How to choose a dentist — the questions worth asking

We are obviously not a neutral party here. But the criteria below are the ones we would use ourselves, and several are things you should hold us to as much as anyone else.

1. Will the same dentist still be there in five years?

This is the question that matters most and the one nobody asks. Dentistry is cumulative. The person who placed your crown knows why they chose that material, what the tooth looked like underneath, and what to watch for. If a clinic's dentists change every eighteen months, you get a series of strangers each starting from a photograph.

Ask how long the dentists have been at that practice. It is a fair question and the answer is revealing.

2. Do they show you what they are talking about?

A dentist who turns the screen towards you, shows the radiograph and points at the problem is inviting you to make an informed decision. One who describes an urgent problem you cannot see and cannot verify is asking for trust they have not yet earned.

3. Do they tell you what happens if you do nothing?

Every treatment plan should include the no-treatment option and its honest consequences. Sometimes watching and reviewing is genuinely the right answer. A practice that never recommends waiting is not making clinical judgements.

4. Is the estimate in writing, before anything starts?

Itemised, with the restoration that follows included, and with a clear statement of what could change it. Verbal estimates that grow mid-treatment are the most common complaint in dentistry anywhere in the world.

5. What does the sterilisation area look like?

Ask to see it. Any practice worth choosing will be pleased you asked. You are looking for an autoclave, pouched and dated instruments, and single-use items genuinely being used once.

6. Do they refer things out?

A general practice claiming to do absolutely everything at the highest level is overstating. Knowing the boundary — and referring complex surgery, difficult endodontics or advanced gum treatment onward — is a mark of competence, not weakness.

7. Can you be seen when something hurts?

A clinic that can only offer an appointment in twelve days when you are in pain is not one you can rely on. Ask how urgent cases are handled.

What to weigh less heavily

• The cheapest quote. Usually a difference in what is included, not in what is charged. Compare like for like first.
• The newest equipment. Useful, but the hands matter more than the machine.
• Volume of advertising. Marketing budget and clinical quality are unrelated.
• A flawless five-star average. A long record with a few honest middling reviews and sensible replies is more believable.

And the simplest test

After the first appointment, did you understand what was wrong, what the options were, and what it would cost? If yes, that is most of it. If you left confused but committed, that is worth noticing.

General information only. It is not a substitute for an examination — book an appointment for advice about your own teeth.