Top Dentists of Virginia - 2011

For the first time last year, we partnered with topDentists™, a company that identifies the nation’s top dentists by surveying the people who would know—the dentists themselves. They asked all of the Virginia dentists listed by the American Dental Association a pretty simple question: “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?” The answer? The 691 dentists we’ve listed for you here.

We know you look to us for quality, and your response to Virginia’s Top Dentists last year let us know that you appreciate having information you can trust, from a source you know. You have a lot at stake when it comes to selecting a dentist: Your oral health to be precise. But we’re lucky here in Virginia because we have so many fine dentists to choose from, dentists who know their stuff as well as how to put you at your ease in what can sometimes be—let’s face it—a stressful experience.

The American Dental Association (ADA) doesn’t harbor any illusions that the average person enjoys going to the dentist; quite the opposite. So, the ADA offers a variety of suggestions to make your dental experience a little less nerve-wracking. If the whirring sound of the dental drill doesn’t quite fit your notion of post-yoga relaxation music, they recommend bringing a portable audio player to listen to during your appointment. In addition, they point out that you are more likely to feel nervous if you’re in a hurry, so avoid squeezing your appointment in on your lunch break: Instead, schedule it for when you have time to spare. When you’re finally sitting in the dental chair, they suggest visualizing yourself in a place that is comfortable or relaxing, like on a beach or your favorite vacation spot. And above all, talk to your dentist and give him or her the opportunity to help allay your concerns and put you at ease.

Maintaining good oral health is so important; it can impact many aspects of our life beyond just eating. Cranio-facial issues can be painful and negatively impact self- esteem. Infections of the mouth can be life threatening if left untreated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Division of Oral Health also gives us plenty of tips on maintaining good dental hygiene including brushing and flossing often, eating wisely, drinking fluoridated water and using fluoridated toothpaste. This information is certainly all beneficial but, of course, they also recommend regular visits to the dentist. We all know that those twice-a-year dentist visits are important: the hard part is choosing where to go. That’s why we’ve offered you this list again—we want you to be in good hands.