When To Seek A Second Opinion For Dental Work
Have you ever felt the need to question your dentist on a recommended treatment plan, but not sure if you should? Depending on the severity of your dental needs, you might be quite surprised at the suggested procedures and overall cost. To ensure you are receiving an appropriate treatment and one that will meet your financial needs, consider seeking a second opinion prior to undergoing any dental procedure. If you live in the Dallas area, the doctors at Dallas Esthetics in Preston Center welcome new patients looking for a professional to review their case.
Am I Being Over-Treated?
If your doctor is suddenly recommending a large amount of dental work, you may want to have a second set of eyes review your smile. This will reduce your risk of being over-treated and undergoing unnecessary procedures. Not only can over-treatment be costly, but the more work that is done a tooth, the more compromised the tooth becomes.
Do I Know All My Options?
Did your doctor present various treatment plans to you? There are often several different ways to treat a patient. A second opinion may open the doors to alternative treatment options that were not originally discussed with you. To make sure the services you are choosing are feasible and will meet your needs, have an open discussion with your doctor about all the treatment options that are available to you.
Should I See A Specialist?
Not all dentists hold the same qualifications. Just as medical doctors can specialize in different parts of the body, dentists can also specialize in different aspects of the mouth. If you’re looking for a doctor to help with complex cosmetic or restorative (implants, crowns, veneers, bridges, dentures) dental services, consider visiting a prosthodontist for help. While general dentists provides excellent care for some cosmetic and restorative treatments, prosthodontists are required to completed three additional years of advanced training beyond dental school that enable them to help patients who have cases that require more advanced treatment.
Just remember, a second opinion will give you peace of mind. And that’s something to smile about.
Meet the doctors at Dallas Esthetics:
Dr. Higginbottom has been creating beautiful smiles for 44 years. He attended the University of Oklahoma and earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Baylor College of Dentistry; graduating with honors in 1971. Today he holds the faculty position of Associate Clinical Professor in the Departments of Oral Surgery and Prosthodontics and a position at University of Texas Health Science Center. He also lectures globally and has had several articles published in dental literature.
Dr. Derksen has been a partner at the practice for five years, with seven years in the dental field. He attended Southern Methodist University, where he earned a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration. After working as a consultant for three years in Washington, D.C., he decided that his true desire was to be a dentist. He graduated from Boston University’s School of Dental Medicine and went on to earn a Masters in Science and Certificate in Prosthodontics from Baylor College of Dentistry. He was board certified in Prosthodontics in 2014.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit dallasesthetics.com.
To learn more about what a prosthodontist is, visit www.gotoapro.org
