How can dentists come up with different treatment plans for different patients?
Dentists are unique in that we can come up with a multitude of different treatment plans depending on what needs to be done for the patient. There are several different options as far as what can be done for certain ailments and certain financial budgets. There's a lot of different things that we can do to help restore the teeth to functionality.
A lot of different treatment recommendations can be more conservative or more proactive. Here at Bailey Dental Group, we do like to be more conservative at first with the teeth because we want to make sure you keep your natural teeth for as long as you can. A difference that can come up is that we want to keep as much natural tooth structure as we can. We don't want to go and do something super aggressive right off the bat when it may not be necessary.
What diagnostic tools do you use to create a treatment plan?
Here at Bailey Dental Group, we have a lot of diagnostic tools that we use to come up with a treatment plan. We have traditional X-rays, which are done digitally. We have a cone beam 3D scan that can be used to come up with different treatment plans. We also have a digital scanner called the iTero, which shows you your teeth and a digital impression in real time so you can see exactly what's going on with your mouth. We use this and other different things to come up with a custom treatment plan for you.
How do long-term goals affect treatment planning?
Long-term goals for patients definitely can sway what treatment plan we use for different patients. A lot of patients are more concerned with their budget or finances. A lot of patients want something long-term that they can really invest in that's going to last them a long time. And that's what we want to do for our patients.
We want to give you a treatment that will last you several years and keep you super healthy. We don't like to do the short-term patch and fix, where you have a problem here and we fix this here. We like to look at you comprehensively and get you a comprehensive treatment plan that restores your smile and teeth to full function.
What should patients consider when choosing between treatment plans?
When patients are considering what different types of treatment plans are right for them, there are a lot of things to consider. Like I said before, their budget can be a factor and, like I said too, the short-term and long-term goals, whether they're wanting to really invest in their smile right off the bat and get what needs to be done and get it over with, or if they want to kind of piece things together over time, which I don't recommend because then you kind of run into further issues down the road or an issue here.
If we do things from a comprehensive standpoint and move forward that way, your overall treatment and your overall health are going to benefit way more than fixing problems here and there.
Can cosmetic dental treatment be part of a treatment plan?
Cosmetic dental treatment can certainly be a part of dental treatment plans. A lot of patients want that white smile, a brighter smile, straighter teeth. They want that smile that looks good to them and makes them feel good about themselves in the mirror.
A lot of times, cosmetics are a big factor in our treatment planning, whether that be veneers, crowns, bridges, replacing missing teeth with partials or implants, or all sorts of different things that totally go into completing that full aesthetic smile.
What advice do you give patients who receive multiple treatment plans?
The advice that I would give to patients after receiving multiple different treatment plans is to really nail down what's most important to you. Think about your overall health. Think about how you want your smile to look overall and really invest in yourself because a smile and full functional teeth make such a difference in your overall health. Being able to chew food, being able to enjoy things like that, and enjoy your smile, not hide your smile, just opens up opportunities for everyone.
My advice that I give to patients is to really look at what's important and what a difference that change can make for you in your life.
Want to learn more? Call Bailey Dental Group at (586) 800-2250 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your visit.