Patient Consultations
Patient consultations should be structured as deliberate conversations between the dental professional(s) and patient, which addresses the patient’s dental condition, relevant medical condition(s), obstacles to treatment, treatment options, risks, and relevant details including time and cost. It should be recognized that it is almost impossible to provide the patient with an exhaustive understanding of all treatment options and details. The dentist needs to identify, educate, inform, and advise the patient about all relevant information in layman’s terms.
Heaping on all permutations of treatment will likely create confusion rather than clarity. Once the patient becomes perplexed, his or her ability to accept treatment virtually disappears.