Choosing a good dentist is essential to ensuring that the job gets done well.

The good doctor is, after all, responsible for wrenching out a stubborn tooth from your mouth or slicing open your gums to extract some decaying flesh. One little mistake here, a slight twitch there, could result in some serious problems for you. This is especially when you consider that your ability to eat and speak will be severely affected by any mishap in the process.

So without further ado, here are six simple but essential signs to help you choose the best dentist:

American/Canadian Dental Association (ADA) member
Look for ADA certification even before you think of having someone poke around your mouth. Certification with the ADA, though not all-encompassing, is a reliable sign that the person peering into your mouth’s cavern has the training and skill to be competent at what he does.

Able to answer your needs
The first thing you need to consider is the specialty of the dentist you are looking for. Regular dentists do not possess the skills to cosmetically enhance your jaw line with prosthetic parts, while cosmetic dentists may know how to pull off a root canal but are not as skilled as their regular counterparts.

Ask yourself which dentist would be most able to help you with your problem, and you will have an idea what kind you should be looking for.

Long and reputable practice
Experience may be king when it comes to dentistry, but knowledge and skill are the knights that support it. Look around for dentists or dental clinics with a long and illustrious history within your locale, and you are already on the first few steps to finding the best dental care you can get for yourself.

Anecdotal experience from people you know
One of the best methods to check if dentists do their job well is to contact their former clients. Friends and family who have gone through the same problems as you will be able to tell you which ones are good at what they do.

Reasonable rates
Money is a very real problem nowadays, which is why you need to select a dentist that matches your budget. Ask around for their rates, and you will have a pretty good idea how much they charge for their operations. This is especially important for the more expensive jobs, like dentures or dental splints, since prices vary among dentists.

Warm and personable
Working with someone you can get along with is a whole lot better than with someone you don’t. Dentists who are warm and personable have the tendency to be more accommodating and concerned than those that are cold and business-like. The difference can easily be seen when problems and complications arise after the treatment.

So there you have it, six basic signs of a good dentist. Keep them in mind when looking, and you will find one that will get the job done without any serious complications to bog you down with afterwards!