Flowers L Darren DMD
3618 W Anthem Way,
Anthem, AZ 85086
(623) 465-4600
Neighborhood or Center (if available): Anthem East Side
Click here for map directions and how to choose your best dentist. Rate and review this dental office. Leave a comment relating to your experience at the bottom of this page.
Determining Top Phoenix Dentist
Nearly all dentists have a baccalaureate degree before entering dental school. The minimum requirement is two years of pre-dental college. Dental school requires 4 more years. Dentists can be licensed dental practitioners who have earned a Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) or Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree. A state license is then awarded after successfully getting through national and state board examinations. Dentists who want to specialize spend two or more years of additional schooling in dental college. They then are required to get board-certified in their specialty. The American Dental Association allows the following eight specialties. * Dental public health: Prevention and control of dental disease and promotion of community dental health * Endodontics: Prevention and treatment of diseases of the root pulp and related structures (root canal therapy) * Oral and maxillofacial pathology: Diagnosis of tumors, other diseases, and injuries of the head and neck * Oral and maxillofacial surgery: Tooth extractions; surgical treatment of diseases, injuries, and defects of the mouth, jaw, and face * Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics: Diagnosis and correction of tooth irregularities and facial deformities * Pediatric dentistry: Dental care of infants and children * Periodontics: Treatment of diseases of the gums and related structures * Prosthodontics: Treatment of oral dysfunction through the use of prosthetic devices such as crowns, bridges, and dentures
Positive Signs
A top dentist takes a personal interest in patients and their health. They lean toward prevention. They use x-ray films and probably include a full-mouth exam. A complete dental examination takes a look at teeth, gums, tongue, lips, inner cheek, palate, and facial and neck skin. It can also involve feeling the neck for abnormal lymph nodes and enlargement of the thyroid gland. Inspection of crevices between gums and teeth with a periodontal probe should also be done in adults. Make sure that your dentist is keeping good records on the findings of your dental examinations. Regular check-ups should detect problems early. Frequent enough teeth cleanings and dental evaluations, including periodontal examinations, will almost always dodge costly fixes. Your best Phoenix dentist will schedule how often you need to visit based on how fast your dental health changes over time. (Ideally, you will be put on a regular schedule and called each time your next check-up is due.) The cost for high-quality dental work is not the best way to judge quality. Pay attention to how long the dentist takes to do the work. High-quality dentistry takes time and careful attention to detail. Furthermore, high-quality dental work lasts years longer than does low-quality dental work. Before starting treatment, make sure you have a clear idea of what your dentist recommends and what to expect from it. Get all treatment options, because there may be more than one way to get what you want. (There are several ways to replace a missing tooth, for example, including an implant, a removable bridge, or a fixed bridge. Each treatment has different advantages, disadvantages, and costs.
Negative Signs
Be wary of fancy office gadgets, expensive office space, marketing hype, and outrageous advertising. They have nothing to do with quality care and may drive up prices. Also watch closely for low fees While this may seem like a good deal, low prices may be associated with a greater number of services, resulting in higher overall cost. Dentists whose ads only mention one-visit comprehensive treatment or cosmetic dentistry may not offer long-term maintenance care that does not make them enough money. Routine use of IV sedation is another bad sign. It means that patients are exposed to unnecessary risks The vast majority of patients do not need it for regular treatment. Be cautious about dentists who recommend complicated treatment plans. In 1996, a reporter for Readers Digest visited 50 dentists in 28 states and found a wide range of fees and recommendations. His visits cost from $20 to $141. He also brought in his own x-ray films and mentioned to each dentist that he was well-covered by insurance. All he needed when he began was repair for one molar. Only 12 out of the 50 dentists made this same recommendation. One dentist told the reporter that he needed to get all of his teeth crowned, at a cost of $13,340. The lowest estimate among all the dentists was $500 and the highest was almost $30,000. This and similar investigations underscore the importance of getting a second opinion when extensive work is recommended. Ideally, this would be by a dentist who is affiliated with a dental school. Fortunately, the Phoenix area now has two dental schools.
Other Tips
Line up a family dentist before an emergency arises. Top dentists can be identified by asking among friends and other people you know and trust. A good first step is to schedule a “get acquainted” visit to see how well the dentist and his staff interact with you. This is the best time to ask about fees and payment plans. It is best to have a written understanding of what the costs will be and when payment will be due.
Evaluating Treatment Afterwards
Consumers Research suggests that you answer for judging a dentist’s skills after you have received treatment: * How does your bite feel? Use your own experience to decide whether you obtained good treatment.
* Is any of the dental work irritating your gum?
* Does the treated tooth look like a tooth?
* Does dental floss or your tongue catch on the tooth?
* Did the dentist take time to polish your fillings?
* Do you feel pain when drinking hot or cold liquids?
* Was any debris left in your mouth after treatment?
* Does the dentist use a water spray to cool your teeth while drilling?
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