With more and more dental practices attempting to do many complex dental treatments, the consumer needs to be educated regarding all the options when considering complex or comprehensive dental treatment. As discussed in previous articles, this author highly encourages potential patients to educate themselves on the dentist’s credentials. In addition, the consumer should endeavor to find practitioners that are capable and willing to give patients all treatment options.
Thanks to the free enterprise system, more and more “chain” store dental offices are opening. Even at the dental implant level there is now a national chain-style office which promotes their technique for treating patients. Unfortunately, the consumer is asked to fit into their system rather be presented with all of the options for treatment. With dental treatment is quite expensive in this country, the practice should fit the consumer, not the other way around.
Many practitioners learn one way to treat dental patients. Of course, options are limited if the only one treatment modality is available. For example, mini implants are often the only treatment plan presented in these limited-scope practices. Mini implants are a wonderful development in implant dentistry. However, they are indicated for patients with very little bone. The range of use for mini implants is small and mostly limited to denture patients. The amount of denture stability increase is limited in this application. While patients enjoy the improvement in retention and stability, most are never informed that regular size implants can provide significantly more retention and stability. Mini implants are very simple to place for the dentist. Very little additional training or extraordinary skill is necessary to complete these procedures. Therefore, many practices only recommend and perform this technique.
The dental implant chain store concept usually offers limited options. These chain offices have enjoyed success because they only offer one treatment modality. As one could guess each patient is given the same option and told it is the “best” option for them. Of course, every patient has different needs, financial means, and expectations. Dental treatment plans should be based on need, patient expectation, financial means, bone availability, existing tooth status and position, etc.
The best and proper approach to making treatment recommendations involves many considerations and variables. Because the average dental patient is moderately uninformed of his or her needs it is easy to accept treatment plans that may not address each individual or one where the patient’s best interest is the priority.
Prosthodontists are uniquely qualified to deliver multiple dental treatment options. With three additional years of formal dental school education, a prosthodontist is the practitioner of choice when considering complex dental treatment. No matter what continuing education is available for dentists there is no substitute for formal training at this level. Consumers are encouraged to educate themselves further by going to the American Dental Association website at www.ada.org or the American College of Prosthodontists website at www.prosthodontics.org.