Treatment Planning

Author: Kimberly N. Powell, DDS, MS, FAGD

It is important that there is an uncomplicated patient-provider-business team relationship. Ease of communication amongst the group can be facilitated by a well-devised treatment plan. The treatment plan is an itemized list of recommended dental care and associated cost. It is formulated by reviewing the patient’s medical history and evaluating the oral cavity clinically and radiographically by the dentist and/or dental hygienist with the patient’s needs and desires considered. The patient, doctor, hygienist, and business team are then aware of what is recommended, how the work will be accomplished, sequence of treatment, and how much. Questions are encouraged; the more we know about where the patient wants to go and knowing what can and cannot be done, the better a personalized treatment plan will be. Sometimes an appointment can be longer than expected, but our goal is to provide all the information regarding the patient’s care so an informed decision can be made. This information may be provided via videos, study models, appliances, sample prosthesis, and/or pictures. We know that the conversation can be difficult especially when multiple extractions and complete dentures are proposed, but our hope is that the patient will be comforted knowing that all parties involved are knowledgable about what is happening and working together for the expected results.