Dental Work
If you have been going to the same dentist for several years, chances are you trust them to provide the best healthcare facilities to you. However, they certainly know more facts about healthcare and your condition than you do.
In certain situations, your dental practitioner will recommend you a second opinion. Sometimes you may also want to consult another dentist before proceeding with treatment.
Nonetheless, seeking a second opinion is valid, and you can go ahead with it. Keep reading below to know in what cases you should consult another dentist and how to go about it.
Reasons for Seeking a Second Opinion
Whether you are working from home or are outside socializing, when a toothache hits, doing anything else becomes impossible. Even if you have a good relationship with your regular dentist, some situations may arise that will make you consider getting a second opinion.
These include:
Your Dentist Has Diagnosed a Problem They Don’t Specialize In
Dentists will refer you to another colleague who is a specialist in case they cannot treat you for it.
For instance, an orthodontist may doubt you have oral cancer but will have to refer you to a specialist that deals with it instead.
Similarly, for root canal treatment, Your dental hygienist will recommend you go to a dentist.
You shouldn’t hesitate to consult another dentist when your own dentist has referred him to you.
The Estimated Treatment Costs are Too High
Dentists charge according to their experience and expertise. They may recommend you a treatment that is costly in their dental clinic but is available for cheaper with some other dentists.
You can ask your dentist if they can compensate you for the expenses to some extent, or you may simply go to another dentist.
You Are Unsure About The Treatment
When your dentist recommends crowns and implants when you have a minor toothache, it is possible to get skeptical.
Ask them if these treatments are really necessary. If you feel they aren’t, but the dentist disagrees, go ahead and schedule an appointment with another dentist.
It is likely that you will hear the same treatment plan from the other dentist, or it may be so that you don’t. There is nothing to lose either way.
Your Dental Work Is Still Incomplete
Has your dental work taken too long, and the issue still persists? This brings the question, is your dentist treating your condition properly?
They may lack expertise in this area or delay treatment for other reasons. Do you have doubts about your doctor not being qualified enough for the job? Maybe it is time to consult someone else.
You may get a second opinion for any of the reasons mentioned above. However, dissatisfaction is reason enough to consider another dentist.
Try discussing it with your dentist first. In that case, on some occasions, they will refer you to someone else themselves. If that isn’t so, there are ways to look for a second opinion.
More on that below!
How To Look For a Second Opinion?
Looking for a new dentist is not always the easiest task. This is especially true if you’ve been with your dentist long enough. There are always factors to consider when choosing a dentist, but reaching out is the first step.
How healthy has your relationship with your dentist been all these years? Chances are they will not mind recommending you a second opinion themselves.
However, you can always seek others’ opinions and research to find one yourself.
Ask Friends and Family
Not all members of a family go to the same dentist, and neither do your friends. There are plenty of dentists in a city; ask around your circle about their dentists.
Get some details on their dentist and see if they are more trustworthy. Book an appointment to also check for yourself.
Ask Your Dental Insurer
Your dental insurer will know about several other dentists in your area. Contact their customer service to ask about any other dentist you may contact.
Also, look into whether your insurance covers second opinions. There may be additional steps required to go ahead with it.
Dental Organizations and Schools
Local organizations devoted to dentistry usually have information on dentists and where they are located. Select yours by going through their website.
Dentistry schools are also a good place to find a dentist. You can locate them by contacting their office and then proceed to book an appointment on your own.
Summing Up
You can always look out for a second opinion if you want to. After all, you should be comfortable with your treatment and hopeful for its results rather than fretting about it.
If your current dentist isn’t meeting these requirements, do not hesitate to consult another dentist. Remember to check with your insurance about the coverage of the second opinion.
