What’s a Treatment Plan?
Often, there is more than one way to correct a dental problem.
Hopefully, after we complete your periodic cleaning, X-rays, and examination, we will deliver to you a clean bill of health and you won’t need any further treatment. We can send you on your merry way with a new tooth brush, tooth paste and some dental floss and see you again in six months!
Often, however, we discover some type of condition that needs to be addressed in a treatment plan. Perhaps you have a cavity or two or maybe you’re in the early stages of gum disease. If this is the case, we will provide you with a detailed treatment plan.
What’s the Purpose of a Treatment Plan?
A treatment plan outlines any dental problems we have uncovered and the options you have available to correct the problem. It is geared toward the results that you, the patient, want to see and usually offers a variety of ways to get there, based on the severity of the problem, your goals and your financial situation. It is a road map meant to bring you from Point A (dental problem) to Point B (a solution that works for you and achieves the necessary correction).
If finances are a concern, a reasonable payment plan can be arranged so that money doesn’t stand in the way of your treatment. We are not the one who ultimately decides the course of treatment – you are. However, we will make sure that you are able to make a well informed decision after a thorough discussion of all the alternatives available to you, based upon your condition, your objectives, and your financial situation.
What to Consider When Evaluating Treatment Options
It is important that you feel positive about the course of action we plan to take to correct any current dental challenges. We will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each proposed procedure, along with the length of time it will take to achieve the desired results and the cost involved. The doctor also will let you know the possible consequences of delaying action and an estimate of the additional time and cost that may be involved.
The most important factors to consider when evaluating any treatment plan are your current condition and goals, the condition of the other teeth in your mouth, and your time, overall health and financial status.
