R Abedi DDS Pllc
879 N Plaza Dr,
Apache Junction, AZ 85220
(480) 288-5955
Neighborhood or Center (if available):
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.
How to Find Your Best Dentist in Phoenix
Nowadays dentists get an undergraduate degree before going to dental school. The minimum qualification is two years of pre-dental college. Dental school goes four more years. Dentists are licensed dental practitioners who have been awarded a Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree. A state license is then obtained after taking and passing national and state board examinations. Dentists who want to have a specialty are required to have 2 or more years in further schooling in dental college. They then are required to become board-certified in their specialty. The American Dental Association certifies the following 8 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 in patients and their health. They lean toward prevention. They use x-ray films and initially include a full-mouth exam. A careful dental examination inspects teeth, gums, tongue, lips, inner cheek, palate, and facial and neck skin. It can also include 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 detailed records on the findings of your dental examinations. Regular check-ups will discover problems early. Frequent enough teeth cleanings and dental evaluations, including fluoride treatments, helps you eliminate costly dental work. A top dentist in Phoenix will make appointments for 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 financial charge for truly good 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 beginning treatment, make sure you have a good understanding 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 outrageous advertising, fancy office gadgets, expensive office space, and marketing hype. They have nothing to do with quality care and may drive up prices. Also watch closely for cheap fees. While this may seem like a good thing, cheap prices may be associated with a greater number of services, resulting in greater overall expense. Dentists whose ads focus on one-visit comprehensive treatment or cosmetic dentistry may not offer long-term maintenance care that does not generate high income. Routine use of IV anesthetic is another bad sign. It means that patients are exposed to inappropriate risks. The vast majority of patients do not need it for routine treatment. Watch out for dentists who recommend extensive 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
Become acquainted with a family dentist before an emergency arises. Your best dentist can be found 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 charges 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 observations to decide whether you received top 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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