A dentist is your oral health partner who works with you to improve your general wellbeing prevents diseases and also treats oral health problems. A good dentist, therefore, prioritizes the health of the client or patient above any financial gain.
The profession “dentistry” is a respectable and enviable profession by all standards and the vast majority of dentists are honest but dentist this day inflate the value of procedures at astronomical rates to people that don’t even need such procedures and we often detect that the procedure falls short of the procedural standard. Should we blame the economy? I don’t think so. I have seen this frequently in private practice but a particular one was egregious which prompted this article.
Do you know that the wrong dentist can wreak havoc on your mouth and do permanent damage by doing too much work that you don’t really need?
Each dental visit should provide the patient the opportunity to learn more about their oral health, get tips and advice from a professional, confidence building with the knowledge that the patient is in good hands.
Sadly, many patients fail to take full advantage of dental visits. Some patients only remember the dentist when they have a toothache or want to have their teeth whitened or filled. This attitude or poor dental health seeking behavior isn’t always the best approach to receiving quality dental care
Below Are Ways To Get The Best Care When Visiting The Dentist
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Have a checklist of important questions
It is easy to forget important questions or concerns. Ensure this does not occur by creating a simple checklist of the questions and concerns you’d like to ask and discuss in depth with your dentist.
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Investigate Before the Visit
The more you know about the dentist, the more comfortable the visit will be. Visit the dental practice’s social media pages, website or blogs, etc. ahead of the visit. The qualifications and years of experience of the specialist is equally important
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Try to Relax and express yourself without hindrance
Dental fears or the fear of the unknown are very real and often inhibit people from visiting the dentist regularly or from acquiring the exact dental care necessary. When you’re nervous, anxious, or otherwise tense during the visit, it is important to relax, unwind and trust the professional selected to provide care to do just that. If you are in need of a private consultation with the dentist, please speak up and request such from the dental office manager or consultant dentist
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The cost-effective treatment plan
There are many options available to a patient with respect to dental care. Though dental care may be expensive, cost-effective alternatives would also be provided by the dentist. It is ideal for patients to ask about alternatives that work. Don’t put off your dental care due to cost restraints when there are many alternatives available.
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Ask for Home Care Oral Health Tips
The dentist often loves to discuss oral health with patients that are ready and willing to make some good quality decisions about their health. These tips could come during clinical visits, emails or other social media platforms at the request of the patient.
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Routine dental cleaning
Whenever a patient visits the dental clinic for cleaning (scaling and polishing), clinical assessment is often carried out and dental concerns such as tooth sensitivity, cavities, ulcers or persistent funny looking colored lesions would be addressed quickly
Signs Your Dentist Is Ripping You Off
Economical without Details
If your dentist tells you that you need to have a procedure done immediately, ask why? A dentist who is vague about this could be pressuring you into a procedure you may not need.
Heavy Work That Comes Out of the Blue
When you sit in a dentist’s chair for the first time and are told you need a bunch of procedures of a type or quantity you’ve never needed before. Trust your gut on this one. If you’ve never had a cavity in your life and at your first appointment with a new dentist, she tells you that you need 12 fillings, that’s a red flag.
Ask for a Second Opinion if not satisfied
Even just observing a dentist’s reaction to being told you’d like a second opinion can be telling; if they truly have nothing to hide, they won’t discourage you.
Finally, you must Trust Your Gut and be willing to walk away without being pressured when you are not satisfied and it’s within your rights as a patient to ask for a tour of the dental facility especially the sterilization bay and infection control measures being adopted by the dental office. It’s always best to trust your instincts and act accordingly.