Ask the people around you
Whether you just moved to the area or you are ready for a change, finding a new dentist does not have to be stressful. A little research goes a long way. And if dental visits make you nervous, the research matters even more, because the practice you choose shapes how every future visit feels.
Start with a referral. Your primary care physician or another medical professional can often point you to a local dentist they trust. Friends, family, and colleagues are just as useful; ask who they see and whether their experiences have been good ones. A recommendation from someone who has actually sat in the chair tells you more than any advertisement will.
Check the practice website
Once you have a short list, spend a few minutes on each practice’s website. You want to confirm:
- How long the practice has been established, and the dentist’s background and training
- What age range they treat
- Which specific services they offer
- That their licenses and certifications are current and valid
- Whether they provide dental sedation or have experience treating patients with dental anxiety
- Whether they offer financing, and which payment methods they accept
- How convenient the location is to your home or work
- What their hours are, and whether they handle after-hours needs or dental emergencies
If dental visits have ever been hard for you, give the sedation and anxiety question extra weight. A practice that talks openly about dental fear on its website is telling you something about how it treats people in person. You can read about Dr. Balaban’s background and training on our about page.
Read the reviews carefully
Reviews tell you how a practice treats people day to day, so read them closely. A business that has been open for a while but has almost no reviews is worth a second look. Watch for patterns rather than one-off complaints: a dirty or disorganized office, misrepresented experience or pricing, or staff described as unfriendly, impatient, or dismissive. Complaints about unreturned calls, overcharging, hours-long waits, double-booked appointments, injuries or complications, poor hygiene, or careless handling of confidential patient records are all red flags.
One specific, honest review is worth ten vague ones. Ours are collected on our reviews page, and we are glad to let them speak for themselves.
What you will find at Smile Arts Dental
We are currently accepting new patients, and we built this practice for the person who reads a post like this one carefully. Comfort comes first here; Fear-Less Dentistry is our own phrase for it, and it shapes everything from how a first appointment begins to the sedation options available for patients who need them. Dr. Alex Balaban focuses on cosmetic and restorative dentistry in Carmel, including teeth whitening, fillings, bonding, bridges, dentures, and full mouth reconstruction. If you would like to know exactly what an appointment here looks like before you commit, we wrote about your first visit step by step.
When you are ready, call (317) 575-1995 or start with our $79 new-patient special, which covers your exam and X-rays. We will take it from there.
This article is for general education only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice. For guidance about your own smile, talk with your dentist.