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| SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2024
How to
Advocate for Yourself at the
Dentist
By Knvul Sheikh
Avoid practices that offer steep discounts just to get you in the door or say they can do Think about the last time you went to the dentist: Did complicated procedures like you walk out feeling like your implants in one day, Voightquestions were ansewered, or mann suggested. did you wonder whether your And rely on personal recprovider was being straight ommendations from friends, with you? family or dental professionAlyson Leffel, director of patient advocacy and social work at the NYU College of Dentistry als themselves. Ask your Dental visits can be daunting — and not just because of hygienist or dentist where malpractice lawyer in Scotts- they would go if they needed mouth. Is it on the outside, for a future date, Phillips said. instead of scaling and root the whirring drills. Dentists may seem to speak anoththe treatment you’re getting, which is the cheek side, or is it Then you can call to resched- planing or surgery. There may dale, Arizona. on the tongue side?” ule or cancel later. also be alternative materials er language entirely, and Voightmann said. “If there’s a specialty that does the procedure, you Visual aids such as X-rays available for the same kind everything they suggest can The best scenario is when Ask what’s urgent, shouldn’t have a general den- your dentist’s treatment phiof fix, like porcelain, resin or feel important. You must have or images from an intraoral a sealant painted on your tist doing it for the most part,” losophy aligns with your own. camera — or even just looking and what the gold crowns. alternatives are tooth or risk bacteria creating in a mirror — can also help “They could be the best Voightmann said. Get a second opinion demystify what’s going on in Some issues, like an abholes in it. You must get an dentist or specialist in the Beware of extraction because an oral world, but if you don’t feel If you have oral surgery or your mouth. scess, may need to be treated right away. But others, such as another big procedure coming other red flags infection has spread and is comfortable with them, that’s Don’t feel pressured teeth that need to be replaced up, or feel uncomfortable causing pain. When you first see a new not going to be a successful to agree to anything — with implants, should ideally with your dentist’s recomTo get the best results and dentist, be wary if they relationship,” Leffel said. even cleanings recommend far more treat“So you need to, as a patient, mendations for any reason, a more positive experience, be dealt with over multiple ment than your previous Your dentist should be able appointments, Phillips said. decide what makes you feel consider getting another experts recommend speaking up. Here are tips for what to It’s the dentist’s job to lay out expert’s perspective. provider ever suggested. Not to explain why particular the best.” If you need your bite corask and how to evaluate the a treatment plan that prioriall procedures are strictly problem areas need specific necessary. For example, some rected, talk to an orthodontreatments you are offered at treatments, said Alyson Leftizes the most urgent issues fel, director of patient advoca- and avoids piling major treat- tist. If you have pain or bleed- early-stage cavities can simply the dentist. ing in your gums, seek out a be monitored every couple of cy and social work at the NYU ments into a single visit. Get a good look at the months and don’t need to College of Dentistry. And it’s periodontist. And if a dentist As the patient, you can — problems yourself and should — request detailed has recommended a root cabe filled right away. perfectly reasonable to ask The first step to effectively them for time to research and explanations of the benefits nal or a full mouth extraction, consult an endodontist or advocating for yourself is and risks of each treatment, reflect on your options. Not every child or adult understanding what your what the recovery time is like, oral surgeon, said Craigg whether you will need to take Voightmann, problems are. Ask your dentist needs cleanings twice a year, a dental to show you exactly where medication to manage pain for instance. Studies have the pockets of your gums are and whether there are consefound they don’t necessarily lead to better dental outgetting deeper and letting quences of delaying care. bacteria accumulate, or which comes. Similarly, experts de“The more questions you fillings are getting worn down bate the benefits of extracting ask, the more educated you wisdom teeth. And old silver by night grinding. will be about your dental fillings don’t always have to be treatment, and the less likely “You don’t have to get technical about it,” said Ellie replaced with composite ones. you are to be anxious about it,” Leffel said. Phillips, a preventive dentist If you feel uncomfortable based in Austin, Texas. “But pushing back in the moment, Experts also recommended asking about alternative I would recommend noting if one way to give yourself PHOTO COURTESY treatments, such as antibiotit’s something affecting your more time is to schedule the OF ISTOCK IMAGES ics for managing gum disease front teeth or the back of your recommended appointment The New York Times
“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.”