Lesson #8: Ask Your Dentist More Questions

You are the one who cares most about your child’s dental health.  We put a lot of trust in the dentist and we need to also keep learning and asking questions.  If your dentist sees a cavity, ask her how big it is and where it is. If the dentist recommends doing something--filling or pulling the tooth, for example, then ask the dentist to explain to you why until you understand it.

Go a step further and ask the dentist for the evidence that shows why this is the best solution and why it will help solve the problem.  Ask the dentist about applying fluoride. Floride application by the dentist may be able to prevent the cavity from going deeper, through the enamel, requiring a filling. You are not undermining the dentist by asking for an explanation; you’re simply acknowledging you are partners and ultimately responsible for your child’s oral health.

One example of this approach happened in our own lives. Our daughter’s endodontist recommended oral surgery for her (she had lost a tooth from a fall in 2nd grade and the area appeared infected). The surgery would be a big deal to us and our 14 year old—financially and health wise. She would not be able to go to school for a couple of weeks. No trumpet playing (she’s a trumpeter).

So, we got a 2nd opinion from the local children’s hospital. That visit for the 2nd opinion did cost us a lot (about $175) but the dentists did not recommend the surgery for her! So we didn’t. What a relief that has been!

Now, if you’ve gotten through this blog, reward yourself with an entertaining and informative article exposing American dentistry and the importance of asking questions: Atlantic Magazine article, the Truth About Dentistry. I hope you start to speak up at your child’s dentist visits. Here’s to our healthy teeth and smile!