When you move to a new town, you have to take care of so many things. You need to make sure your mail is forwarded to the correct address, and you must familiarize yourself with the area in which you live. Eventually, too, you’ll need to look into finding new places to patronize for the services you need: hairstylists, general physicians, and especially a family dentist. If you have moved too far away from your current DDS, it’s important to make sure you find a new one to keep up your twice-a-year appointments.

So, how do you find a new dentist you feel will take care of your family’s oral care needs? Your natural first instinct may be to ask people familiar with the area – friends, family, co-workers. Personal referrals make for a large percentage of our decisions regarding businesses and purchases. If you have a subscription to Angie’s List, you can search for reviews of dentists in the area as well. The Better Business Bureau may be another helpful source in locating a reputable dentist’s office.

While personal recommendations may sway you toward visiting a specific office, there are some things you ought to look for during your initial visitation with a dentist to see if you want to keep that particular one. As you research, ask these questions:

1) Does the dental practice handle pediatrics and adults?

Of course, it’s easier to bring everybody to one place for dental care. If you have children, you definitely want to look into a family dentistry.

2) Does the practice have an oral surgeon on the premises?

If you or somebody in the family has a history of dental issues, you may wish to have all oral care handled at the same place.

3) Does the practice offer 24-hour emergency care?
Some tooth issues may not be able to wait until a scheduled appointment. You’ll want a dentist who provides emergency care when needed.
4) Does the practice keep later hours?

A dentist might not work twelve hours a day, but if you find you cannot keep morning appointments you may want a practice that offers late afternoon cleanings with a hygienist when it’s convenient for you.

There may be other qualities you’ll look for in a family dentist – commitment to community service, location, years of experience. However you go about finding the new dental office for your family to patronize, take your time, and weigh all the options before making your appointments.

Kathryn Lively is a freelance writer specializing in articles on Virginia Beach dentists.