In the same way we choose our physician, we should also carefully select our dentist. I don’t know about you but like my physician, my dentist has to be someone I feel comfortable with. I mean, he or she will be all up in my mouth scraping, moving, and fixing. It’s very personal, and along with the right qualifications, it is a necessity for me to feel relax. So, in order to have a suitable dentist, get the names of two or three dentists from friends or relatives and have a preliminary visit with each. Once you have chosen a dentist, you can evaluate the dental care you receive on the basis of the following guidelines:
Checkups. A good dentist will suggest that you come in at least once per year for a checkup and will probably recommend twice yearly visits depending on your oral status. These visits give your dentist a chance to discover oral problems early, and in the long run will save your time, money and teeth.
Fillings. Fillings should stay in place for at least twelve years. If they fall out sooner, a new dentist may be warranted. Beware of the temporary filling; they are used occasionally for specific problems. If your dentist always uses them, get a new dentist. Tooth enamel is the second hardest substance in the world – diamonds are first; both are precious. Also, if your dentist tells you your caries are due to soft teeth – like I was told some years ago, find another dentist. He or she is not cognizant of what he or she is doing.
Extractions. If your dentist suggests pulling your teeth, find out why; and like surgery, you should also get a second opinion. Unless it is your wisdom tooth, the missing tooth will have to be replaced by a false tooth to keep other teeth from shifting and loosening. Although an extraction may seem to cost less than extensive dental work, it is cheaper to save your teeth if there is any chance it can be saved. No replacement does the job quite like your own original teeth.
Prosthetics. Over the past few decades, there has been a movement by denture makers to have people come directly to them for fittings. Few dentists make these prostheses, and the ones who do not will send the order out to these specialists. You will however be charged for the office visits for fitting, and also a mark-up price on the denture.
There are so many dental options available to us today – thanks to our technological advancement; and although most are very costly, it is a priceless gift to give ourselves a fresh, clean mouth topped with a beautiful smile.
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Evaluating Your Medical Care: How to Find a Suitable Physician
I do not have a phobia per say, but I am still very skeptical about who goes in my mouth. I have not switched dentists in years, and unless something drastic happens, I do not intend on changing her. I feel relax, and most importantly, I trust her. If I have to in the future, I will be very selective. I mean, it’s very up close and personal – just want to be sure.
As you should be Katherine, it is a very close and personal procedure, and the least we can do is try to be comfortable while it is being done. It also matters that there is someone keeping track of what we need and passing on the information to us as needed. Hats off to all our physicians and dentists!
Thanks for contributing!
Marie recently posted..Evaluating Your Medical Care: How to Find a Suitable Physician
I am so scared to let the dentist anywhere near my mouth. It’s really, really bad! I have been seeing the same dentist for almost five years and I still get heart palpitation every time I go on my appointments. It is really kinda embarrassing for a man to be like this, but the dentist and his assistant never showed any disgust. I guess they are use to me by now.
You are who you are Paul, and that is an individual. We all react differently to different situations and things.
It is awesome that your dentist and his assistant are being professional and understanding about your fears. I have seen a few unprofessional, thoughtless dentists in operation and it is very unfortunate.
Thanks for sharing!
Marie recently posted..Evaluating Your Medical Care: How to Find a Suitable Physician
Nice advice here. The relationship between the dentist and the patient is very personal. Just like with the physician, this relationship is based on trust. I won’t let somebody work in my mouth who I don’t trust. That’s why we don’t change our dentists often. There are significant differences in the prices, but the first aspect should be always the trust.
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Absolutely Cindy! Very up close and personal; there must be trust.
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Marie recently posted..Common Sense Tips That Could Save Your Life
Great Blog!! That was amazing. Your thought processing is wonderful. The way you recommend finding and establishing a dentist is awesome. If great dental care and service is important, then doing everything to make each experience as pleasant as possible, must be done. You are really a master.
Thank you, Dentist Bradford.
Getting our dental treatments can sometimes be uncomfortable, the least we can do is ensure what we can, which is placing our oral health in the hands of a caring dentist.
Marie recently posted..Common Sense Tips That Could Save Your Life
Very nice overview of how to evaluate your dentist and your dentistry work. There are two things that I suggest you ask or observe about your dental care. First, does your dentist offer any type of guarantee for their work. We guarantee all of our major work for 5 years without any conditions except that it has to have been paid for completely and that in those situations where we recommended a protective night guard that one was obtained. Second, make sure that your dentist is using high quality modern equipment, including intra-oral cameras and digital x-rays. Intra-oral cameras will allow both the dentist and the patient to see problem areas such as cracks on a tooth not visible to naked eye. Lastly, I agree that for any extraction always get a second opinion.
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