How Do I Know My Dentist Is Recommending the Right Treatment?
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My dentist is recommending that I have a dental crown placed on a tooth. I’m a bit confused about this. At my last appointment, just six months ago, I had no signs of a cavity. Suddenly, now, I have to have a crown? That seems suspicious to me. I brought that up and he said I’d better make a decision soon or I could lose the tooth. Can that happen?
Laurie
Dear Laurie,
Knowing whether your dentist is recommending the right treatment is incredibly important. These are your teeth. Their health and appearance not only impact how people perceive you, but your quality of life. Everyone wants a dentist they can trust, easily communicate with, and doesn’t mind questions. Your dentist is ethically obligated to give you all your options. I’m never pleased when I hear a dentist implying there is only one option for you.
I completely understand you concern with his diagnosis. While it is possible that a cavity could blow up in six months, to need a dental crown because of decay, it would have to have eaten about 30% of the tooth. I think you’d have noticed that. There are other reasons a tooth can need a crown, but based on what you’ve said, your dentist indicated decay.
There is another thing bothering me about this. The best dentists don’t rush them into making decisions, unless it is a dental emergency, like an advanced tooth infection. Even then, they’d make sure they understood why it was urgent. You want a dentist that will take the time to explain what they see, why treatment is recommended, what can happen if the issue is left untreated, and whether there are alternative options.
For example, a small cavity may simply need a filling today, while delaying treatment could eventually lead to the need for a crown or root canal. A trustworthy dentist will explain both the immediate recommendation and the long-term outlook so you can make an informed decision about your oral health.
The Best Dentists Don’t Mind Questions
A skilled, caring dentist does not bristle at questions. In fact, I’d encourage you to ask questions such as:
- Why is this treatment necessary?
- Are there other treatment options?
- What happens if I wait?
- Can you show me the X-rays or images?
A dentist you can trust welcomes these conversations because the more informed you are the more empowered you are to make great decisions about your oral health. You should leave your appointment feeling confident that you understand your diagnosis and your treatment plan. Leaving feeling pressured or confused tells me it may be time to look for another dentist.
As for your tooth, if you are not seeing significant decay on that tooth, then I recommend you get a second opinion from another dentist. Make it a blind second opinion. By that I mean don’t tell the second dentist who your provider is or their diagnosis. The dental field is a close knit one and it is very likely they’ll know each other. You don’t want the second dentist feeling like they’re betraying a colleague. If they don’t know who your dentist is it takes the pressure off of them to be completely honest. If they ask, just tell them you want an unbiased second opinion on a tooth so you want them to look at it without advance information. They shouldn’t mind that.
This blog is brought to you by a compassionate dentist in Mt. Dora, Dr. Michelle Stillman.