The Top 6 Things To Ask Your Dentist
The Top 6 Things To Ask Your Dentist
In order to make the most out of your dental appointment, a little planning goes a long way. The dental office can sometimes be an intimidating place where the dentist throws all this information at you at the speed of light. And you feel like you have very little time to understand, assimilate and gather your thoughts. And almost always, you think of important questions just after your have left the dental clinic!
This article is to help you navigate dental information by asking about things that are most important and relevant to you when it comes to your dental care.
What could be the cause for this?
Most dental problems have a chief cause. Sometimes multiple causes. Having your dentist explain to you what the cause is helps you understand how to prevent it from recurring. You will end up having a better understanding of dental problems in general and your mouth in particular.
What is my best treatment option and can you explain the treatment in detail?
This will encourage the dentist to talk about the specifics of your treatment, including procedure details, timelines, level of discomfort expected, whether anesthesia is required, precautions, complications and expected treatment outcomes. As a patient, you should feel free to ask questions so you understand enough of about the treatment that you are about to undergo. You must ask for an approximate cost estimate prior to starting the treatment.
What is the alternative treatment?
If is always good to know if there is another treatment you should consider. Sometimes, one dental problem can have more than one solution. Secondly, it is useful to know what alternative treatments exist if your currently treatment fails.
What is the long term care for this treatment?
All treatment requires care and maintenance. Understanding the level of care ensures that you can help keep your treated teeth in great shape. Certain treatments such as implants require long term oral hygiene commitments. Orthodontics requires long term retainer wear. Cosmetic treatments may require you to reduce your consumption of staining food and beverage and to avoid hard food on certain teeth.
Is there anything else I need to know about this?
This somewhat open ended question can lead to more information or a healthy discussion between Dentist and Patient. It reminds the dentist to think of things that she has not mentioned as yet. It also gives the dentist a chance to talk about the dental problem / treatment in a more personal manner. The dentist may tell you what her personal opinion is about a certain treatment that you are considering. Or discuss a recent experience that she had with a similar case.
What are the top things I should be doing to keep my mouth healthy?
Dentist love it when patients start talking prevention instead of cure. And while a dentist cannot undo your dental past, she can certainly help you find ways of preventing a poor dental future. You will be amazed by how much of your dental health lies in your own hands. And it all starts with impeccable oral hygiene and a healthy diet.
