Choosing a dentist is one of those decisions people put off, partly because it is hard to know what to judge. A website tells you what a practice says about itself. It does not tell you what an appointment feels like, or what happens when something goes wrong at four on a Friday.
So here is a list of the things that actually matter, written as honestly as we can manage given that we are one of the options.
Experience you can point to
Dentistry is a craft, and craft takes years. It is worth knowing who will actually be treating you, how long they have been doing it, and whether they will still be there next year. Queenstown has a lot of turnover, in dentistry as in everything, and a dentist who knows your mouth and your history is worth a great deal.
Dr Adrian Paul has been treating patients in Queenstown for nearly 25 years and is still the principal dentist here. That continuity is the thing our long-term patients value most.
How they handle pain
Ask about it directly. How do they numb a tooth, and what do they do for people who are anxious? A practice that takes this seriously will have a clear answer - topical gel before injections, a slow technique, sedation options, and a willingness to start with a conversation rather than treatment.
The injection is the part most people dread, and it is the part where the difference between dentists is largest. Adrian's near-painless technique is the single thing patients most often mention, and it is the reason a lot of people who avoided the dentist for years now come in without thinking about it.
What happens in an emergency
Find out before you need it. Do they keep room in the day for emergencies, or will you be told the first appointment is in three weeks? Can they see you if you are not already a patient? Is there anything outside normal hours?
We keep space every day for emergencies and can usually see people the same afternoon, patient or not, with an on-call service outside hours by request.
Fees you see before treatment, not after
A good practice tells you what something costs before it starts, itemised, and tells you if there is more than one way to treat it. If cost is a barrier, they should be willing to talk about the option you can actually go ahead with rather than the ideal one.
Be wary of anywhere that will not give you a figure, or that presents a large treatment plan on a first visit with pressure to start today.
ACC, and the practical things
In Queenstown a surprising share of dental work follows an accident - bikes, skis, boards, the lake. A registered ACC provider lodges the claim for you at the appointment rather than sending you away with a form. That is worth checking.
Then the ordinary practical things, which matter more than they sound. Where is it, and can you park? Central Queenstown parking is its own sport, and free off-street parking at the door removes a real reason people skip appointments. What are the hours, and do they suit someone who works?
Can they do most things under one roof?
Being referred across town for every root canal, extraction or implant adds cost and delay. A practice that handles general, emergency, restorative and cosmetic work in one place means one set of records, one relationship, and fewer trips. Ask what they refer out and what they do themselves.
How to try one without committing
Book a check-up, or just a consultation. You get to see the place, meet the dentist, ask your questions and get an honest picture of your mouth, and nothing has to be done that day. If it does not feel right, you have lost an hour. If it does, you have found your dentist.
We are at 12 Lake Esplanade on the lakefront in central Queenstown, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with free off-street parking. Ring 03 441 8248 or send a message. New patients, families, visitors and emergencies are all welcome.
General information, not a diagnosis. Written and reviewed by Dr Adrian Paul, BDS (Otago), principal dentist at Lakeside Dental Practice, Queenstown. If something is worrying you, see a dentist.
