It is very common for patients to have mixed feelings including excitement, fear, embarrassment, and anxiety when coming in for a dental consultation. This can be compounded by years of physical and emotional suffering or negative past experiences with doctors. We love our patients. We empathize with them and the difficult situations many of them have endured. There are a hundred different reasons why someone’s teeth can fail and we don’t judge people for whatever their particular story is. We have seen it all and what matters to us is improving the patient’s life going forward.
The first thing to know is that no treatment will be done during the consultation. Some patient’s have unwarranted anxiety because they are unsure of what might occur in their consultation. We hope this article will calm any of those fears.
Our two goals in a consultation are to (1) determine what treatment the patient qualifies for and to (2) give the patient all the information they will need to make an informed decision on treatment. All 3 on 6™ consultations are free with no obligation to accept treatment.
When the patient shows up for their consultation, they will be greeted by the receptionist who will give them some simple forms to fill out prior to seeing the doctor.
Next, a dental assistant will take them to get a CBCT or “cone beam” scan of their jaw and teeth. The scan takes less than a minute as the patient sits and rests their chin on a stand while the scanner rotates around them. The scan will give us information about the patient’s bone and teeth health. This scan normally costs about $300 but is offered for free in the consultation.
After the scan the patient will meet with the doctor. Based on the scan and the doctors examination, they will recommend a treatment plan for the patient. Each patient has sufficient time to discuss any questions or concerns they may have. We want to know their feelings so we ask them to speak openly about their situation and any questions or concerns they might have.
Next the patient will meet with the office manager. This person is an expert at answering questions regarding everything from treatment timelines to payment options. We work with multiple lenders and the office manager can help patients see if they qualify for financing and make sure they get the best possible deal. If the patient is feeling ready, they can schedule treatment at this time, or they can go home and take some time to decide. There’s no pressure or obligation.
Remember, the goals of the consultation are to determine what treatment the patient qualifies for and to give the patient all the information they need to make the best decision for themselves. If a patient has any questions or concerns prior to their consultation, we invite them to please call their office.
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