Choosing a Family Dentist

While having a glowing white smile is important, there is much more to your oral health than just the shine of your teeth. Truly healthy teeth and gums are imperative to aid in great over-all health and, in order to maintain great oral health, it is necessary to make regular visits to a dentist. Taking time to choose a dentist for you and your family will make dental visits more pleasant and consistent. Dr. Russell Cureton DDS recommends a couple of ways to choose a family dentist that will help your entire family’s oral health stay in great shape.

Research their qualifications and experience

Beyond the obvious that they have graduated from an accredited dental school and have been Board Certified to practice, dentists should belong to the California Dental Association. They should also be  attending regular dental educational seminars to keep up their CEU’s (Continuing Education Units). This tells you the dentist you choose takes updating their education in today’s advancing dental technology seriously. Thusly, he can provide a higher standard of care and is not relying solely on his past school education to treat you in his practice.

In addition, look for a family dental practice with experience to give you the best dental care. Feel free to ask the dentist, office staff, and hygienist how long they have been working and what dental services are offered - they should be more than willing to give you all of the information you request.

Look at the services they offer 

​Not all family dentists offer an array of services. While it is important to find a dental office that can provide a good dental cleaning, you should also look for a practice that offers a wide variety of services (eg oral surgery, orthodontics, implants, single visit crowns) so your family can be helped with all their dental needs at one location.

Reviews are important ​

Current and past patients are the best resource when searching to find the right family dentist for you. Check reviews for a number of different offices to see what prior patients have to say about the
services, the dentist, and their overall experience. If you see mostly positive reviews for a Salinas Family Dentist, you should feel confident that they would offer you the care and attention you need. There are many places people can review their dentists: Facebook, Google+, Yelp, HealthGrades, along with several other websites. Although reading through pages of reviews may seem a bit daunting, spending the time now will help save a mountain of headaches in the future. 

 
Check out the office atmosphere ​

The atmosphere of the office is an important part in choosing your Salinas Family Dentist. Before you decide on a particular dentist, you should visit the office to see how it feels- is the waiting room comfortable, is the dentist and staff friendly, is the office clean, etc. If you and your family feel comfortable with all these aspects, you will be less likely to miss or skip dental appointments. Making sure that your children have a positive experience with their dentist when they are young will help set the foundation for their future dedication to their oral hygiene.

If you are looking for a Salinas Family Dentist in the Salinas, Prunedale, Gilroy, Hollister, Monterey Bay or South County areas, call Dr. Russell Cureton at (831) 449-8363 or, stop by our office at 620 E. Alvin Dr. Ste. E Salinas, CA 93906 so we can answer all of your questions. We look forward to meeting you and serving the dental needs of you and your family for many years to come.