Your mouth is your domain and you are the only one who is aware if there is pain and discomfort.
How would you answer the following questions?
- How does your mouth feel?
- What do you value most about your teeth?
- Do you chew comfortably?
- Do your teeth function well?
- What would you like your teeth to look like 10 or 15 years from now?
- What do you do to prevent dental decay and other problems?
- Is the extent of your treatment limited by third-party providers?
Read: Thumb sucking and dental problems
Your dental requirements are unique and we as dentists are here to provide solutions to your needs. It’s also our professional duty to make you aware of any dental problems, and help you address the situation.
As I said in my previous article, many dental problems don’t present with any pain, but need to be addressed, sometimes immediately and sometimes over a period of time.
Read: Oral health affects the whole body
You have a say in the way these problems are dealt with in terms of time, effort and expense, and you need to discuss this with your dental professional. This is important because different outcomes involve different costs.
One of my teachers once said: “Inform before you perform.” Treatment can only be successful if the wishes of the patients are skilfully and successfully carried out by the operator.
Patients trust their dentist and require value for the money they spend. They do not need to understand the technology that is involved in creating a high-quality restoration.
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