How to Find a Good Dentist Near You

What Makes a Dentist Honest and Trustworthy? Finding a good dentist isn't just about location or availability. It's about finding someone you can actually trust — someone who is making decisions based on what's best for your health, not what's best for their bottom line. After practicing dentistry in both a Medicaid office in Queens and a fee-for-service practice in Manhattan, I've seen both sides of this equation up close. Here's what most people get wrong, and what to actually look for.

The Real Question Isn't "Is This Dentist Good?" — It's "Can I Trust This Dentist?"

Trust is the foundation of any good dentist-patient relationship. And the uncomfortable truth is

that the financial model a dentist operates under directly affects the care you receive.

When a dentist accepts a very low-paying insurance plan, they are often reimbursed so little per procedure that they are barely breaking even — or losing money — on the work they do. Ask yourself: how can a dentist truly invest in your care, use quality materials, and spend adequate time on your treatment if the economics are working against them?

This doesn't mean every dentist who accepts insurance is bad. But if a dentist is entirely built around the cheapest insurance plans, something has to give. Usually it's time spent per patient, quality of materials, or the range of options presented to you.

Why "They Accept My Insurance and Don't Charge Extra" Is Not a Green Flag

This is one of the most common misconceptions I see. Patients come in thinking that a dentist who never charges beyond what insurance covers is doing them a favor. In reality, there's usually a reason some dentists charge more than others.

A fee-for-service practice — one that doesn't rely on low insurance reimbursements — can afford to:

• Purchase higher quality materials

• Spend more time on each patient

• Attract and retain better trained staff

• Invest in advanced technology and continuing education

At Smile Creators Dental, that difference is tangible from your very first visit. New patients who come in for a comprehensive exam — covered by most PPO plans including Cigna, MetLife, Aetna, Guardian, and UnitedHealthcare — receive complimentary professional teeth whitening in Midtown Manhattan, a $500 value, at no additional cost. It's one of the clearest ways we know to show a new patient what this practice is actually about.

When I transitioned from running a Medicaid practice to running a fee-for-service office in Manhattan, the difference was stark. The standard we could hold ourselves and our work to was simply higher because the financial pressure wasn't constantly pushing in the wrong direction. Cheap dental care often ends up costing patients more in the long run when work fails early and needs to be redone.

A Second Opinion Can Save Your Tooth — Literally

Not long ago, a patient came to my office after being told by another dentist that her tooth was not savable and needed to be extracted. After reviewing her X-rays and examining the tooth myself, I disagreed. We saved the tooth. That was over ten years ago, and she still has it today.

This story isn't about that other dentist being incompetent. It's about the fact that experience, judgment, and a willingness to explore every option before giving up make a real difference. A dentist who jumps to extraction without exhausting alternatives isn't necessarily doing what's best for you.

If you are ever told a tooth can't be saved, or that you need an extensive treatment plan, get a second opinion before proceeding.

Questions You Should Ask Any Dentist Before Agreeing to Treatment

Most patients never ask these questions. The ones who do walk out knowing exactly who they're dealing with.

"How confident are you this treatment will work?"

No honest dentist will tell you 100%. But they should be able to give you a real number and explain what it's based on. If a dentist can't articulate their confidence level or gets defensive when you ask, that's a problem. You want to be working with someone who is at least 60 to 70 percent confident before moving forward with a significant treatment.

"What happens if it doesn't work? What's Plan B?"

This question separates experienced dentists from those who are just going through the motions. A dentist who has truly thought through your case will have an answer ready. They'll know what the next step is if the treatment fails, and they'll tell you upfront. A dentist who looks caught off guard by this question hasn't fully planned your care.

What to Do First When Looking for a New Dentist

Most people start with Google reviews, and that's fine as a starting point. But don't stop there.

Look at whether the dentist participates in every low-fee insurance plan available, or whether they are selective. Look at the quality of their office and their website — these reflect how they invest in their practice. Look at whether they take time to explain things or rush you through an appointment.

And most importantly, trust your gut after the first visit. A good dentist will take X-rays, do a thorough exam, explain what they find, and give you options — not just a treatment plan with a payment amount attached.

The Bottom Line

When patients shop purely for the cheapest dental option, that is usually exactly what they get. I've worked in offices on both ends of the spectrum, and the difference in what's possible — in the quality of materials, the time spent on each case, the outcomes — is not subtle.

A good dentist isn't the one who costs the least. A good dentist is the one who earns your trust, communicates clearly, plans thoroughly, and genuinely has your long-term oral health as the goal. That's who you want drilling in your mouth.

Dr. Leonid Shimanov, DDS, is a cosmetic and general dentist at Smile Creators Dental in Midtown Manhattan. He has over 25 years of experience and more than 15 years as a certified Invisalign provider.