Are you looking for a new family dentist? Perhaps your family has just moved to a new town or maybe you just want to know a bit more about the dentistry options that are out there. Whatever your reason might be, you will have plenty of choices in front of you. A good way to narrow down those choices is to know exactly what you need. Below are three items you might want to put on your list:

1. Pediatric Dentists – If you have kids then you probably know the struggle that comes with getting them to the dentist. Most children have a bit of anxiety about the dentist because it can be uncomfortable or scary for them. That is one of the reasons that there has been a tremendous growth in the number of dentistry offices around the country that cater specifically to kids. In fact, over 250,000 dental practices use a technique known as pediatric dental sedation.

2. Variety of Services Offered – Another item to put on your list is to make sure that the family dentist you choose offers the services you need. The last thing you want is to hear from your dentist that they are recommending as service that their office does not provide. Some common services you might inquire about would be: invisalign, sedation dentistry for adults, teeth whitening, bridges, crowns, implants and sealants.

3. Education – One item that is easily forgotten from many family dentist search lists is education. This is an often time overlooked perk of having a great dentist; can you learn while you are there and is the office available to you if you were to have questions about your family’s oral health? For instance, did you know that research shows that drinking energy drinks is twice as bad for enamel loss than sports drinks? What about the effects of fluoride in bottled water? Studies show that nearly 70 percent of parents admitted that they did not know what levels of fluoride were in the bottled water they purchased for their family.

Having a family dentist you can trust is paramount. When you are making your list of what you want out of your next family dentist, don’t forget to consider items like pediatric dentistry if you have kids, the types and variety of services that are offered, and the education you want to receive. You’ll be glad you did!