Top 9 Questions You Should Ask Your Dentist During a Consultation

Choosing a Dentist You Trust Trusting your dentist is so important. Developing a positive relationship with your dentist can ease any fears or jitters you may have during your time in the chair if you have dental anxiety.

Choosing a Dentist You Trust

Trusting your dentist is so important. Developing a positive relationship with your dentist can ease any fears or jitters you may have during your time in the chair if you have dental anxiety. You should feel confident that your dentist has your best interest at heart and that they take their time to prioritize your comfort and well-being. And one way of making sure of that is asking your dentist about the questions you have.

Here at First Dental Associates, we are dedicated to providing quality dentistry in a comfortable environment. In fact, our devotion has even earned us the Best Dental Clinic Award—Best of Stoneham, 2014.

Our caring staff always ensures you are having a satisfying visit, from the moment you walk in the door to the moment you leave. We take the time to listen to your concerns and get to know you. We want you to feel at home when you are here in our office.

Here are the top questions to ask your dentist during a consultation to ensure you are comfortable with both your dentist and the services they recommend as a part of your treatment plan.

1. What is Your Speciality?

While every dentist has completed their doctoral degree to become either a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry (DMD) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) to become a dental specialist they must complete additional post-graduate training. A few examples of specialties are orthodontists, periodontists, and oral surgeons.

Our very own Dr. Nasrin Sadeghi is a Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or DMD. She specializes in general dentistry with advanced training in Invisalign, Implant Restoration, Lumineer veneers, and Snap-On Smile.

Dr. Medha Singh is also a DMD as well as a Periodontist. She holds a certificate from the Advanced Education Program in Periodontology.

Periodontology is the specialization of the supporting structures of teeth, called the periodontium. The periodontium includes your gums, tooth sockets, and connective tissues that hold your teeth in place. A periodontist studies these structures as well as the diseases and conditions that affect them.

Dr. Alan Tang is a Doctor of Dental Surgery, or DDS, as well as an endodontist. He holds a certificate of Endodontic specialty training from the Boston University of Graduate Dentistry.

Endodontics is the study of dental pulp and tissues surrounding the roots of a tooth. You can think of them as a specialist in saving teeth. They perform procedures such as root canals, endodontic surgery, and procedures to preserve teeth after a traumatic dental injury.

2. How Much Experience Do You Have?

This may be one of the most important questions for your dentist. Experience in the field is so crucial. With years of experience, a dentist encounters many different scenarios that further refine their skill set and knowledge on the job in addition to what they learn through continuing education courses.

Dr. Sadeghi has 23 years of experience in the dental field. After attending dental school, she spent the next decade honing her skills by observing and working with top dental professionals before opening her own practice, First Dental Associates.

She has been named a preferred dentist by America’s Best Dentists. This distinction can only be nominated by another dentist, health care professional, or selection committee member. And only dentists with verified credentials who have consistently received positive patient reviews are eligible to be nominated.

Dr. Singh attended Tufts University after receiving her Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree, where she went on to earn her Master of Science degree, Doctor of Dental Medicine degree, and Certificate of Advanced Education Program in Periodontology.

During her time as an assistant professor at Tufts, Dr. Singh completed extensive research in the Division of Oral Medicine and Dental Research. Dr. Singh continues her work in dental academia as a reviewer of two journals, the Journal of Periodontology and the Journal of Dental Education.

Dr. Tang has been practicing in the field of dentistry since 2005. In addition to receiving his certificate of Endodontic specialty training, he also received a Master of Science degree for his research in bone engineering.

3. Do You Have Proof Of Continuing Education?

Here in Massachusetts, dentists are required to complete 40 continuing education credits every two years. Through pursuing courses and programs that fulfill this requirement, dentists keep their skill set on the pulse of the latest technology, techniques, and services available in the dental field.

Dr. Sadeghi has continued her education throughout her career by attending a weeklong international symposium on implantology and completing specialty training for Invisalign, Lumineers, and Snap-On Smile. She is a dentist who knows how to ask questions herself, and that sort of curiosity keeps her on the cutting edge.

She is committed to staying in the know on the latest developments in modern dentistry by studying journal articles and books and by regularly attending dental seminars.

As a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Massachusetts Dental Society, Dr. Sadeghi stays active in the larger dental health care community.

Dr. Singh has a certificate of Advanced Education Program in Periodontology from Tufts. She was also honored with a Fellowship in Oral Implantology from Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard University.

She is a fellow of the American College of Dentists, International College of Dentists, Pierre Fauchard Academy, Omicron Kappa Upsilon National Dental Honor Society, Sigma Xi Scientific Research Honor Society, and American Academy of Periodontology Foundation.

Dr. Tang went on to receive the certificate of Endodontic specialty training at the Boston University of Graduate Dentistry. He also received a Master of Science degree for his research in bone engineering. He has published numerous articles in various journals and has received several grants and a fellowship for his research.

He is a member of the American Association of Endodontics, the American Dental Association, and the Massachusetts Dental Society.

4. Am I a Good Candidate for the Procedure I’m Interested In?

Sometimes a patient will come into their consultation with an idea of what kind of treatment they want to have done—this is often the case for cosmetic procedures.

When discussing a procedure you are interested in, make sure you ask your dentist all your questions and make your smile goals clear. That will help us give you expert recommendations based on your unique needs.

Once we are able to fully evaluate the health of your mouth we can then make a treatment plan that best fits your goals, oral health, and budget.

5. What Are My Alternatives? Which Procedures Do You Offer?

We offer a variety of services from preventative to restorative to cosmetic. With three doctors in our offices with varying specialties available to serve you, we are able to offer an array of options to fit your smile needs, goals, and budget.

You can have a look at the different services we provide at First Dental Associates here:

Please know, however, that we will need to have an evaluation to assess the health of your smile before we can make recommendations for services. During your consultation, we will discuss which services we recommend and why we recommend them. We will address any concerns you may have about that specific procedure and if an alternative is available to better fit your goals.

6. Do You Have Patient Testimonials?

It’s important to feel comfortable with your dentist’s level of experience and have confidence in their ability to do great work. One way to gain this is through feedback from other patients.

You can review testimonials from other First Dental Associate patient’s here.

And you can view the smile gallery of some of our patient’s results here.

7. How Can I Maintain the Results? What Follow-up Routines Will I Need?

Having dental procedures done is an investment of your time and hard earned money. It’s important to know how to protect that investment as well as the health of your new smile.

During the consultation, be sure to ask about how long you can expect your results to last and how to best maintain your results. Depending on the procedure(s) you have done you may require follow-up appointments and should know how often to schedule them.

8. Will My Insurance Cover the Procedures?

It’s important to know if the procedures that are a part of your treatment plan will be covered by insurance. This will allow you to plan a budget for any out of pocket costs, should you have any.

At First Dental Associates we accept most insurances. You can always give our insurance coordinator a call at 781-423-8138 to get answers to any and all of your questions regarding coverage. We will even help you file your insurances claims!

9. What Are My Financing Options If I May Need Them?

We accept all major payment forms—cash, check, Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover. Those who make an up-front payment will receive a five-percent discount off of their total.

If you need additional financing we offer twelve-month interest-free financing-plan through CareCredit and two years interest-free for Invisalign services.

We love when our patients rave about the service they received. That’s why for each new patient you refer to First Dental Associates, you’ll get a $50 gift card as a thank you.

So we’ll see you soon, and don’t forget your list of questions for the dentist.