Learn How To Avoid The Seven Threats To A Beautiful Smile: Part 2

Last week we revealed that Threat No. 1 was personal and dentist neglect.

This week, we’re going to discuss Threat No. 2, “Undertreatment.”

By this I mean you’re not getting the care you should for one of three reasons. 

Reason #1: Your dentist hasn’t performed a complete evaluation. Every patient deserves a complete examination and thorough analysis. Next should come a complete treatment plan presented to you in detail. 

For many people with major problems this is not a five-minute look-see clinical exam and a little bit of conversation.  It requires a whole series of X-rays, photographs, molds of your teeth, registration of how your bite works and other aids to help understand and diagnose what is going on. 

Reason #2: Under-planning for the care required.  This usually happens when your dentist is unaware of the different parts and pieces that can affect you as a patient. When that’s the case three things can happen. 

One, decay may not be taken care of and prevented properly.  Two, gum disease goes untreated.

Three, your bite mechanism is poorly assessed or ignored completely.

Reason #3:

Under-presenting.  In this situation the doctor does not tell you the whole story.  Shockingly, the primary reason for this is a fear on the dentist’s part that you will not return if he delivers “bad news.”

Bottom-line? Ask lots of questions and don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion!