5 Tips for Choosing a Dentist

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Does the thought of finding a dentist have you gritting your teeth? It doesn’t have to be so stressful. In celebration of Oral Health Month, the County’s dental care provider has shared five tips to help employees choose a dentist that they can really smile about.

  1. Know your dental health benefits. With your HMO dental plan, you select an in-network dentist as you Primary Care Dentist. If you have the PPO dental plan, you can visit a dentist of your choice and will receive the greatest discounts for those dentists who are in-network.

  2. Ask others for recommendations. Ask family, friends or coworkers what they like about their dentist. You also may wish to ask for a list of local dentists who are members of professional associations, such as the California Dental Association (CDA).

  3. Factor in accessibility. Do you prefer a dentist location near your workplace or your home? How flexible can you be when it comes to scheduling appointments? How important is it for your dentist to have office hours on Saturdays? You will want to convey this information to a prospective dentist and dentist office staff.

  4. Meet for a consultation. When you have a list of prospective dentists, call or visit several before making an appointment. Ask if he or she a member of organized dentistry (such CDA), and find out which dental procedures are completed in-office and which are referred out. Also, ask how far in advance you need to schedule regular checkups or cleanings.

  5. Evaluate the dentist after an appointment. During your initial visit, check the office to make sure it’s clean, neat and orderly. How courteous are staff members? Do they handle your private medical and dental history with care? How child-friendly is the office?

In addition, the Department of Human Resources’ Benefits Division has put together some additional resources for County employees:

Still have a question? Contact Delta Dental. If you have Delta Dental PPO, call 877-688-3503 (Group Number: 17214) or if you have Delta DentalCare USA DHMO call 844-697-0579 (Group Number: 76990-0001).