There should always be time for asking questions. It is critical to obtaining full informed consent prior to doing a procedure. Your dentist should welcome questions and answer them to the best of their ability.
If you sense irritation or a lack of willingness to answer your questions you might want to consider switching dentists. Here are some (not all inclusive) questions to get a healthy dialogue going between you and your provider.
- Can I keep my wisdom teeth? (This question will force dentists to weigh the pros and cons with you.)
- Do you see any decay on my wisdom teeth? If so, could they be filled?
- Are my impacted wisdom teeth causing any damage to the adjacent teeth?
- Could the swelling around my wisdom teeth (pericoronitis) be fixed with a minor gingivectomy (gum) surgery?
- Would I be able to grow my jaw to accommodate all of my wisdom teeth? (This is called orthotropics and not all dentists or specialists are aware of this)
At the end of the day, you need to review all of your options and discuss this big decision with your dentist. I believe most dentists have your best interests in mind. But also keep in mind that your dentist also has a monetary incentive to remove your teeth.
This is why you need to be informed and ask the right questions. That’s right. You need to be the CEO of your healthcare.
