How to Find a Good Dentist

Choosing a new dentist can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re not quite sure what to look for.

After all, a good dentist isn’t just someone who can treat a sore tooth – they’re someone who’s a trained dental professional, and also able to deliver the care and treatment you require.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through what makes a dentist great, and share practical tips on how to find the right one near you.

Whether you're moving to a new area, haven’t been to the dentist in a while, or simply want better care, we’re here to help you make a confident choice.

Why Finding The Right Dentist Matters

You wouldn’t put the health of your teeth in just anyone’s hands, right?

That’s why choosing the right dentist near you is important – it’s key to ensuring you receive the expert care that keeps your teeth and gums healthier for the long run.

Some of the main things you need to think about when picking the right dentist include what types of dental services you may need, the convenience of the dental clinic’s location, as well as the credentials of its staff.

However, having to consider so many factors can quickly make this process feel overwhelming.

The good news is that with the right guidance, you can easily find the right dental practice that meets all your needs.

Keep reading for a detailed step-by-step breakdown of these considerations, helping you find a dental clinic that can safeguard your oral health for years to come.

Types of Dental Services

When choosing a dentist, one of the first things to consider is the type of dental work you need.

Is it a routine check-up, cosmetic treatment like veneers or whitening, or a more complex procedure?

Take note of your current dental health: do you experience pain, have strong brushing habits, or have any concerns about your teeth?

It’s important to find a dental practice that caters to your oral health needs, whether it’s a specialised service like pain-free dentistry or just the usual scale and polish.

The best kind of dental practice is one that's able to offer an extensive suite of services.

At Elite Dental Newtown, we offer a comprehensive range of dental services, including :

General Dental	Cosmetic Dental	Children’s Dentistry	Additional Services
Comprehensive Exams	In-Chair and Take-Home Whitening Kits	Thumb Sucking	Sleep Study
Root Canal Therapy	Clear Aligner Therapy (Spark / Angel Aligners / Invisalign)	Diet Advice	Sleep Appliances
Extractions (Surgical)	Porcelain and Composite Veneers	Orofacial Myology	CBCT Scan
Fillings	Implants	Growth & Development	Relative Analgesia
Emergency Appointments	Traditional Braces	Plates	IV Sedation
Scale and Polish		Braces
Crown and Bridge
Fissure Seals
Mouthguards
Occlusal Splints
Airway Assessments

With Elite Dental Newtown’s wide variety of services, you can expect to receive instant, seamless expert care for your oral health.

That means that instead of needing to hop from one practice to another, you have all of your needs attended to all under one roof by the trusted team at Elite Dental Newtown.

Things to Look Out For When Choosing a Dentist

At Elite Dental Newtown, we know how daunting it can be when trying to choose a good dentist. Here’s a list of things to look for when researching your options:

• Experience in the dental care you require: Ensure the dentist has specific experience in the treatments you’re seeking, whether it’s general care, cosmetic work, or complex procedures.

• Strong reputation and positive reviews: A dentist’s reputation speaks volumes. Check testimonials and online reviews to gain an overview of past patient experience and the quality of care provided.

• Varied range of services: A practice offering a comprehensive range of services saves you the hassle of referrals and ensures continuity of care as your dental needs evolve over time.

• A clean and professional clinic environment: The cleanliness and organisation of a clinic reflect their commitment to maintaining the highest standards of patient care and safety.

• Friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable team: From your first phone call to your treatment chair, a welcoming and communicative team helps ease any nerves and ensures you feel supported every step of the way.

• Clear and flexible payment options: Understanding costs upfront and having access to flexible payment solutions ensures there are no surprises.

Ask Friends & Family for Recommendations

Now that you know how to determine whether a dental practice is reputable and trustworthy, it’s time to actually find one.

Asking your loved ones for recommendations can be an excellent way to find a great dentist in your local area, especially if they live near you.

Find trusted sources to provide dental recommendations, or even to share which practices to steer clear from. Drawing from their firsthand experiences can help you make a more informed decision.

Outside of your friends and family, another great resource to take advantage of is other medical professionals in your life, such as your GP.

You might be surprised to learn that your GP probably has a list of professional dentist contacts, whether by location or because they already have a strong prior working relationship.

Conduct Research Online For Your Local Area

Thanks to the internet, it has never been easier than right now to be able to compare and contrast services in your local area.

Google Maps allows you to read reviews left by the public so you can gauge whether people are happy with the practice.

A quick way to assess is simply by its rating – the more highly rated a dental practice, the more you can be assured of the quality of its services.

Another way to get a feel of a dental clinic is through its website. Looking through photos of the clinic as well as reading about the services they provide can give you a better understanding of whether they are well-suited to your needs.

Other things to look out for include whether the dental practice has received any industry awards, or recognition as an outstanding local provider.

All of these are a testament to the quality of services provided by the dental clinic.

Location, Location, Location

Another question you’ll have to consider is how far you are willing to travel for your dentist. Ideally, the more local the practice, the better.

If you know that your dentist is nearby, it makes booking an appointment and planning your day around it much simpler.

Look up a dental practice’s opening hours and ensure it’s suitable for your weekly schedule. If you work full-time on weekdays, you most definitely need to choose a practice that offers evening and weekend time slots.

You might also think that it doesn’t matter if a dentist is near where you live, but in the event of an emergency, you would be thankful if your go-to dentist is just a 5-minute walk away.

Qualifications, Certifications and Years of Experience

When picking the right dentist, ensure they are well-qualified. Don’t risk worsening your oral health because you didn’t take the appropriate steps to ensure the professionalism of your care provider.

One way you can find out more about your local dentist is through the Australian Dental Association, which provides useful information such as whether your dentist is licensed to practice.

A dental clinic or oral health professional with a significant number of years under their belt also comes with more experience, which can be helpful if you’re someone who get nervous every time you get your teeth examined.

Knowing that you’re being attended by a dentist who has been practising for the last decade can give you the confidence that you are receiving the best possible advice, assessment, and treatment.

Is This Clinic Bulk-Billed Under Medicare?

For many people, visiting the dentist is an expensive process. This may be worsened by the fact that most dental care services are not covered by Medicare.

Health insurance, however, can help to soften the blow. It is essential to have a sound understanding of a practice’s insurance policies before agreeing to any procedures.

Some dentistry practices are more expensive than others, such as root canal therapy. Most people usually finance such procedures with the assistance of private health insurance.

Check with your dentist beforehand if your insurance will be accepted by the practice.

Children’s Dental: Getting The Little Ones On The Right Track

Trying to find a practice for your child’s first dental experience?

We get it: trying to find a good and professional dental clinic to ensure your child’s first dental experience goes as smoothly as possible can be quite stressful.

Their impression of all dentist visits in the future can be shaped by this very first encounter.

That’s why at Elite Dental Newtown, we take pride in welcoming children to the practice and are keen to help make the first dental experience of children everywhere as positive and comforting as possible.

Introducing your child to the dental environment from a young age will teach them about the importance of oral health, as well as its impact on their overall health. This ensures they learn to take care of their teeth for life.

It’s also important to schedule their first visit as early as possible so that any problems or anomalies in your child’s tooth growth and oral health are addressed and treated as soon as possible.

Trust our team of expert professionals to look after all of your child’s dental needs in a fun and relaxed setting.

With a special treat waiting for them at the end of every visit, soon they will be excited to make every trip to the dentist!

Consider Your Overall Circumstances

Ultimately, the best dentist is the one that’s the most suitable for you, which in turn depends on whether it checks the boxes above.

Besides wanting a dental practice that has the right qualifications, you also want one that is reasonably priced, conveniently located and offers all the services you need.

In summary, here are the most important questions to ask yourself before committing to any local dentist:

• Based on my research, does this dental clinic look clean, professional and welcoming? Are its dental professionals qualified and experienced?

• Am I booking this for myself or for my child? If it’s the latter, is this practice child-friendly and suitable for my child’s dental needs?

• Does this dental practice provide all the services I need, or even services that I may require in the future?

• What are this clinic’s reviews like, whether on Google Maps or by the people who introduced it to me?

• Are its services within my budget? Does it accept health insurance or alternative payment methods, especially for the dental treatments I’m interested in?

• Is the dental clinic easily accessible? Am I able to book appointments at timings that are suitable for me?

How We Can Help at Elite Dental Newtown

At Elite Dental Newtown, we believe that a healthy mouth is the foundation of a beautiful smile and confidence that radiates from every angle. That’s why your oral health is our top priority.

Our caring, experienced team of dentists and oral health therapists is dedicated to providing quality dental care tailored to your individual needs, whether you're coming in for a routine check-up or a more complex procedure.

We take the time to listen to your concerns and ensure you feel comfortable and well cared for every step of the way.

With a team of dentists and visiting anaesthetists, we make specialised care more accessible and convenient.

Plus, our modern facilities are designed with your comfort in mind – you can even enjoy a movie or music during your visit to help you relax.

If you’re looking for a dental practice in the Inner West, look no further than Elite Dental Newtown. Backed by an expert team of dedicated dental professionals, we are willing and ready to help you achieve that dream smile of yours.

Contact our team today to organise an initial consultation.