1. Your dentist takes their time

Dentists can be very busy, seeing one patient after the other. You want to make sure the dentist you see cares more about the quality of care than quantity. If you feel like your dentist rushes through their treatment, and can tell the office is filled with the upcoming patients impatiently waiting, that might be a sign you need to find a less “industrial” clinic, or a dentist who will take all the time necessary.

2. They have clear guidelines for their fees

This is a tricky one because dentists in Alberta often don’t adhere to a specific fee guideline (because they don’t have to). However, many do adhere to the Alberta Fee Guide. It is always a good idea to ask your dentist about this. If they don’t adhere to the Alberta Fee Guide, chances are they charge more, and its harder to know how reasonable their prices are.

3. They are honest in their treatment plan

This is crucial in order to trust that your dentist will not go overboard with their treatment plan. A good way to check this is to get a second opinion from another dentist.

4. They have good reviews

Other patients will be a great source of information in terms of the patient care of your potential dentist. One thing to watch out for is when you have hundreds of only positive/ 5 starts reviews. Some clinics will give incentives for positive reviews. In this case the reviews become less reliable.  However, if the clinic has been running for a very long time, it is possible for it to have large numbers of genuine positive reviews. 

5. They are conscientious by nature

This, you can only tell if you know your dentist personally, or if you have mutual friends who can attest to a generally conscientious personality. You are looking for the type of person who clearly cares for their patient rather than the profit they make in their practice. Other signs of a conscientious health care provider are volunteer work, community involvement, especially preventative dental work.