The 7 Must-Have Qualities in a Trustworthy Dentist
- Your Comfort Comes First. No matter your comfort level with visiting the dentist, your provider should be ready and...
- Healthy, Open Communication. The relationship between dentist and patient is incredibly important, and healthy, open...
- Integrity. This quality boils down to finding a dentist that won’t...
Full Answer
Can you trust your dentist?
While Vasso's experience may be extreme, it illustrates how important it is to find a dentist you can trust. "The dentist has an obligation to be truthful," says Dr. Ada Cooper, a dentist in private practice in New York City and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association.
Is your dentist a reputable professional?
While the vast majority of dentists are reputable, caring professionals, the often-uneasy relationship between dentist and patient is complicated by an unfortunate reality: Common dental procedures are not always as safe, effective, or durable as we are meant to believe.
What makes a good dentist?
“A good dentist will take the time to collect all dental and historic health information in order to provide the best care and may even perform a dental cleaning at the initial appointment,” Luther says. Being sure you're getting adequate dental care regularly is important for longevity and overall wellness.
How to find the right dentist for You?
Here are some helpful resources. Once you’ve found a few good candidates, visit their websites and see if their offices are on social media to learn more about them. To find the right dentist, don’t be shy about calling or visiting the dentists on your list before deciding.
How do you know if a dentist is trustworthy?
That dentist may be inaccurate. It's sort of reinforcing to have them say you are “fine” if you “want” to be cavity-free. However, the only true way when you have a true difference of opinion is to go to a State Dental Society or State Dental Board and ask them what “would a reasonable dentist do in this situation”.
How do I choose the right dentist for me?
When you're searching for a dentist, the American Dental Association (ADA) offers these suggestions:Ask family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers for their recommendations.Ask your family doctor or local pharmacist.If you're moving, ask your current dentist to make a recommendation.More items...•
What is the best kind of dentist to go to?
General Dentist: Also known as a family dentist, this is your go-to dentist for most routine dental procedures, including teeth cleanings, check-ups, fillings, crowns, root canals, sealants, and screenings for oral disease.
What should I not tell my dentist?
Here is my top 10 list of things that should never be said to dental patients:“That is expensive.” ... Talking about another patient. ... “You should get insurance.” ... Discussing fees over the phone. ... Saying mean things. ... Displaying negative nonverbal communication. ... Having a negative attitude. ... Second-guessing the doctor.More items...•
What makes a great dentist?
Because dentists work in a very small and sensitive space of the body, a good dentist communicates with the patient during every step of a procedure, making sure they are okay and not in too much pain. Good dentists go to great lengths to make their patients comfortable and relaxed without pain. Good communicator.
What should I expect at a new dentist?
PaperworkDental Examination. Next, you'll be called back to an examination room for a dental exam. ... X-Rays. You can expect to have x-rays made of your teeth during that first visit. ... Conversation Between You and Your Dentist. ... Making a Plan for Further Treatment.
What are the 4 types of teeth?
Most adults have about 32 permanent adult teeth, and the teeth may be divided into the following four categories – incisors, canines, premolars and molars.
What is a dentist's salary?
158,310 USD (2015)Dentist / Median pay (annual)
What is a regular dentist called?
General Dentists provide regular teeth cleanings and routine dental exams. Your general dentist will also refer you to other types of dentists if you need services and procedures that they're not qualified to provide. General dentistry is one of the most common types of dentistry.
Do doctors look down on dentists?
Some members of the medical fraternity and some laymen do not concur with dentists being called doctors. They look down on dentists as paraprofessionals who do not have to deal with serious injuries/illnesses.
Do dentists try to upsell?
Upselling is a great strategy for boosting your bottom line, but it is one that most dentists probably avoid. After all, dentistry is a medical field. Selling patients treatments that they do not need may seem unethical, but there are exceptions.
Why do dentists always want to do root canals?
Root canals are needed for a cracked tooth from injury or genetics, a deep cavity, or issues from a previous filling. Patients generally need a root canal when they notice their teeth are sensitive, particularly to hot and cold sensations.
Why do people have dental homes?
Having a dental home allows you to feel comfortable when you’re dropping in for a regular visit and gives you a safe and trusted place to turn for a procedure or dental emergency. Here’s how to find the best dental fit for you and your family.
What to do if your mom says she loves her dentist?
A trusted friend or relative. If your mother says she loves her dentist, check them out!
Is it important to have a dental home?
When you’re looking for a new dentist, you’re searching for more than someone to just clean your teeth. “Your dental health is such a vital part of your overall health, so it’s important for every patient to have a dental home,” says Dr. Cathy Taylor-Osborne, an ADA dentist and director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s Bureau of Oral Health. “That means there is always someone looking out for the best interest of you and your family.”
How long does it take to become a dentist?
Dentists earn a degree in four years and, in most states, can immediately take the national board exams, get a license, and begin treating patients. (Some choose to continue training in a specialty, such as orthodontics or oral and maxillofacial surgery.)
How often do dental crowns need to be replaced?
Crowns typically last 10 to 15 years. Dr. Lund not only gave his patients superfluous crowns, but he also tended to replace them every five years —the minimum interval of time before insurance companies will cover the procedure again.
What happens when you sit in the dentist chair?
When you’re in the dentist’s chair, the power imbalance between practitioner and patient becomes palpable. A masked figure looms over your recumbent body, wielding power tools and sharp metal instruments, doing things to your mouth you cannot see, asking you questions you cannot properly answer, presumably judging you all the while. A cavity or receding gum line can suddenly feel like a personal failure.
Do dentists need to fill cavities?
The Swiss Dental Guidelines state that such minor cavities do not require fillings; rather, the dentist should monitor the decay and encourage the patient to brush regularly, which can reverse the damage. Despite this, 50 of the 180 dentists suggested unnecessary treatment. Collectively, the overzealous dentists singled out 13 different teeth for drilling; each advised one to six fillings.
Is evidence based dentistry a slow process?
In the past decade, a small cohort of dentists has worked diligently to promote evidence-based dentistry, hosting workshops, publishing clinical-practice guidelines based on systematic reviews of research, and creating websites that curate useful resources. But its adoption “has been a relatively slow process,” as a 2016 commentary in the Contemporary Clinical Dentistry journal put it. Part of the problem is funding: Because dentistry is often sidelined from medicine at large, it simply does not receive as much money from the government and industry to tackle these issues.
Does flossing help with tooth decay?
For instance, fluoridation of drinking water seems to help reduce tooth decay in children , but there is insufficient evidence that it does the same for adults. Some data suggest that regular flossing mitigates gum disease, but there is only “weak, very unreliable” evidence that it combats plaque. As for common but invasive dental procedures: An increasing number of dentists question the tradition of prophylactic removal of wisdom teeth; little medical evidence justifies substituting tooth-colored resins for typical metal amalgams to fill cavities; and what limited data we have don’t clearly indicate whether it’s better to repair a root-canalled tooth with a crown or a filling. When Cochrane researchers tried to determine whether faulty metal fillings should be repaired or replaced, they could not find a single study that met their standards.
Is there a need for dental treatments?
The need for many standard dental treatments is likewise not well substantiated by research. A good number of them have never been tested in meticulous clinical trials. And the data that are available are not always reassuring.
Why is trust important in dentistry?
Trust is critical in dental care, and you need a dentist who isn’t driven by monetary concerns. There are too many decisions that a dentist makes where different treatment options are weighed and the patient has no clue about what is really needed.
Can a root canal be done on a tooth that has bone loss?
If it is true that a root canal and crown were done on a tooth that had serious bone loss that would indicate a serious lack of integrity by the dentist—a dentist looking for an excuse to make as much money as possible. Trust is critical in dental care, and you need a dentist who isn’t driven by monetary concerns.
Is dentistry ethical?
Let me give a little more insight into my thinking. Dentistry is a very ethical profession, on the whole. Most dentists have a sincere desire to help people and their professional goal is to treat patients in a competent and ethical manner. But some of them are driven to make as much money as they can.
How important is it to trust a dentist?
Ada Cooper, a dentist in private practice in New York City and a spokesperson for the American Dental Association. "The best doctor-patient relationships are based on truth and trust, and trust in treatment planning is absolutely critical. Once you and your dentist have that trust, you can go forth and be partners in a way that will help you gain so much in terms of your dental health ," she says. She refers to this as "finding your dental home," a place where you can be assured that the provider has your best interests at heart and offers the right care that you actually need.
Why is it important to have dental care?
Being sure you're getting adequate dental care regularly is important for longevity and overall wellness . Although dental health can sometimes be overlooked (many health insurance plans don't even include dental coverage), the Mayo Clinic reports that "your oral health offers clues about your overall health," and problems that originate in your mouth can have lasting repercussions for the rest of your body. Poor oral health has been connected with several conditions and diseases, including endocarditis (an infection of the inner lining of the heart), cardiovascular disease and premature birth and low birth weight. It's a two-way street between oral and overall health, and certain diseases, such as diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer's, eating disorders, certain autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and osteoporosis, can all negatively impact your oral health.
How to prevent dental problems?
This means brushing your teeth at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a healthy diet, replacing your toothbrush every three to four months, avoiding smoking and tobacco use and scheduling regular checkups and cleanings with your dentist. Because "dental health is such an important part of your overall health. It's important to find a dental home," whether you're dealing with a serious condition or dental health problem or just need routine cleanings and X-rays, Cooper says. Finding the right dentist for you might not be the easiest thing to do, especially within the constraints of insurance, but advocating for yourself and looking for a dentist you can trust is a process that will pay health dividends down the road.
Can you wait to address a tooth that doesn't hurt?
The common misconception that "if it doesn't hurt, then you can wait to address it," isn't the best way to approach dental health.
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Choosing a dentist can be difficult. There are many dentists to choose from, and each one will have its own strengths and weaknesses. This blog post is designed to help you make the best decision for your teeth by finding out which dentist has the best reviews in your area!
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How often do dentists do X-rays of the skull?
But wait, there’s more. Not satisfied at X-raying your mouth once a year , American dentists have recently started pushing the “panorama X-ray” of the entire lower half of your skull that requires an even higher dose of radiation.
Is the dentist overly aggressive?
American dentists are overly aggressive with treatment and have practices that I believe are more likely to harm your long-term health . I had a serious problem with cavities until adulthood, which I attribute to a combination of bad teeth genes and high sugar intake.