Astute Questions For Prospective Dentists

Once you have identified one or more potential dentists, call their offices to find out more about the dental services they offer. Below are a few intelligent questions to facilitate that discussion:

• Inform the dentist about yourself, any specialized needs you have, and the services you want and/or need.
• What are the hours that they’re open, and find out how emergency dental care is provided outside those hours?
• What are their policies on missing appointments or canceling an appointment?
• Will the dentist offer multiple treatment options for your dental care and explain their costs, benefits and drawbacks so that you can make informed and educated choices?
• What fees does the dentist charge for typical services such as teeth cleaning, routine fillings, sealants or fluoride (for children), dental x-rays, root canals, crowns, bridges and caps?
• When do you need to make payments? Some dentists might be willing to set up a payment plan if the charges are over a certain sum so you can make payments over a period of time instead of in a single lump sum. While it can appear convenient to use a charge card for paying dental bills, the interest costs may lead to further financial troubles in the future… especially if you’re already on an extremely constrained budget.
• If you’re covered by a dental insurance plan, is the dentist part of the dental plan you have? Or will you need to submit claim forms to your insurance plan for reimbursement?
• Are the overall goals of dental treatment explained to you? Ideally, the dentist should be committed to both your appearance and your overall health. If one or the other doesn’t seem to be important, you might want to think about looking for a different dentist.

In the US, dentists typically emphasize practices and services which prevent tooth problems or that enable their early detection. For example, dentists will recommend teeth be cleaned regularly by a dental hygienist (typically twice a year); and x-rays be made of teeth for advanced detection of tooth decay, infections, or gum disease (the frequency depends on your particular health needs). If tooth decay is discovered during an exam, most dentists will urge that it be fixed straightaway instead of postponing treatment. Again, stress treating the decay early to avoid later oral damage.

As a dental patient, you have the right to attentive and respectful care; to be educated about the dental procedures that will be used, the anticipated benefits and drawbacks of all treatment options; and to be given an estimate of costs of every option.

Be prepared to ask your dentist questions if you need more information and to ask a second time if you do not understand the explanation you were given. As with any other medical care, you and your dentist share in the responsibility to make decisions about your dental treatment decisions.

If you are dissatisfied with the dental services you receive or have a complaint about your dental care, you can certainly express your concerns to the dentist, contact your state or local dental association or contact your insurance office to resolve the problem. Remember, you also can always find another dentist for your dental needs.

“Taking care of your mouth, teeth and gums isn’t just a matter of good grooming. It can prevent infections, and maybe even diseases, throughout your body,” according to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. The health of your teeth and mouth is an integral and important part of your overall health. For your own sake, please don’t neglect it.