[Closed] How Did You Find a Good Dentist for Your Kid?

"Reputation's helpful, but logistics matter too."

Couldn't agree more. When my granddaughter needed braces, we initially went with a highly recommended orthodontist, but the drive was exhausting and appointments were always inconvenient. Switched to someone closer with decent reviews, and honestly, the difference was night and day. Less stress, easier scheduling, and she actually enjoys chatting with the staff now (stickers help, but apparently flavored floss is the real winner...). Convenience definitely counts.

Did you find the reviews pretty accurate when you switched? I'm trying to find someone closer too, but I'm always skeptical about online ratings...like, are people just rating based on friendliness or actual skill? Had a bad experience before, so I'm hesitant to trust convenience alone. Did you visit first or just take a chance based on reviews? Trying to avoid another dental disaster, haha.

"Did you visit first or just take a chance based on reviews? Trying to avoid another dental disaster, haha."

I totally get your hesitation... I once picked an orthodontist purely based on glowing reviews, and it turned out they were mostly praising the waiting room toys and friendly receptionist. Actual treatment was meh. Maybe try asking around locally too—have you checked any parent groups on FB or something?

"Actual treatment was meh. Maybe try asking around locally too—have you checked any parent groups on FB or something?"

Totally agree with this. Reviews can be helpful, but they're not always reliable for the actual dental care quality. I had a similar experience—picked a pediatric dentist based on stellar online ratings, and while the office was super kid-friendly, the dentist rushed through appointments and didn't really explain things clearly. I'd suggest scheduling a quick consultation first if possible... gives you a chance to gauge their approach and see how your kid feels about them before committing.

Yeah, consultations are definitely helpful, but sometimes even those can feel rushed or superficial. When we were looking for our current dentist, I actually called ahead and asked specifically about their approach to anxious kids and how they handle explaining procedures. It gave me a better sense of their style than just a quick meet-and-greet. Curious if anyone else has tried calling ahead with specific questions—did it help narrow things down?