Issue Date: March 16, 2008

Finding a dentist

1. Compile a list of candidates. First, call your local chapter of the American Dental Association or go to ada.org to find ADA members nearby. Search online to see if the practices have websites, which may provide a lot of basic information. If you have young kids, Susan Kim, DDS,of Evergreen Pediatric Dentistry in Kirkland, Wash., suggests looking for a pediatric dentist. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends that children see a pediatric dentist when the first tooth appears, and Kim says young children should get regular checkups until the permanent teeth are in.

2. Talk to current patients. Call the dental office and request a patient referral. It might take a couple days to arrange, but a good practice will be happy to find someone willing to talk. "If they don't, it's a red flag," Kim says. Ask the reference about his or her experiences with the staff.

3. Stop by the office. Kimberly Harms, DDS, consumer spokesperson for the ADA and a dentist in Farmington, Minn., suggests dropping by a practice to meet the dentists and hygienists and see the office. You should be able to get a tour any time, but you might have to make an appointment to talk to a dentist. During your visit, note how busy the office is, Kim says. "Ask how much time the practice allocates for each appointment," she says. Some spend 20 minutes for a routine visit and cleaning, and others spend about an hour.

4. Get on the same page. Parents need to be sure that the dentist's philosophy for dealing with scared children matches their own, Kim says. Some dentists still use a papoose board to restrain a child, while others give oral or intravenous sedation. Be comfortable with what they do, or find someone else. Also, ask if they specialize in the dental services you need, Harms says. Not all offer dentures or cosmetic procedures, for instance.

5. Evaluate the communication. As a new patient, if you feel you are getting a hard sell for a procedure, tell the dentist, hygienist or a front-office staff member. "Give them a second chance, but if you can't be comfortable talking to your dentist about options, risks, benefits and alternatives to treatment, then find another dentist," Harms says. Similarly, dentists should be open to providing you with written price estimates for any work they suggest.

-- Lisa Jaffe Hubbell