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Not every child or adult needs cleanings twice a year, for instance. Studies have found they don’t necessarily lead to better dental outcomes. Similarly, experts debate the benefits of extracting wisdom teeth. And old silver fillings don’t always have to be replaced with composite ones. If you feel uncomfortable pushing back in the moment, one way to give yourself more time is to schedule the recommended appointment for a future date, Phillips says. Then you can call to reschedule or cancel later.
Ask what’s urgent, and what the alternatives are
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Some issues, like an abscess, may need to be treated right away. But others, such as teeth that need to be replaced with implants, should ideally be dealt with over multiple appointments, Phillips says. It’s the dentist’s job to lay out a treatment plan that prioritises the most urgent issues and avoids piling major treatments into a single visit.
As the patient, you can – and should – request detailed explanations of the benefits and risks of each treatment, what the recovery time is like, whether you will need to take medication to manage pain and whether there are consequences of delaying care.
“The more questions you ask, the more educated you will be about your dental treatment, and the less likely you are to be anxious about it,” Leffel says.
Experts also recommended asking about alternative treatments, such as antibiotics for managing gum disease instead of scaling and root planing or surgery. There may also be alternative materials available for the same kind of fix, like porcelain, resin or gold crowns.
Get a second opinion
If you have oral surgery or another big procedure coming up, or feel uncomfortable with your dentist’s recommendations for any reason, consider getting another expert’s perspective.
If you need your bite corrected, talk to an orthodontist.And if a dentist has recommended a root canal or a full mouth extraction, consult an endodontist or oral surgeon, says Craigg Voightmann, a dental malpractice lawyer in Scottsdale, Arizona.
“If there’s a specialty that does the procedure, you shouldn’t have a general dentist doing it for the most part,” Voightmann says.
Beware of other red flags
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When you first see a new dentist, be wary if they recommend far more treatment than your previous provider ever suggested. Not all procedures are strictly necessary. For example, some early-stage tooth decay can simply be monitored every couple of months and don’t need to be filled right away.
Avoid practices that offer steep discounts just to get you in the door or say they can do complicated procedures like implants in one day, Voightmann suggests.
And rely on personal recommendations from friends, family or dental professionals themselves. Ask your hygienist or dentist where they would go if they needed the treatment you’re getting, Voightmann says.
The best scenario is when your dentist’s treatment philosophy aligns with your own.
“They could be the best dentist or specialist in the world, but if you don’t feel comfortable with them, that’s not going to be a successful relationship,” Leffel says. “So you need to, as a patient, decide what makes you feel the best.”
The New York Times
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