Choosing a family dentist is one of those decisions that feels small until it is not, until a crown fails on vacation eve, a child chips a tooth at practice, or you finally decide to fix the smile you have been hiding. The right practice becomes a partner for decades. Here are the eight questions worth asking before you commit, and how to evaluate the answers.
1. Can the whole family be seen in one place?
Separate offices for kids, parents, and grandparents means triple the driving and none of the shared history. A true family practice handles checkups and cleanings [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/general-dentistry/], fillings, wisdom teeth timing, Invisalign [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/invisalign/] for teens and adults, and dentures [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/dentures/] and implants for grandparents, all under one roof.
2. Do the hours actually work for your life?
A dentist open 9 to 4, Monday through Thursday, means missed work and missed school for every visit. Look for early, evening, and weekend availability. Our office is open from 7 a.m. starts to 7 p.m. evenings, plus every other Saturday, because that is when real families are available.
3. What happens in an emergency?
Ask any prospective office: if my child breaks a tooth on Saturday, what do I do? Practices without a real answer send you to strangers at the worst moment. We build same-day time into our schedule for dental emergencies [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/emergency-dentistry/].
4. Do they take your insurance, and what if you have none?
Confirm the office accepts your plan and, just as important, ask what happens without insurance. Look for transparent pricing, membership plans, and financing. We verify benefits before treatment and offer payment plans and financing [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/insurance-and-financing-options/].
5. How do they treat anxious patients and nervous kids?
This question reveals a practice’s character faster than any other. Listen for patience, options, and zero judgment. Our team offers sedation dentistry [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/sedation-dentistry/] and trains for anxious visits, and patients who avoided dentists for a decade regularly tell us they wish they had come sooner.
6. Is the dentistry current?
Digital X-rays, 3D imaging, same-day treatment planning, and modern materials make dentistry faster, safer, and more comfortable. Ask when the doctor last invested in training. Dr. Olson trains continuously through Spear Education and holds memberships with the ADA, the Colorado Dental Association, and the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
7. What do actual patients say?
Read recent Google reviews, not the testimonials a website curates. Look for patterns: does the front desk get praised? Do anxious patients mention feeling safe? Watch our unscripted patient video testimonials [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/patient-video-testimonials/], including the patient whose routine exam here caught a thyroid nodule his physicians had missed.
8. Do you actually like them?
Visit before you commit. Notice whether the team learns your name, whether the doctor sits down and listens or hovers by the door, whether treatment plans come with pressure or with options. You are choosing a relationship, not a vendor. In our practice, every patient is treated like family, because that is the standard we set on day one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my family see the dentist?
Every six months for most people, more often if gum disease is present. Consistent cleanings are the cheapest dentistry you will ever buy.
At what age should a child first see the dentist?
By age one or within six months of the first tooth, per the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Early visits build comfort long before any drilling is ever needed.
What should I bring to a first appointment?
Your insurance card, a list of medications, and any dental records or X-rays from a previous office. We handle records transfers for you with one signed form.
Are you accepting new patients in Colorado Springs?
Yes. New patients and families are welcome. Call (719) 527-2626 to reserve a first visit.
Come Meet Us Before You Decide
The best way to evaluate a family dentist is to walk in the door. Schedule a first visit, tour the office, and meet Dr. Olson and the team. Request an appointment [https://www.mydentalcompany.com/contact-us/] or call (719) 527-2626. Evenings and Saturdays available, because your family is busy.
| Reference to cite: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (aapd.org), first dental visit guidance. |
