Though some patients find dentists’ officesuniformly intimidating, it must be emphasized that not all dentists are alike. Some are much better practitioners of dentistry than others. However, how can you learn to spot the best ones, without having to become an expert in dentistry yourself? Here are some tips about finding a good dentist.

1. Does the dentist take a holistic approach to your initial examinations? Dentistry is about more than your teeth and gums. The doctor should also take a look at the makeup of your face and neck, and should take a look at your lymph nodes. Cosmetic dentistry, or even "basic" dental operations can have serious implications if you have a special lymph condition, or if the dentist accidentally disrupts the lymph system in the course of a procedure.

2. See what kind of procedures he or she focuses on in the promotions materials. If the emphasis is only on cosmetic dentistry, you should probably be concerned. This person might be more concerned with fads than fundamentals—or even safety. Cosmetic dentistry is perfectly legitimate if done properly, but an overemphasis on it might mean an unbalanced approach to being a dentist.

3. What does he or she say when you mention going to ask for a second opinion? If the dentist has confidence in his or her skills, he or she should not be upset that you are asking for external confirmation, particularly if you are considering a major operation.

4. Evaluate the way the dentist works after the most essential parts of the procedure are done. For instance, does the dentist polish your teeth or take care to see that no bits of chemicals, filling or enamel are left cluttering up your mouth like sawdust? These types of post-procedural clean-up are dentistry’s equivalent of dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s on a document. A careful, meticulous dentist should remember to do them, both to give you your money’s worth and for the sake of your health.

5. If you are going in to see a cosmetic dentist, you should definitely ask for some "Before" and "After" photographs of the dentist’s patients. This is because the work of a cosmetic dentist is also a matter of taste as well as technique. The dentist might be very skilled, but if his or her tastes do not match yours, you are likely to come away dissatisfied. Actually, a tastelessly done procedure might be made worse if the dentist has a high level of technical skill, because you will have to live with the results for longer.

6. Take a long-term view when considering costs. It might be tempting to go after the procedure with the lowest cost, but think about how long the results will last. A very cheap procedure might only last for a little while, which means that you will soon have to shell out more money in order to get it done again. In the long run, a dentist who charges more but gives longer-lasting results might represent the more practical investment.