- Email: [email protected]
Ideal treatment
on patients and this can cause unnecessary anxiety. It can also lead to disruption of the patients’ personal relationships, social abilities, and job performance. Dental practitioners should address these issues with their patients and provide at least a provisional diagnosis to reduce the anxiety experienced by patients.
Durham J, Steele JG, Wassell RW, et al: Living with uncertainty: Temporomandibular disorders. J Dent Res 89:827-830, 2010 Reprints available from J Durham, Newcastle Univ’s Inst of Health and Society, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle Univ, Framlington Pl, Newcastle NE2 4BW, UK: e-mail: [email protected]
Treatment Planning Ideal treatment Background.—Dental offices used to be ‘‘drill and fill’’ practices, with little demand for elective dentistry or cosmetic procedures other than for the rich and famous. Orthodontics was generally limited to children. At present, dentistry is dealing with an explosion of technology and services to provide to consumers. The general public demands many of these options and can pay for them. Has the definition of what constitutes ‘‘ideal treatment’’ been lost? Presenting the ideal treatment to patients educates them, increases their awareness about the recommended dentistry, and establishes a way to prioritize recommended procedures. Patients receive the ‘‘big picture’’ so they know what it will take to achieve optimal oral health. In this presentation, they can also be informed about services that are important to their overall well-being but not mandatory for good oral health. Often these are cosmetic and implant options. The dentist must determine whether the patient should be told about these as part of the discussion of the ideal plan or whether they should be presented separately. Deciding What to Do.—Dentists must ask themselves: (1) what is the ideal treatment for the patient, (2) what ramifications are involved if the patient does not accept the ideal plan, and (3) whether certain elective services are considered ideal treatment or a luxury. Because the third question has so many facets, it is the most difficult to answer. Dentists often opt not to offer all available services to the patients. This leaves the patient without the benefit of counsel from their primary source for oral health information. A course of action to address this dilemma can be formulated. First, all patients should be provided with a thorough diagnosis, including periodontal, tooth, cosmetic, implant, and occlusal aspects. Second, patients should be educated about all aspects of their oral health to ensure optimal treatment results. The diagnosis should be characterized as being a short-term or a long-term problem. Third,
treatment plans should explain all the ideal options and why these differ from and/or are better than other options. Fourth, the dentist should focus on various payment options so that motivated patients can take advantage of ideal treatment within their financial means. Benefits of Ideal Treatment.—By taking this path, dentists are helping patients achieve optimal oral health, which should include elective services. Patients should know about all their options. The dentist must personally resolve whether he or she desires to focus on need-based dentistry or include cosmetic options, specifically in their ethical aspects. Throughout the process, the dentist must weigh the benefits accruing to patients for each approach. Including cosmetic options will give patients greater freedom to determine how they define oral health and what they see as desirable in terms of well-being. Ideal treatment is truly whatever allows dentists to continue to serve patients in the most comprehensive way and motivates patients to enjoy their appearance and their oral health.
Clinical Significance.—Dentistry is becoming more complex, with newer services, greater opportunities, and more problems to resolve. Once we determine our definition of ideal treatment, we need to educate our patients about our stand. They need to be aware of their options and of the consequences for completing or not completing a treatment plan.
Levin RP: What constitutes ‘‘ideal dentistry’’ today? Compend Contin Educ Dent 32:8-9, 2011 Reprints not available
Volume 57
Issue 1
2012
45
Durham J, Steele JG, Wassell RW, et al: Living with uncertainty: Temporomandibular disorders. J Dent Res 89:827-830, 2010 Reprints available from J Durham, Newcastle Univ’s Inst of Health and Society, School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle Univ, Framlington Pl, Newcastle NE2 4BW, UK: e-mail: [email protected]
Treatment Planning Ideal treatment Background.—Dental offices used to be ‘‘drill and fill’’ practices, with little demand for elective dentistry or cosmetic procedures other than for the rich and famous. Orthodontics was generally limited to children. At present, dentistry is dealing with an explosion of technology and services to provide to consumers. The general public demands many of these options and can pay for them. Has the definition of what constitutes ‘‘ideal treatment’’ been lost? Presenting the ideal treatment to patients educates them, increases their awareness about the recommended dentistry, and establishes a way to prioritize recommended procedures. Patients receive the ‘‘big picture’’ so they know what it will take to achieve optimal oral health. In this presentation, they can also be informed about services that are important to their overall well-being but not mandatory for good oral health. Often these are cosmetic and implant options. The dentist must determine whether the patient should be told about these as part of the discussion of the ideal plan or whether they should be presented separately. Deciding What to Do.—Dentists must ask themselves: (1) what is the ideal treatment for the patient, (2) what ramifications are involved if the patient does not accept the ideal plan, and (3) whether certain elective services are considered ideal treatment or a luxury. Because the third question has so many facets, it is the most difficult to answer. Dentists often opt not to offer all available services to the patients. This leaves the patient without the benefit of counsel from their primary source for oral health information. A course of action to address this dilemma can be formulated. First, all patients should be provided with a thorough diagnosis, including periodontal, tooth, cosmetic, implant, and occlusal aspects. Second, patients should be educated about all aspects of their oral health to ensure optimal treatment results. The diagnosis should be characterized as being a short-term or a long-term problem. Third,
treatment plans should explain all the ideal options and why these differ from and/or are better than other options. Fourth, the dentist should focus on various payment options so that motivated patients can take advantage of ideal treatment within their financial means. Benefits of Ideal Treatment.—By taking this path, dentists are helping patients achieve optimal oral health, which should include elective services. Patients should know about all their options. The dentist must personally resolve whether he or she desires to focus on need-based dentistry or include cosmetic options, specifically in their ethical aspects. Throughout the process, the dentist must weigh the benefits accruing to patients for each approach. Including cosmetic options will give patients greater freedom to determine how they define oral health and what they see as desirable in terms of well-being. Ideal treatment is truly whatever allows dentists to continue to serve patients in the most comprehensive way and motivates patients to enjoy their appearance and their oral health.
Clinical Significance.—Dentistry is becoming more complex, with newer services, greater opportunities, and more problems to resolve. Once we determine our definition of ideal treatment, we need to educate our patients about our stand. They need to be aware of their options and of the consequences for completing or not completing a treatment plan.
Levin RP: What constitutes ‘‘ideal dentistry’’ today? Compend Contin Educ Dent 32:8-9, 2011 Reprints not available
Volume 57
Issue 1
2012
45