People change dentists for many reasons. Perhaps you’re dissatisfied with your current practice, the services have become too expensive, or you have recently moved to a new city like Norwalk and need to find a new dentist near you.
If you’re contemplating changing dentists, chances are it’s time to finally make the switch. Once you get to your new dental office, you just may discover you’ve missed out on many other benefits your current dentist never provided.
Here are the top reasons to change dentists this year.
1. You Moved and Need a New Dentist Near You
One of the most common reasons to change dentists is moving to a new city or state. It’s easy to overlook this in the chaos of moving, but many dentists, especially in big cities like Los Angeles, may have waiting lists or limited availability for several months. Look for a dentist near you who is taking new patients and is close enough for you to easily attend your cleanings and exams every six months. Neighbors and friends in your new home’s location may be able to point you in the direction of a dental office where they have had good experiences.
2. Your Current Dentist’s Service Has Declined
Maybe you have not moved recently but you have been increasingly unhappy with your current provider’s services. Perhaps you no longer like your current dentist’s level of customer service or technique, or you had a bad experience that diminished your trust in the office staff.
Helping you feel secure and well cared for is the least your dentist should do for you as a health care provider; there’s no legitimate excuse for inferior dental service. Your dentist should treat your health as a top priority by adhering to the standards of the American Dental Association.
In addition, your dentist should not try to discourage you from seeking dental specialists and receiving treatments from them if necessary. If you feel that your current dentist does not have your best interests in mind, this is a major reason to find a new dentist near you.
3. Insurance Coverage Changes
Maybe your dentist provides excellent care but you simply can’t afford their service anymore, perhaps due to a change in your insurance coverage. It may be time to switch to a new dentist. Another reason to look for a new dentist is if your dental office cannot accept your insurance plan any longer—either because their office policy changed or you took a new job with a different insurance plan.
Double-check with your insurance coverage provider to see which new dentists in your area are in your provider’s network. This will help you maximize all that your plan has to offer when pursuing dental examinations and treatments.
4. Changes with Your Children
Maybe you found a great pediatric dentist near you years ago but your children are now older and need a new provider. Conversely, maybe you had a dental provider as a single adult but now need an office that provides child dentistry since you have children. Children and adults have different medical needs, and a new family dynamic is certainly a reason to consider looking for a new dentist near you.
5. Scheduling Dental Appointments
Sometimes switching providers is just a matter of practicality. Consider pursuing a new dentist near you if your current dental office makes it too hard to schedule an appointment.
Maybe the office’s hours do not accommodate your work schedule, or maybe an overfilled list of patients creates long wait times to secure a patient appointment. If you cannot schedule checkups, you will end up neglecting your oral health.
6. Staff Changes
Another one of the top reasons to change dentists is personnel changes in your dental provider’s office. Maybe the previous lead dentist recently sold the practice, new staff have created an unpleasant atmosphere for patients, your office is having trouble retaining employees, or the office is trying to replace a number of staff members and has failed to provide a clear reason for doing so. In this situation, moving on to a more stable office may be the best option.
7. Pricing Changes
If your dentist has instituted a hefty increase in prices due to the increased costs of equipment and materials, it might be time to search for a new dentist near you.
Dentists have no choice but to boost prices if the cost of doing business rises. However, these changes should ideally be implemented with their patients in mind. This means the price hikes shouldn’t take place all at once, and your dentist should also inform you of them in advance. If this is a consistent problem with your dentist, do some research to find out what other dental offices charge for similar treatments, and consider switching to a new dentist.
8. Medical Awareness
Finally, one of the biggest reasons to change dentists is that your dentist does not refer to your previous medical history prior to starting treatment. Dentists who are not aware of your medical history are likely to provide you with ineffective treatments. If your dentist doesn’t consider your health record when providing dental care to you, go to another dentist who will.
Find a New Dentist Near Norwalk, CA with Alondra Dental Care
At Alondra Dental Care, we take pride in offering grade-A dental treatments for our patients. We stand out for our care and commitment, advanced technology, and affordability (we accept any PPO insurance plan). We also offer extended office hours on select days to ensure you’ll always have easy access to our office.
Looking for a new dentist near Los Angeles? Request an appointment today!
