When you are facing the prospect of major dental work, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion. Going outside your own dentist’s office isn’t cheating, and it doesn’t mean you don’t appreciate or trust their expertise. Getting a second opinion is doing your due diligence to ensure that you’re getting the right dental procedures done at the right price and for the right reasons.
Here are just four reasons to get a second opinion from an Arlington dentist:
1. You may have more options than you realize.
You have some chipped teeth and your dentist recommends veneers. Will veneers give you an amazing smile? Absolutely, when they’re done well. However, a chipped tooth or two don’t necessarily require a major overhaul. Dental bonding may be a good option, a porcelain crown, or maybe a tooth-colored filling. The most important thing is to get all the information about all the possibilities for your treatment so you can make an informed decision about the direction of your oral health care.
Your dentist will always have an opinion and recommendation, but knowing your options is the best way to approach any dental restoration or cosmetic dentistry enhancement. If you feel like you’re not getting the full story from your dentist, seek a second opinion.
2. You wonder if you really need this dental work done.
Your dentist says you have a cavity and even showed you the x-ray, but you don’t see any decay, and your tooth feels fine. You suspect that you don’t have a cavity at all and the work being recommended is excessive.
On the other hand, maybe you do feel like you have something wrong with a tooth, but your dentist says everything looks fine. Who are you to question their expertise? Well, you can question it. When you think something is off, push a little for further inquiry, or seek a second opinion, so you can confirm a diagnosis and get some peace of mind.
3. You’re concerned about cost.
Many dental procedures are costly. If you have an oral health problem that needs to be addressed, don’t automatically shop around for the dentist who’s offering you treatment for the best price. The priority should be getting the best solution so it will eliminate the problem and prevent further oral health issues from arising in the future.
So you can better compare apples to apples, ask both dentists for a cost breakdown, and take into consideration their expertise, experience, location, and the nature of the procedure. If both opinions confirm the price tag, talk to your dentist about how you can afford the dental work. If the problems are acute, you don’t want to waste precious weeks or months waiting for a problem to clear up – it won’t, and you’ll eventually be in pain and on the hook for a bigger dental bill.
4. Different dentists do things differently.
Your dentist may recommend dental implants and offer that service, but maybe you know a dentist who is better-equipped to perform this oral surgery, or has the resources at their fingertips to ensure that you’re getting the best care possible. Different dentists have different priorities and ways of caring for their patients. Getting a second opinion is not only informative, it gets you in front of different professionals who help you determine, in your gut, the best dentist to care for your oral health.
Look for a dentist who gives second opinions and promises the facts without pressure. Contact Dr. Alana Macalik to get an honest, unbiased second opinion so you can take good care of your oral health.
