A visit to the dentist can be an anxiety-provoking experience. There’s a powerful imbalance of power between practitioner and patient: The masked figure hovers over you, wielding sharp metal instruments and pointing at spectral smudges on the X-rays. And the language of dentistry can be confusing — a cavity here, a root canal there. It can be hard to know what’s being recommended or whether it’s necessary.
Fortunately, most dental treatments are not nearly as risky or expensive as surgery and other medical procedures. And the number of procedures available has expanded dramatically as research and technology have advanced. 강남교정치과 The goal of treatment should be to keep your mouth healthy and free of pain, infection and disease, says the American Dental Association (ADA). But even if your dentist’s goals match your own, it’s easy to get misguided or excessive treatment. And that can cost you money — and stress.
It’s not unusual to hear stories about patients who have been harmed by care that went overboard or was unnecessary. The medical profession has long grappled with the tendency to overtreat, but the dentistry field has been slower to respond.주걱턱교정 There are fewer guidelines about how to treat dental problems than there are about medical treatments. But that doesn’t mean you can’t do your homework and ask questions to make sure you’re getting the best care possible.
In some cases, dentists go overboard because they’re under pressure to maximize profits or to perform a certain type of procedure. This is especially true in private practices, where dentists are often paid a commission on each treatment they provide. But even in a family-owned practice, this can still happen. The ADA says that many dentists are “overly aggressive” in selling treatment because of these pressures, and that consumers can benefit from seeking a second opinion.
Another issue is that not all dental treatments are well established in clinical trials, which are the gold standard for evaluating medical procedures. A number of reputable groups exist to study the evidence behind medicine, but dentistry has a much more limited body of information. And there are other influences that can affect a dentist’s treatment plan.
There are also a variety of factors that can influence the amount of dental work you need, such as your age and the shape of your bite. Some treatments, such as crowns — which replace the entire top of a damaged tooth — require substantial recovery time. And others, such as root canals, can be very painful and costly.
If you’re in need of extensive dental treatment, consider taking advantage of the ADA’s Find a Dentist tool and searching for a dentist who offers payment options that suit your financial situation. Or check out community health clinics, which specialize in providing low-cost care for people who can’t afford to pay full price for a procedure. You may find that a little help from a friend or relative can ease the financial burden of a major dental procedure.