Moving house comes with a long list of things to sort out, and finding a new dentist is usually near the bottom, right up until a filling falls out. It’s much easier to choose calmly before you need one.
Start with what matters to you
Think about what you actually need. Do you want early or Saturday appointments? Do you need someone good with nervous patients, or with children? Is there specialist work coming up, like orthodontics or implants? Your answers narrow the list quickly.
Check the practical stuff
- Is it easy to get to from home or work?
- Do they take your insurance or dental plan, if you have one?
- Do they keep a few slots open for emergencies?
- How do they handle reminders and rescheduling?
Read reviews for patterns, not stars
One angry review doesn’t mean much. Five reviews mentioning long waits or surprise bills does. Look for comments about how staff explain treatment and costs, because that tells you how the practice treats people.
Ask for your records
Ask your old dentist to send your X-rays and notes to the new practice. It saves repeating X-rays and gives the new dentist a picture of your history from day one.
Where to look
Our Dental Care category lists dentists with their address, phone and opening hours where they’ve shared them. For other health services near your new home, browse Healthcare.
This article is general information, not medical advice. If you’re in pain or have swelling, call a dentist or an urgent care service straight away.
