While a dentist’s career can span for decades, sooner or later it’s time to hang up the drill. If you have been going to the same dentist since you were a child, their retirement probably will be harder on you than it is on your dentist.
When your dentist retires, moves away, or shuts down his or her practice, like it or not you are going to have to find a new dentist to provide your dental care. So where should you start?
First Things First
When your dentist notifies you that they will be shutting down their practice — either by postcard, in person, or by a phone call — the first question to ask is how you can gain access to your dental records. You are going to need to forward them to your new dentist so that they can understand your dental history, which will affect your dental treatments moving forward.
This is especially true if you are in the middle of an ongoing dental treatment, such as orthodontics or teeth whitening. The goal is for your new dentist to take over the treatment you are receiving seamlessly.
Finding a New Dentist
The next goal should be finding a new dentist. While you could simply search online or look in the phone book, a better plan is to start asking friends and family for recommendations. The services your dentist provide are personal. So you want to make sure you find a new dentist with whom you can build a relationship as comfortable as the one you had with your old dentist.
At McCosh Family Dentistry, we pride ourselves in providing personalized, high-quality dental care for patients of all ages. If you are looking for a new dentist due to retirement or other reasons, make McCosh Family Dentistry your first choice for dental care.
