have any other suggestions, or elements that you have specifically looked out for!

Guidelines:

a) Basic Dentistry Qualifications

Probably the most important aspect, you need to be able to see that your dentist has qualified as a dentist, and has had the correct training. All dentists should have studied dentistry, and it’s worth looking at where this has been done. You can look up the university or college to get an indication about the degree.

b) Advanced Qualifications

Has the dentist studied or gained any other relevant qualifications? You should be able to see a profile or request some information on the dentist you are thinking of booking an appointment with, so check to see what other experience they have

c) Are they part of a registered company

Dentists, like other businesses, should be registered with Companies House. If you can’t find the company number on their website, why not ask them for it? A properly registered company will have to do tax returns etc, and is a good sign of legitimacy!

d) Are they a registered member of the British Dental Association?

The British Dental Association (BDA) is the professional association and trade union for dentists in the United Kingdom and was founded in 1880. Membership, which is voluntary, stands at around 23,000.

e) The dentistry practice

Check the location of the dentist, and that it adds up with business directories.

There are a number of other things to look out for, and questions you can ask, but we hope this has given you a foundation for finding a great cosmetic dentist.