In every profession, we come across people who are not good at their job. Unfortunately, the same is true in dentistry. If you’ve experienced a bad dentist, you may have developed a distaste for visiting the dentist at all–any dentist. In some cases, negative experiences can include pain, making a patient fear professional dental care altogether or to feel especially anxious before and during appointments.
At Signature Smile Arts in Homewood, Dr. Alex Shore, Dr. Carlos Hernandez, Dr. Jason Giuliano, and our compassionate team are attuned to making patients feel comfortable, safe, and well cared for at all appointments. We understand that dental phobia and being scared of falling victim to another bad dentist are very real feelings. Our goal for this group of patients is to restore their faith in good, gentle dental care to improve health and quality of life.
Schedule your appointment online or book a virtual consultation on our website. You can also call us at 708-799-5353. We look forward to meeting you!
What Makes a Dentist Bad?
Rest assured, our team avoids the following behaviors at all costs so that we can deliver a positive and effective dental care experience to patients. A dentist may be labelled as “bad” if he or she:
Fails to be thorough: Skipping routine checks for gum disease and oral cancer could put the patient’s oral and overall health at risk. Finding and treating these and similar concerns early greatly reduces the risk for serious escalation, ultimately reducing pain and expense.
Has consistently poor outcomes: If dental work fails, like a crown falls out shortly after being placed, or if ongoing pain occurs after dental treatments, the clinician is probably doing something wrong.
Displays unprofessionalism: If you ever feel uncomfortable by inappropriate or awkward comments by your dentist, or if he makes you feel rushed, he probably is not the right dentist for you and your family. If billing is often incorrect, if you’re overcharged or suspect unethical practices in billing, you may want to find a new dentist.
Is not gentle and caring: Some people are naturally more nurturing and gentle than others. A dentist should extend compassion and ask how you’re feeling throughout treatments. A good dentist will cater to your comfort and care about your experience.
Uses outdated treatments: A dentist’s office should be clean; rooms must be sterilized between patients; infection control measures are paramount. If you do not feel like your dentist’s office is following modern disinfection and sterilization procedures, your health may be at risk.
Performs unnecessary treatments: Have you ever sought a second opinion about a dental diagnosis? It’s perfectly okay, even wise, to do so. Some dentists are more conservative than others. For instance, a conservative dentist may report that you have a few cavities. A more aggressive dentist may also want to place fillings in pre-cavity areas, where demineralization has occurred but no cavity has formed.
Fails to communicate clearly: There’s not much worse than being blindsided by pain mid-treatment or not understanding how and why a procedure is necessary. A bad dentist may not communicate effectively, leading to feelings of distrust and fear in the patient.
Dental Care Phobia or Aversion
If a bad dentist has caused you pain and phobia, we apologize on behalf of our profession. In fact, we will help you overcome your anxiety by doing exactly the opposite of the examples above. At Signature Smile Arts of Homewood, we will always explain our findings after your exam and answer all of your questions about treatment options, procedures, and your expectations. Throughout your visit, expect our dentists and support staff to be caring, compassionate, and gentle. We believe in conservative dentistry to optimize oral health long-term and allow healthy or healable tissues to remain intact.
Furthermore, we attend training each year to stay at the forefront of dental science. Our dentists have invested in technology to enhance patient outcomes and comfort, as well. We strive to make patients feel comfortable and confident at every visit.
So Is There Such a Thing as A Bad Dentist?
Yes, but not in our office! We invite you to schedule an initial consultation in person or virtually, so you can meet the dentist and have all of your questions answered, all of your concerns addressed. You can book a consultation online or call us directly at 708-799-5353. We can’t wait to make you smile!
