For some people, going to the dentist is a scary enough experience without having to think about the possibility that any dentist they visit might not even be good at their jobs. When you’re searching online “expert dentist near Seaford,” for example, you want to be confident that the results are packed with the very best practitioners.

In fact, there are a few things you can do as a patient to help ensure that you can always be sure you’re going to the best dentist for you. Here are some key red flags and warning signs that the dentist you’re reading or hearing about might not be up to scratch.

1. The Dentist Doesn’t Ask About Previous Dental Records

One of the first things any good dentist should ask you about if you’re there for the first time is something about your previous dental history. If they’ve done their job properly, they’ve acquired the history and reviewed it before your appointment. If they appear to know nothing about your past, or show no interest in it and ask no questions, then that’s a big red flag.

No questions about previous dental records is a clear sign of a dentist who is more interested in finding things to bill you for rather than actually checking for the things you need according to your dental records. They don’t know (or care) if you’re a cancer risk, for example, or if you’ve had a particular issue with plaque, or that you’ve not yet had your wisdom teeth removed. The more they don’t know about you, the less effectively they can serve you.

2. They Seem to Insist on a Cone-Beam X-Ray

Dental x-rays are a very normal part of many people’s checkups. They provide the dentist with a clearer picture of what’s going on in your smile, as well as indicating potential problems in your jawbone, the inner areas of your teeth, and more. Most dentists will recommend a simple digital x-ray for a standard check-up. It’s more than sufficient for everyday needs. Less than savoury dentists, however, will seem to push for a cone-beam x-ray.

What’s the difference? In terms of their function, they’re virtually the same. As for their cost and complexity, however, they are quite different. Cone-beam x-rays provide a much more detailed, three-dimensional view of your mouth, with special extra detail on the jaw, roots, and other structures of your face. For that, you also typically have to pay a lot more. Disreputable dentists may push for this, claiming that it’s better when actually it is unnecessary.

3. They’re Always Upselling

Following on from the previous point, if your dentist generally seems more interested in upselling you things, from fancy x-rays to special treatments, fancy toothbrushes or toothpastes, among other things, then you likely have a dentist that isn’t worth your patronage. When their interest is primarily selling as much as possible, it’s hard to trust that they’re really in this job to help you out.

4. Their Bills Become Known for “Phantom Treatments”

Do you scrutinise your dentist bill when you pay it? If you don’t, you should start. Always make sure that you can identify every expense that appears on the bill. If so-called “phantom treatments” and other illusory expenses start cropping up that you have no reasonable explanation for, you have a dodgy dentist on your hands.

5. Their Clinic Looks Like a Relic

Finally, you can learn a lot about a dentist by the type of clinic that they keep. The best dentists will reinvest profits back into their clinic to make it better with a more comfortable waiting room, professional staff, and the latest, most cutting-edge equipment. If you walk into a clinic that looks like it belongs in a museum of pre-war dentistry, perhaps look for someone different.