7 Questions To Ask Your Dentist
Feeling anxious before a dental appointment is a common problem for most people. In fact, around 60% of adults feel nervous and anxious when it comes to visiting their dental clinic. And around 5 to 10% of those individuals have a ‘Dental Phobia’. However, no matter how fearful you may feel, it is important to get regular dental checkups to keep your oral health in top shape! Besides, technological advancements have now made it easier to endure complex dental procedures by limiting or completely eliminating the pain felt during such treatments. Also, the right dentist can make a world of a difference when it comes to enduring painful and complex procedures!
Finding the right dentist can be somewhat tricky due to the vast number of dental clinics that have opened up in the recent years. If you have been racking your brains wondering where to start, here are a few important questions that will help you find your ideal dentist that will make your journey to a flawless smile easier and happier!
Question 1 – How many hours of additional post dental school advanced training does your dentist have?
This is an important question, as it helps you analyze the dentist’s expertise and how long they’ve been in the field. This also gives you an idea of how passionate your dentist really is for their job, as a passionate individual would definitely perform better than the one who has minimal interest in their work.
Dr. Marina Ambridge, at the Smile Institute, has so far accumulated 500 hours of advanced training in Orthodontics, Implants, Cosmetic Dentistry and Family Dentistry, making her a multi-skilled and top-tier dentist in Peoria and the surrounding areas!
Question 2 – How do you make sure that your dental procedures are as painless as possible?
Dental appointments can cause an incredible amount of anxiety for those that have a low tolerance for pain. This question is especially crucial for kids, since kids usually dread going to the dentists. Technological advancements have now made it easier to limit the pain associated to such procedures. Make sure the dentist you opt for makes use of innovative tools and equipment that will help in limiting the pain and ensuring a smooth procedure. At the Smile institute, we have some revolutionary tools on board, such as the SmartGate Dental Injection Aid Painless, which is an incredible device that uses soothing vibrations to limit the pain felt from dental shots.
In addition to that, we offer a variety of sedation techniques, including the laughing gas therapy to make the procedure as comfortable for you as possible! Dr. Marina Ambridge is specially trained in techniques to reduce the pain felt during such dental procedures. She uses a gentle and steady hand to perform the procedures and takes special care of all her patients.
Question 3 – Do you provide treatment to kids and how do you make sure that they are calm and receive a very good experience during the procedure?
Children can get quite panicky when it comes to dental appointments. They start throwing endless tantrums as soon as they step foot into the dental clinic. It is important that the dental clinic you opt for has amenities to entertain the kids and make their visit a pleasant one, so the next time they have an appointment they look forward to it instead of feeling dreadful.
Dr. Ambridge loves working with kids, has a lot of experience working with kids and has her own kid, so she knows lots of tips and tricks on how to keep them happy and entertained! At the Smile Institute, we offer an amazing play area for kids, video games, miniature kitchen sets, cute stickers and special gifts to ensure your child’s stay at our clinic is a pleasant and happy one!
Question 4 – What advanced dental procedures do you do?
It is essential that your dentist is well versed with all types of procedures, as you may need additional procedures leading up to the main one. It can be quite inconvenient being referred out to other dentists for minor, in-between procedures, plus the outcome won’t be consistent either. At the Smile Institute, we offer all types of advanced dental treatments including orthodontics, implants, veneers, Botox, fillers, sleep apnea treatment, etc.
Since we are a one-stop shop for all your general and advanced dentistry needs, you won’t be referred out to a different dentist in most cases and can have all the procedures done at the same place. This ensures the best possible outcome!
Question 5 – What cosmetic treatment training does a dentist have and how can they prove that they have a good sense of color, symmetry and aesthetics in general?
In order to reach your smile goals, it is important to make sure that your dentist has a good understanding of advanced cosmetic procedures along with being well-acquainted with the facial anatomy and physiology of their patients. Dr. Marina Ambridge has gone through many hours and seminars of advanced cosmetic training for different kinds of procedures, including veneers, fillings, orthodontics, crowns, fillers, and Botox.
In addition to that, she is pursing her accreditation with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry to become one of the very few dentists in the world acknowledged by the Academy for their advanced skills in cosmetic dentistry. Apart from that, Dr. Ambridge has been drawing and painting throughout her life to develop the correct sense of color, balance, symmetry and beauty in general. She is currently working on several paintings, which will be used to decorate the walls of The Smile Institute!
Question 6 – Is the dental office open on the weekend to take the stress of missing work for a dental appointment?
For those who have a strict work schedule, taking an entire day off for a dental appointment can be quite inconvenient. Therefore, make sure the dental clinic is open on the weekends, so you won’t have to face the added stress of missing work!
The Smile Institute is open on Saturdays and Sundays in order to accommodate everyone, who cannot take a day off at work in order to visit a dentist.
Question 7– Does the dental office offer different types of financing options?
Dental procedures can be quite heavy on the pocket, so finding a dental clinic that offers convenient payment options is surely a plus! We believe that top-notch dental treatments should be accessible by everyone, irrespective of their budget.
Therefore, the Smile Institute offers all types of financing options, which allow patients to defer payments for their dental procedures for half a year. In addition to that, we offer easy small monthly payment plans for larger procedures and zero percent financing for certain procedures.