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Fear of Unnecessary or Wrong Dental Treatment
The Problem:
"I'm very worried that the dentist will carry out treatment that's not really necessary."
"I don't dare go there in case the dentist will make things worse rather than better. I don't trust them!"
Do these statements apply to you? Chances are you suspect that past dental treatment was over-the-top or just plain unnecessary. If you were a minor at the time, it is unlikely that you were asked for your opinion first. Or maybe you've heard about the possibility of unnecessary treatment from someone else.
Let's face it - overtreatment and even unnecessary treatment do exist. The vast majority of dentists strive to provide the best treatment possible. But like any profession, dentistry has its bad apples.
There are a number of reasons why a dentist might suggest unnecessary or overzealous treatment:
- Some dentists were trained to treat problems aggressively and believe that treating things very aggressively is the best course of action.
- Certain insurance schemes or dental plans can make unnecessary or overzealous treatment very tempting.
- Monetary gain.
But most of the time, there are legitimate reasons why one dentist might suggest more or different treatments than another dentist. Apart from what was taught at their dental school at the time, and continuing education courses and other sources of information, most of the learning takes place "on the job".
As an example, if a dentist decides to "watch" areas that look a bit suspicious, and at follow-up appointments, they have become much worse, she might then decide that it's better to treat things early on. Another dentist might observe that most of the time, suspicious-looking teeth he keeps an eye on do not get worse over time, and decide that it's best not to treat unless something is definitely wrong.
Having differing treatment philosophies doesn't necessarily mean that one dentist is "right" and the other dentist is "wrong". Usually, the more "aggressive" dentist will choose more aggressive treatments for himself, while the more conservative dentist will choose more conservative treatments for himself.
Most dentists will also take into account lots of other things when suggesting what to treat and how, for example their patient's diet, dental history, medical problems, and the likelihood that things will become a problem if not treated.
You might think that dentists fall into two camps, those who treat aggressively and those who treat conservatively. In reality, it's more like a bell-shaped curve: there is a minority of dentists who "overtreat" at one end of the curve, a minority of dentists who "undertreat" at the other end of the curve, but most dentists find a happy medium. Undertreatment can be just as bad as overtreatment, because if small problems are not treated early enough, they can become big problems.
Also, not all dentists are equally competent when it comes to more specialised procedures such as implants or root canal treatment. An implant specialist or root canal specialist (called "endodontist") can often provide better and more successful treatment than a dentist who has no special training or special equipment for these procedures.
Generally speaking, dentistry has become a lot more conservative and less invasive than it used to be, and dentists by and large try to preserve as much tooth structure as possible and be as gentle on teeth as possible (unlike the olden days, when a good shove with the "poker" was considered good practice).
Because treatment philosophies can vary, find someone whose explanations and recommendations you're comfortable with.
"But how can I make informed decisions if I know nothing about dentistry?"
If unnecessary treatment is one of your big fears, there are lots of ways of ensuring that it won't happen (again).
Remember that it is your mouth and your health. You are ultimately responsible for making the right choices for you. Ideally, your dentist should act as an expert advisor, whose task it is to help you make those choices.
Your dentist should be happy to explain to you:
- why they are suggesting the treatment
- what the treatment is and how it works
- what alternatives and choices exist (including potential consequences of not having the treatment)
- what the pros and cons of available treatment options are
- what treatment they would choose for themselves if it was their mouth!
Your dentist needs to explain and discuss things with you, in a language you can understand. Only then can the two of you reach a joint treatment decision based on informed consent.
The next tip may be daunting, but reading up on suggested procedures (and dental health more generally) can also help you decide if the treatment you are receiving is up to scratch. For a dentistry crash course, visit Ask Doctor Spiller. This is one of the most detailed sites on the web.
Tips:
- The best way of finding a good dentist you can trust and like is by word-of-mouth. If you're worried about unnecessary treatment, try and find out what others think of their dentist. Is their dentist honest and trustworthy? Are they happy with the treatment they receive? What sort of philosophy does the dental practice/office have? If they have a website, look out for words like "preventative" (aka "preventive") or minimally invasive care - this is generally a good sign.
- If your dentist suggests treatment and you're in any doubt, let them show you and explain to you why it should be done and how it will be done.
- Your dentist should be able to show you what is wrong using mirrors, x-rays, devices such as the explorer or diagnodent, or an intraoral camera. Of course, if you're not ready (yet) to see that type of thing, say so!
- If the problem is not readily apparent, for example because it's something going on inside a tooth, ask your dentist to explain it to you. This could be done using a drawing or by describing the problem in simple terms.
- Ask your dentist which treatment (and which materials, if applicable) they would choose for themselves if they had the same problem, and why.
- In the normal way, you should now have a clear idea of why the treatment was suggested. If you still have good reasons to doubt the recommendation, get a second opinion, or ask for advice on our Dental Phobia Forum.
- Make sure you understand the reason behind any treatment you choose.
- If you forgot to ask a question, write it down and ask it the next time you see your dentist.
It is your right as a patient to decline any treatment you don't want. And if you have legitimate doubts over a dentist's treatment suggestions, it would be very wise to get a second opinion.
However, if a dentist reckons that you're putting your dental health in jeopardy by opposing necessary treatment in the long run, they have the right not to have you as a patient. Also, you cannot sign away your right to proper treatment. Dentists are bound by a code of ethics, and failing to provide proper treatment would get them into trouble with the law.
Dentists who enjoy their work will want their patients to take an active interest in their dental health and treatment decisions. As an active partner in your care, you can ensure that you make the best choices for yourself, with the help and advice from your dentist.
Red Flags:
- If you live in the US, try and avoid dental discount plans and DMOs. Both may employ a tactic called "bait-and-switch". With dental discount plans, the bait is the promise of cut-price treatment. Once you're in the dental office, the dentist may try and make up the losses by "switching" you to a more expensive or unnecessary procedure. With DMO/HMO, only certain procedures are covered, and it makes sense to recoup the losses resulting from measly pay by suggesting a treatment not covered by the plan (such as crowns). The "bait" is that within the insurance scheme, this is only office the patient can go to. While "bait-and-switch" is only one of the reasons why dental offices participate in these plans, it's a good idea to be aware of this possibility. Especially if you're worried about overtreatment.
- The dentist suggests replacing any existing fillings with new tooth-colored fillings, as a "preventative" or "cosmetic" measure. Fillings should be replaced if they're leaking (that is, if they're damaged, broken, or have decay around the edges or underneath), but not "as a matter of course".
- Although virtually all dentists offer "cosmetic" dentistry these days, you may want to avoid dentists who advertise themselves as "cosmetic dentists" first and foremost. Find out more about cosmetic dentistry.
© Text: Dental Fear Central
© Cartoon: Mark Parisi - www.offthemark.com
