“You don't have to understand anything technical,” says Ellie Phillips, an Austin-based preventive dentist. “But I recommend paying attention to whether it's affecting the front teeth or the back of the mouth. Is it lateral, i.e. buccal, or lingual?”
Visual aids such as x-rays, images from an intraoral camera, or even just looking in the mirror can help you understand what's going on inside your mouth.
Don't feel pressured to agree to anything, even cleaning.
Alison Leffel, director of patient advocacy and social work at New York University School of Dentistry, said dentists should be able to explain why certain problem areas require specific treatments. And it's perfectly reasonable to ask them time to research and think through their options.
For example, not all children or adults need cleaning twice a year. Studies have shown that dental treatment does not always result in better outcomes. Similarly, experts debate the benefits of having wisdom teeth removed. Also, old silver fillings don't necessarily need to be replaced with composite materials.
If you don't feel comfortable pushing back at this time, one way to increase your time is to schedule your recommended appointment for a future date, Dr. Phillips says. You can then call later to reschedule or cancel.
Ask what is urgent and what the alternatives are.
Some problems, such as abscesses, may require immediate treatment. But other teeth, such as teeth that need to be replaced with implants, should ideally be treated in multiple appointments, Dr. Phillips said. It is the dentist's job to prioritize the most urgent problems and develop a treatment plan that avoids overlapping major treatments in a single visit.
As a patient, you should ask for a detailed explanation of the benefits and risks of each treatment, how long it will take to recover, whether you need to take medication to manage your pain, and whether there will be any consequences for delaying treatment. You can and should seek it.
“The more questions you ask, the more you will know about dental treatment and the less anxious you will be about it,” Leffel said.