PS: I will reach the point of trusting the dentist
when he can actually prove to me that I have the
problems he says I have, and that his treatment
is the right one for the job.

Further education is likely to help in that process.

Otherwise i will end up with something akin to
spending $500 for a spark plug job.

dumb_fishie99 wrote:

> PS: I will reach the point of trusting the dentist
> when he can actually prove to me that I have the
> problems he says I have, and that his treatment
> is the right one for the job.

Sometimes this will be easy; sometimes next to impossible.

>
> Further education is likely to help in that process.
>
> Otherwise i will end up with something akin to
> spending $500 for a spark plug job.
>

I sympathize. You must have had bad experiences in the past. I think
I've been to that mechanic too.
Unfortunately there is no way you are going to prove to yourself that a
particular course of treatment is "the right one for the job". For one
thing, a given clinical situation may have several possible solutions,
and any of them may be right for a particular person. What you do need
is someone who will explain options for you in a way you can understand,
the advantages and disadvantages of each, and reach a conclusion both
you and the dentist can live with. IOW, a little bit of flexibility is
needed from both the patient and dentist. Personality and style are
important too. Some patients insist on full-bore, maximum dentistry.
Some dentists will too. The goal should be getting the best result in
terms of dental health, patient satisfaction and patient tolerance.
This is something you'll work out with your dentist.
Learning dental terminology from a book is fine; but it's not going to
suggest a treatment plan.

Steve




--
Mark & Steven Bornfeld DDS
http://www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY
718-258-5001

On Dec 11, 12:04*pm, Mark & Steven Bornfeld
<bornfeldm...@dentaltwins.com> wrote:

> dumb_fishie99 wrote:

>
> * * * * Sometimes this will be easy; sometimes next to impossible..
>
>
>

>

>
> * * * * I sympathize. *You must have had bad experiences in thepast. *I think
> I've been to that mechanic too.
> * * * * Unfortunately there is no way you are going to prove to yourself that a
> particular course of treatment is "the right one for the job". *For one
> thing, a given clinical situation may have several possible solutions,
> and any of them may be right for a particular person. *What you do need
> is someone who will explain options for you in a way you can understand,
> the advantages and disadvantages of each, and reach a conclusion both
> you and the dentist can live with. *IOW, a little bit of flexibility is
> needed from both the patient and dentist. *Personality and style are
> important too. *Some patients insist on full-bore, maximum dentistry.
> Some dentists will too. *The goal should be getting the best result in
> terms of dental health, patient satisfaction and patient tolerance.
> This is something you'll work out with your dentist.
> * * * * Learning dental terminology from a book is fine; but it'snot going to
> suggest a treatment plan.
>
> Steve

yes I agree that would be the best kind of dentist to have. ATM what
treatment I get is really being decided by my own finances, because
money is something we all bow to.

I hope you're not against people educating themselves.
I have found the need for this in other medical fields, and I find it
continues. First got diagnosed with hasihimoto's, got treated
by the doctor, after some time I figured that the continued weight
gain was just not normal. Edcuated myself, got a different
doctor, a higher dose of thyroid meds, and the weight gain
stopped. Found out that hypothyroidism is routinely undertreated
in the US. Thanks so much guys! No longer will I blindly
depend on the medical professionals, unless it's an emergency
situation where I have to.

Thanks for your sympathy about my car mechanic problems.
I thiink that situation is settled now too. But I think my feeling
about it is understandable.

It will take time to really find a dentist I want to stick with,
that much is certain.

On Dec 11, 8:04*pm, Steven Bornfeld <dentaltwinm...@earthlink.net>
wrote:

>
> * * * * Hashimoto's is uncommon enough that your average internist probably
> isn't always thinking about it. *I know my former accountant's daughter
> was diagnosed with Hashimoto's, and it took a while to straighten out.
> Yes, I'm sure plenty of endocrine problems are underdiagnosed.

well my first thyroid doc, the one who under-treated me,
*was* an endocrinologist.

> * * * * My wife, who had papillary thyroid ca, was lucky and had good surgeons,
> and has a good endocrinologist. *Yes, you find good people and you stick
> with them.

Thanks Steve.I'm sure I will eventuall;y.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:10:31 -0800 (PST), dumb_fishie99
<> wrote:

>Sheesh. This may be a protracted thing, but I am determined
>to not be a mere sheep.

Baa baa...

>
>The next dentist took one look at my bad tartar buildup and said:
>"deep cleaning"! Not one word about root scaling or planing.
>Not one word about any pockets.

Duh, laymans term is 'deep cleaning'.

BTW it's correctly called Scaling and Root Planing.

> Bad tartar buildup, $600
>please.

Come to my office, the fee is $300.

Per quadrant that is.

On Thu, 11 Dec 2008 14:35:46 -0800 (PST), dumb_fishie99
<> wrote:

>ATM what
>treatment I get is really being decided by my own finances, because
>money is something we all bow to.

Speak for yourself Rickybobby.

Money is only a useful tool.

Hear that you can withdraw some cash from an ATM,
but not sure why you brought banking into the discussion.

BTW I don't use them.