What makes a lot of difference is that you have the right kind of dentist to tend to your teeth. You need to have the right dentist for yourself, who you can understand and communicate properly with, so that the procedure is smoother for you.
Most people don't bother switching dentists because they stick to one family dentist for years. This might be suitable if you feel that your dentist is right for you, but in most cases, this isn't true. What parents need to understand is that when your kids are young, you should take them to a kid's dentist to get their teeth treated. A pediatric dentist understands children's teeth better, so it's better that a specialist tends to their teeth. Thus, you should get into contact with different pediatric dentists to find the right dentist for your children.
There are a lot of general dentists who are allowed to perform some cosmetic procedures like teeth whitening and teeth alignment, but it is always better to visit one cosmetic dentist for all cosmetic procedures rather that shifting from dentist to dentist to get different procedures done. It's best to find one professional who offers the whole range of services you need. What is important to remember is that health insurance does not cover cosmetic procedures of any kind, which means that in addition to finding a good cosmetic dentist, you will need to find someone who you can afford to pay when you need to get procedures done on your teeth.
All of the dentists that they refer to you are good and reliable. However, just for your own satisfaction, you should always do a background check and re-confirm their education, skills, experience, and reviews of other patients so that you're fully satisfied with the choice that you make. Additionally, you must make sure that the dentist you choose is reputable and that he/she will be able to give you references for other specialists like orthodontists or periodontist if the need for such a specialist ever arises. Before finalizing your decision to visit the general dentist every six months as of now, try getting an appointment and consult the doctor to get to know him/her better and assess the level of comfort you have. You need to be completely at ease with the practitioner before you decide that you're making the right switch.