Chaparral Village Dental & Orthodontics
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27287 Nicolas Road Suite 104, Temecula, CA 92591
951-676-7200
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Looking for the right dentist part II
| Posted on May 10, 2011 at 2:10 AM |
comments (114)
|
It's
All about Choices and Communication If
you are not satisfied during the first part of your search-the phone
call to the dental office-move
on. If you are not satisfied with the second step-your initial dental
visit and exam (or "get acquainted" visit)-move on. If you
are not happy with the third step-the
dentistry itself-it is time to express your feelings in person to the
doctor. In other words, take charge. Let your fingers do the
research, your mouth do the talking, and, by all means, vote with
your feet. It
only makes sense to select your new dental home before any dental
emergency arises. Nothing is more stressful than dealing with a
toothache and severe pain and trying to locate Dr. Right at the same
time. If you presently do not
have a dentist, please leap into action. Here
are a few guidelines to follow and questions to ask when you are
looking for the right dental professionals for you and/or your
family: Basic
training:
A basic question-Does the dentist have a dental license? You can ask
to see the license if you feel that is necessary. Since it is very
difficult for you to judge the technical quality of the dentistry
that's being done in your mouth, also inquire about the dentist's
continuing education. Friendly,
concerned service:
Are the dentist and team members friendly? Are they genuinely
interested in you and committed to taking the time it takes to get to
know you, to discuss your concerns, your fears, and your dental
expectations? If you are a new patient, the dentist should give you a
comprehensive exam and design a treatment plan that is appropriate
for you based on your exam. Avoid a dental practice where the dentist
and staff seem rushed, nervous, and unable to communicate with you. Good
information and listening skills:
Does the dentist involve you in discussing your treatment choices and
options, rather than just telling you what to do? Does the dentist
explain why the treatment is necessary, the benefits and drawbacks of
the treatment, the possible risks, other repair or restoration
options, and the cost? When
you are making treatment decisions, it's important for you to
thoroughly discuss your dental priorities with your dentist. The
following three questions are good ways to start a candid discussion:
1).
Is this the treatment you would recommend to your family members? 2).
How much time will this treatment require? 3). What will happen if I don't go ahead with the treatment? Dr.
Right will be happy to answer all your questions. In addition to the
questions noted above, you can also ask: Does
the dentist wear special magnification lenses?
This is essential for doing quality work because dental procedures
are precise and the dentist is working in a small, dark area on a
small object. Most up-to-date dentists will tell you that they would
not want to get their dental work done by a dentist who is not using
high-tech, high-powered lenses. Does
the dentist or hygienist use a probing tool to check for gum disease
when you have your teeth cleaned?
Avoid a dental office that does not routinely examine and discuss the
health of your gums. If a gum evaluation using a probe has not been
done, you need to find another dentist. Does
the dentist or hygienist use standard infection control procedures?
While experts agree that the chance of transmitting infectious
diseases during routine visits to a dental office is remote, you will
feel reassured if you know that the dentist is following OSHA and the
ADA infection control guidelines. This means the dental team members
wear gloves and masks, and all non-disposable instruments are heat
and steam sterilized in an autoclave. Ask a team member what the
dental office does for infection control. You can also ask to see the
infection control area. Look
at the dentist's and the team members' teeth.
If they don't have healthy, good-looking smiles, maybe they haven't
practiced good dentistry care themselves. If they aren't practicing
good care, how can you be sure that they will be compassionate about
your dental situation? The
Comprehensive Dental Exam This
all important exam launches a lifelong master plan for your dental
treatment-similar to an architect's blueprint. It is a thorough
diagnosing tool and your appointment may take as long as an hour and
a half. During that time, the doctor and the dental team are
listening to your concerns and gathering facts about your medical
history, which will be reviewed by the dentist before the exam
begins. This examination records the "big picture" of your
dental health. It is a diagnosing and planning appointment that every
dental patient should experience. Sink
Your Teeth into This:
The comprehensive dental exam is an honest plan that lets you know
about all the disease in your mouth and forecasts what dental work
will be necessary. It represents a standard of care in dentistry and
provides the patient with a yardstick to measure the integrity of the
dentist. Periodically the exam is updated to confirm the state of
your dental health. What
to Expect During the Comprehensive Dental Exam The
dentist will be looking for decay, bone loss, abscesses, missing
teeth, cancer, tumors, extra teeth, wisdom teeth, and any other mouth
abnormalities. This thorough exam will give the
dentist
all the necessary information to make a complete diagnosis. The
exam should include: *
A
medical history *
An
oral cancer examination *
A
periodontal evaluation to check
for gum bone disease *
Individual
teeth checked visually for decay *
Bite
checked to see if teeth fit together properly *
18
x-rays or digital images (less if you do not have all of your teeth)
to check for decay and bone loss and any other abnormalities (If
you're an adult and you have all your permanent teeth, it takes this
many x-rays to do a comprehensive exam) *
Panoramic
x-ray and/or models of the teeth, if necessary Time
for
a New Attitude! Have
you noticed that the old dental story i s really taking on a new
twist as you come to the end of this article? Those who say "I
hate the dentist" have many objections including "the
dentist is always finding something new wrong with my teeth."
But a person who can find the right dentist, who knows what to say to
the dental team in order to develop rapport and trust, and who
understands the importance of getting a lifelong master plan for good
dental health has nothing to fear or object to. We hope by now that
you have discovered it really is possible to overcome dental fears
and objections in order to make healthy choices for your mouth. You
are becoming an informed dental consumer with an attitude that suits
the 21st century. From <I hate the dentist> by Dr. Mac Lee. |
Looking for the right dentist part I
| Posted on May 2, 2011 at 12:25 AM |
comments (517)
|
LOOKING
FOR THE RIGHT DENTIST FOR YOU! Overcoming
the fear and mistrust of going to the dentist requires finding the
right person to take care of your teeth and gums. But before we can
advise you on how to find that person, you need to do a little
soul-searching because dentistry is a product as well as a service.
And, because it is also a highly personalized service, it is tough to
write a list of hard and fast rules concerning how to find a dentist
who is going to be just right for you. This is a process that will
take you time, research, and interviewing. What
we can tell you for certain is that dedicated dentists take a sincere
interest in their patients. And a good dentist and dental team
respectfully treat the whole person, as well as the mouth. Your
dental team will ask a lot of questions about your medical history
and previous dental experience and, in turn, will eagerly answer your
questions and concerns. Preventive dental care is their number one
priority. First
Things First: Define Your Dental Priorities Before
you begin your search for Dr. Right, decide how healthy you want your
mouth to be. Ask yourself two defining questions: 1).
Are you serious about keeping your teeth for the rest of your life? 2). Do you only go to the dentist when you have problem with a tooth or a dental emergency? If
you answered yes to the second question, almost any dentist can do
the job you want. On the other hand, a resounding yes to the first
question says that you are looking for a capable, prevention-minded
dentist who will care for your dental health and help you hang on to
one of your most cherished possessions-your
teeth. In other words, you are looking for Dr. Right. Now that you've
defined your dental priorities, you are ready for the next step-the
search. Looking
for Dr. Right There's
more than one source for finding a Dr. Right. You can turn to the
Yellow Pages, call a toll free referral service, read newspaper and
magazine ads, find a name on a Web site, get a referral from a friend
(or your former dentist), or select a name from a list provided by
your dental insurance plan. It all boils down to making sure for
yourself whether you are in the right place. Do your research and
follow your instincts. If
you are looking for a new dentist and get a name from a friend,
follow up with an interview phone call to the dental office. But
don't stop there. Interview two or three additional dental offices.
Ask questions and use our list of guidelines to help you determine
professional and technical compatibility. One of the most important
things to bring with you on your search is your intuitive powers.
Yes, your intuition goes a long way in detecting whether the people
you meet are sincere and whether you will be comfortable in their
care. In
most cases, the phone will serve as your primary search tool. You can
judge a lot about a dental practice from your first phone call. If
the person answering the phone (the receptionist, front desk person,
office manager or, heaven forbid, the dentist) is cheerful, helpful,
patient, and answers all your questions, that is a good start and a
signal that you may want to take it one step further. Ask about the
office policy concerning new patients: *
Do they arrange a "get acquainted" visit with the dentist? *
Do they suggest a "walk through" of the office and an
introduction to the dental team members? *
Do they have a designated staff person who routinely meets new
patients and answers questions concerning the dental practice and its
policies and procedures? *Is
it necessary
to make an "on the books" dental appointment
for a comprehensive dental examination? Sink
Your Teeth into This:
Not every dental practice is set up to
do "get acquainted" visits with the dentist, and very
few have a designated staff member who handles new patient
interviews. However, that is no indication of good or bad dentistry,
and you shouldn't let it rule out a good prospect. In most cases, the
standard operating procedure will be to schedule a first appointment
with a dental examination. When this is the case, you want to make
sure that you will get a comprehensive dental exam. And
remember, not every phone call is going to get you somewhere.
Depending on who you call and where you live, you may feel that you
are being brushed off, or you may sense that the person answering the
phone is too rushed to answer your questions. It's also possible that
you won't be able to get an appointment with the dentist for a couple
of months. There are several reasons why this happens: *
The
dental practice may be so good that there is a waiting list of people
who want to become patients. *
Time
management and appointment scheduling may be inefficient. *
The
dental practice may have a "get them in and get them out"
philosophy, which explains why you felt rushed. *
The
person answering the phone may not be properly trained in customer
service skills. To be continued...(From <I hate the dentist> by Dr. Mac Lee) |