“Top dentist” is a strange thing to search for, because the best version of that answer isn’t really about any one appointment. It’s about what happens over five years, ten years, the visits where nothing’s wrong and the ones where something finally is.
If you’re trying to understand top dentist qualities Encino patients should look for, the more useful question is what actually changes for you once you’ve been going to the same one for a while.
Your Chart Tells a Story Only One Dentist Knows
A single exam shows a snapshot. Years of exams show a pattern, which tooth has been sensitive before, how fast your enamel wears, whether that one spot has looked the same for three years or started changing last visit. That pattern is invisible to a new dentist seeing you for the first time.
It’s part of why Dr. Alan Howard and Dr. Yonatan Howard ask about changes since your last visit at every exam, not just what’s wrong today. Comparing against your own history catches things a single snapshot can’t.
You can learn more about the practice and what to consider when choosing a dentist in Encino.
Being an Established Patient Has Real Perks
When something comes up unexpectedly, a cracked tooth, sudden pain, a filling that fell out, having history with an office tends to make it easier to get seen quickly. There’s no new patient paperwork slowing things down and no explaining your whole dental history from scratch while you’re in pain.
That convenience is easy to overlook until the day you actually need it.
Growing Up, and Growing Older, With the Same Dentist
Families who stick with one office long enough end up with a shared history that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. Kids who had their first cleaning here come back as adults with kids of their own, and parents who started coming in their thirties are still coming in their sixties.
The Dental Office Encino has served Encino families since 1991, which means some patients have now been coming for longer than they’ve lived in their current home.
What This Actually Looks Like at Our Office
In practice, it means Dr. Alan Howard or Dr. Yonatan Howard can look at an X-ray and compare it to the one from two years ago without having to ask you to describe your dental history first. It means catching a small change early because someone actually remembers what “normal” looks like for your mouth specifically.
None of that shows up in a five-star rating. It only shows up after you’ve been coming back for a while.
The American Dental Association notes that complete dental records help provide continuity of care by documenting treatment, history, diagnostic information, and patient-related communications.
Start Building That History Today
Whether you’re looking at top dentist qualities Encino patients value for yourself or your whole family, the value compounds the longer you stay. Dr. Alan Howard and Dr. Yonatan Howard have treated Encino families since 1991, along with neighbors in Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Van Nuys, and Woodland Hills, and new patients are always welcome.
Call The Dental Office Encino at 818-300-0333 or schedule your visit at 17071 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 102, Encino, CA 91316. We’re open Monday through Thursday from 8am to 5pm and Friday from 8am to 2pm.
