A toothache never cares what time it is. They have a tendency to show up at 2AM, with the pharmacies locked tighter than Fort Knox and your pulse beating rapidly. If you live anywhere in Richmond, you've likely "looked up" "emergency dentist near me" at one point or another with only one eye open roseneath.
Richmond has grown considerably over the last 10 years. New apartments, restaurants, cafes and, of course, more dental offices have opened all over Broad Street and across the West End. While this growth gives patients more options and shorter wait times, it also makes choosing a dentist feel a little overwhelming—like picking a Netflix show from a plethora of too many open tabs.
Start by asking yourself what your dental needs are. A chipped filling and a major cosmetic transformation require completely different skill sets. There are numerous dentists in the area who specialize in cosmetic dentistry, veneers, whitening and other aspects of an "Hollywood smile". Other family dentists in the Richmond area provide more everyday procedures, like routine cleanings, fillings and care for anxious children, in a comfortable setting.
Obviously, what is covered by your insurance plan is another important consideration. It's a mix in the area between dental practices that accept major insurance providers such as Delta Dental, Cigna and Medicaid and private practices that may only accept cash or specific PPO insurance plans. Call ahead; don't assume.
Proximity is a bigger deal than people say. The best dentist out in Short Pump may end up not being practical if you spend forever in traffic on I-64 trying to get to your scheduled appointments. The location of the practice relative to your workplace or home, or even your child's school, can significantly affect your actual appointment rate.
Reviews may be an useful reference when selecting a dentist, but you have to read them carefully. Practices receiving hundreds of five-star reviews and negative feedback only in reference to appointments with a long wait time may or may not reflect the full story. No practice is perfect, and how a practice handles criticism can provide valuable insight into the patient experience.
This sentiment about dental practices in Richmond—often described as "patient-focused"—is consistent. I heard more about Richmond practices that aren't involved with the high-pressure upselling typical in many metropolitan-area practices during this period than anything else about dental professionals in the West End, to be specific.