Finding a dentist

[zahc]

Does anyone know any legitimate/useful rating websites for dentists?

I don't have a dentist now. I went to one a few months ago for a checkup, and found out I have multiple cavities that need filled. The guy was terrible in every way so I'm not going back to him. But now that I know that I need a few cavities filled--knowing this, I would like to choose a dentist that can perform the work well so that I don't need it redone in 5 years, and who will give me a reasonable total bill. There are dozens of dentists within 10 miles of where I live. How do you find one?

[wmenorr67]

Recommendations from family and/or friends.

[Monkeyleg]

I be hesitant to use anything online for something as important as a dentist or doctor. If you have a doctor you trust, ask if there's a dentist he'd recommend. If not, ask people you know for recommendations.

I've had some excellent dentists, and some real butchers. One I went to for the first time came into the room with blood all over his lab coat.  I needed a cavity drilled and filled. He started to put the drill in my mouth, and I asked if he was going to give me a shot of novocaine. He said, "what are you, some kind of sissy?" I left immediately.

[zahc]

Since I am unsocial as well as geographically transplanted, I don't have any local family to ask. All my local friends are young and have not had semi-serious work done; they just use their dentist for annual checkups and cleanings. Those that have had serious work done, do not have positive things to say.

[roo_ster]

Follow the screams.

[BlueStarLizzard]

avoid the screams.

Fify


What about coworkers?

[Zardozimo Oprah Bannedalas]

Follow the screams.

That might lead him to brothel.

[BlueStarLizzard]

That might lead him to brothel.

Or his local dominatrix

[Waitone]

Poll co-workers.

[lupinus]

Ask around
If you have dental insurance, check the website. Some have ratings.
If you have a regular doctor and like them, ask for a referral.
Online, I'm usually hesitant for such things. But you can always try yelp.com...just take it with a grain of salt.

[Matthew Carberry]

This doesn't have anything to do with your request for a source of metal right?

[Lee]

Recommendations from family and/or friends

That. 
And the good ones will likely be booked up long in advance.  I'm pretty leery of Docs and Dentists that advertise.

[MillCreek]

That. 
And the good ones will likely be booked up long in advance. 

Depending on where you live, this may be true of the doctors, but not of the dentists.

A lot of the primary care physicians have full practices and cannot take any more.  Usually, there is a much larger supply of dentists than doctors in many areas, so even the good dentists are likely looking for new patients.  If you have insurance, that is. A lot of dentists have had patients leave due to the economy, losing their jobs and losing their dental insurance.

[Lee]

Depending on where you live, this may be true of the doctors, but not of the dentists.

My dentist of 20+ years has expanded in the past three years from just himself and one hygienist, to three dentists and about six hygienists.  It still takes a month or more to schedule a non-emergency appt.  I can't even recall the last time I saw him at a check up. On a positive note, everyone there is really good; but here's a reason for that - he requires it . 
So yeah, there is probably no shortage - just a shortage of really good ones that I trust.  I'm in a metro area of 1.5 million.

[GigaBuist]

He started to put the drill in my mouth, and I asked if he was going to give me a shot of novocaine. He said, "what are you, some kind of sissy?" I left immediately.

I've had three fillings as an adult.  Never had any Novocaine for any of them.  Dentist said they weren't deep and that having a numb face for half the day would be worse than the pain.  I think he was right.

Then again people have left the guy because he seems like a bit of a sadist.  My own brother for instance.  He actually bit the guy a couple of times for inflicting pain on him.

In light of that I have a warning sign.  This guy asked how you were about pain on his history sheet.  One of the options was "Bring it on!" if I remember correctly. You might want to avoid guys like that.

[zahc]

So, I finally went to a dentist that a couple people from work recommended.

Background: I have good teeth and have never had a cavity. A year ago I when I started my job I decided to opt into the cheapo dental insurance that pays for 2 preventive visits per year, and so I went to have a checkup/teeth cleaning. The problem with cheapo insurance I had was that nobody accepted it, so I found a nobody dentist and he said I had some 6-8 cavities. Not unbelievable because I hadn't been to the dentist in 5 years or so at that point. He showed me in a mirror how he could stick a pick into the side of my tooth.

I didn't like the nobody dentist (name is Faiz btw, Plano TX) and I was looking at a $1000 or more bill for that work, so I waited until I could change my insurance benefits and switched to the most expensive dental insurance, figuring I would get my money's worth this year and get my teeth all fixed up.

So I finally went to a different dentist (Dr Vale, Richardson TX) that had high reviews at work, and they did full Xrays and a cleaning, and then the dentist came in and looked at my teeth and mentioned that they could probably polish my front teeth if the discoloration bothered me (it doesn't). And then he said "You have great teeth. See you in 6mo for your next cleaning".

I was like, "wait, what about all my cavities" and he was like "what cavities?" and I was like "some other dentist said I had cavities, he even showed me how I had this giant cavity in by back tooth" and the new dentist was like "you have natural grooves in your back molars. If you were 8 years old I would recommend filling them for prevention, but I don't see any active decay there. You have a different small spot where there might be a cavity in the future (see it on the xray here) so we will label it as a "watch", but if you start flossing more it will probably be fine. I had a similar spot when I started dental school 20 years ago and it's never got worse and I've never filled it."

So, yeah. Choose your dentist wisely. If you live in DFW I think Dr. Vale is a pretty good guy. His office is also full of very cute and nice assistants.

[never_retreat]

How about this.
http://www.1800dentist.com/

[Monkeyleg]

Zach, warn other people about that quack. If he'd screw you on the exam, what might have happened if he'd done some work?

[roo_ster]

zahc:

Glad you found a good guy.

My wife has gone to the same dentist in Richardson for many years and got me to switch (glad I did).  So, I can also provide a decent dentist suggestion if anyone has a hankerin for dental work 'round here.