Dentists as Evaluators and Fitness Trainers
Patients certainly expect dentists to be
concerned about helping them avoid disease, infection, cavities, and tooth
loss. On the other hand, I have found that some people worry that their dentist
will be upset about losing business if healthy mouths prevail. The dentists I
know are delighted to find an effective way to protect patients from unnecessary
treatments. I frequently talk to hygienists and dentists about my method of
dental care, and although some are skeptical at first, they are always
enthusiastic when they discover how effective this system is for preventing
dental disease.
Patients should
seek out dental professionals who believe in prevention and who will help them avoid treatments. I hope that dentists will be viewed more
as dental evaluators who use their expertise to alert patients in advance of a
cavity, so that patients could take steps to avoid the need for fillings or
treatments. Dental care would be more akin to a visit to the gym—hygienists and
dentists would be mouth fitness trainers, measuring your risk for cavities and
offering ways to strengthen and protect your teeth.25 You may have decided to select your current dentist because he or she
accepts your insurance plan, but in the future you may think about selecting
someone who believes in remineralizing teeth and who is known for a caring and
effective approach to preventing dental disease.
Imagine if your
dentist could alert you that your teeth were about to soften and give you time
to prevent cavities in them with healing home-treatment methods, before the
need for fillings. If you kept regular visits they would be for screening and
to help you prevent cavities so that you would never again need to go to the
dentist for extractions, root canals, or fillings.26
Dentists who help
their patients enjoy healthier teeth see positive changes in their offices.
Dentists who help patients take control of their dental health develop new
relationships, especially as their patients become confident about dental
visits. The number of broken appointments is reduced, and although less
treatment may be done, more patients can be seen each day. Furthermore, happy
patients refer many others.
The best news is
how simple it is to prevent dental problems with correct home care. By using
the system I describe in part VI, you will find that by yourself you can begin
to successfully avoid cavities and many annoying dental problems. You can begin
the preventive program whenever you choose, and because it is simple and
convenient, you will most likely find that it quickly becomes an enjoyable and
rewarding daily routine that you will use forever.
Aucun commentaire