the Price of a Dental Cleaning and Check-up

This visit was for a routine cleaning by the hygienist, bite-wing x-rays, and 6-month exam by the dentist.

I thought the service I received was excellent. The cleaning, which was actually done by a new dentist in the office, was thorough and gentle. The dentist was personable and friendly and made sure I was comfortable. X-rays were performed by an assistant, who did them quickly and efficiently so they did not need to be re-done. Another assistant followed up with brushing and flossing, and she, too, was quick and thorough. In the dental exam, the dentist discovered a small cavity that was not obvious, and he found it by listening to my reactions during the cleaning and looking closely at the x-rays. Some other dentists might easily have missed it. The desk assistant processed my insurance, scheduled my next appointments, and I was out the door within 45 minutes total.

Word-of-mouth referrals are especially useful for finding a dentist, I believe. No one likes to go to a dentist, so they are likely to be honest about their experience. Many dentists also have websites now that can provide useful information, and even more helpful are websites that provide patient feedback about area dentists. The dentist that I see (whom I've seen for several years) I found through personal referral, and I also noticed that he was listed that year as of the "area's best" in a popular local magazine.