We hope you’ve never had an unpleasant experience at your dental office. But unfortunately, some of us have horror stories from dental treatments gone wrong. If you aren’t happy with the care you’re receiving from your dentist, you might be thinking about switching to a new one.
Those with dental anxiety may require special accommodations that are unavailable at their current office. Or, you may require specific treatments (such as oral surgery) that your dentist does not provide. And it might have nothing to do with your dentist—maybe you’ve moved somewhere else, and you want a dentist that’s closer to you.
Regardless of the reason, you’ve decided that it’s time to move on. But what documents do you need to bring to switch dentists? And how do you go about making the change? We’re going to cover everything you need to know about transferring from one dental office to another:
Dental Records
Throughout our lives, we accumulate a dental history—it’s like the medical history that your doctor has, but for your teeth.
Your dental records consist of each cavity you have filled, treatment plans, and potential concerns surrounding your oral health.
To send over this information, you can contact your dentist and ask for a copy of your dental records. If you prefer, you don’t have to tell them that you’re thinking about changing dentists; simply say that you want a copy for yourself.
X-Rays
Some dental issues lurk beneath the surface. To spot these problems, dentists take x-rays of your mouth every few months or years; the frequency will depend on the condition of your teeth.
Did you recently get x-rays taken at your former dental office? If so, you may want to have them transferred to your new dentist’s office. This is easier (and less expensive) than taking new x-rays, especially if there’s no need to.
X-rays are private information, so you’ll need to sign a permission form in order to authorize the transfer. Your new dentist can provide you with this form (which means that, in most cases, you won’t even need to contact your old dentist directly).
Insurance Information
Before you switch dentists, read up on which insurance providers the office accepts. Typically, you’ll find this information on their website, but you may need to call them.
You definitely don’t want to find out after your procedure that the bill won’t be covered. Contact your new dental office and ask which insurance providers they offer direct billing with. If they don’t bill directly to that provider, you’ll need to ask for a detailed invoice to get reimbursed.
You’ve been putting off that dreaded phone call—the one where you break up with your dentist. But you may not have to. This process can be painless; all it takes is a bit of paperwork and a few phone calls.
Ask your new dental office if they would be willing to contact your former dentist for your information. If so, all you’ll need to do is sign a permission form, and cancel any previously scheduled appointments.
Change is a natural part of life. When our oral health changes, our dentist might need to change, too. If you’re thinking of switching Winnipeg dental offices, we’re here to help.
At EK Dental, we offer a range of dental treatments, from cosmetic procedures to oral surgery. When you’re ready to change dentists, give us a call!