While we can’t speak for you, it is a common practice here to never order food from a restaurant we haven’t visited at least once. That initial visit is important to see what kind of place it is because, as it turns out, food quality is pretty important. In that first visit, we’re looking for customer service, attentiveness, cleanliness, and a generally good vibe – if those things aren’t present, we’re either walking out or eating there only once. Your dentist’s office should be treated much the same way, but can only be judged in such a way if you’re looking at your experience from the perspective of a customer first and patient second.

So pay your dentist’s office a visit. Ask the above questions over the phone first, of course, then stop into the office in person to schedule your first appointment. At this time, you should be able to meet the dentist, take a look around, get a feel for the staff, and make your decision based on whether or not you like what you see. If you get a good feeling, schedule your first appointment and congratulate yourself on a job well done; if you don’t, just tell them you’ll call them to schedule, thank them for their time, and continue the search – your oral health is worth that!