13 Top Clinics & Doctors

What to check before booking a clinic or doctor

Clinics in this category include dental chains, cosmetic and body-contouring centers, private hospitals and general practices. Reviews can tell you a lot about booking, billing and communication, though not about clinical skill. Combine them with your own checks.

• Registration: doctors, dentists and nurses are registered with a medical or dental board. Look up the practitioner by name on the board's public register.
• Who does the procedure: for cosmetic treatments, ask who will perform it, what their qualifications are and where it takes place.
• A written plan and quote: ask for the treatment plan, total price and what is excluded, such as follow-up visits, anesthesia or lab work.
• Financing: payment plans offered at the clinic are often credit agreements with a third party. Read the interest rate and what happens if you cancel treatment.
• Insurance: confirm the clinic accepts your plan and which parts of treatment are covered.

Common problems and how to avoid them

Patients often report quotes that grew during treatment, pressure to sign up on the day of a free consultation and difficulty getting records or refunds. Take the quote home, get a second opinion for major work, and ask how complaints are handled. Mail-order cosmetic dental products sold online are not the same as treatment by a dentist. On CandorRated you can check who runs a clinic's website, its domain age and contact details found, then filter by country or city.

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a practitioner's registration?

Search the public register of the medical or dental board in your country or state using their full name.

Is clinic financing a loan?

Usually yes. Read the credit terms before signing, as you may owe the balance even if treatment stops.