IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2016 | Page 47

INDUSTRY INSIGHT

DENTAL SERVICES

Do you trust
your dentist?
L

et us dance a dance together – the dental trust tango. As we
know well, it takes two to tango: the trustor (you) and a trustee
(the doctor).
As the trustor, you must believe that your dentist’s recommendations
are looking out for your best interest. Second, you must trust in his/her
skills to provide you with the care you deserve. If you don’t have either
of these essential trusts, the dance is bound for disappointment. So
look until you find it.
As the trustee, my number-one goal should always be your health
and well-being. I should take the time to get to know you and your
family. My recommendations should always take into consideration
your fears and goals, NOT some preconceived notion of what I want. I
should promise never to compromise the integrity of our relationship.
When choosing a dance partner (a.k.a. dentist), building a
relationship is of utmost importance. You shouldn’t feel like your
dentist rushes in for an exam, skims over everything, then sends you
rushing out the door with more questions than answers. You should
know that if you ever had an emergency your dentist would make
time to help. Make sure he/she takes the time to answer all your
questions in a way that is understandable and clear to you. You should
always walk away feeling heard, not trampled.
Another question to ask yourself when deciding on a partner
is, “Am I confident in this person’s skills?” The world of dentistry is
changing so quickly that if your dentist doesn’t make an investment
in education beyond the basics of dental school, the care you receive
may be outdated or incomplete. This gets to be even more important
when choosing a dentist for advanced procedures such as cosmetic
makeovers or implants. The details necessary for success of cosmetic
and implant dentistry are not taught in dental school. Your dentist
must actively pursue the necessary education on his/her own. Always
ask what type and how much advanced training the dentist has, and
can he/she show you successful cases that are similar to yours.

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Unfortunately, all dentists, doctors, teachers and cars are not
created equal. Ask questions before choosing your trust tango partner.
You don’t want to end up kicking and flailing all over the dance floor.
If you are looking for a dentist or just a complimentary second
opinion, we would love to get to know you. Give us a call at
412.884.7757. You can also visit us online at Pghdentist.com. Come see
why all our awesome patients choose us for their trust tango partner.
But please spare me the embarrassment of actually dancing. My wife
can attest that could be dangerous.

This Industry Insight was written by Dr. Joshua Culver.
Dr. Culver obtained a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from West Virginia University
School of Dentistry and was among the first in the nation to graduate with training in
mini-implants and laser dentistry. He received honors for his commitment to community
involvement and was awarded the prestigious AAOMFS Oral Surgery Award. Dr. Culver
adamantly believes the future of health and dentistry can only be found through
extensive research, study and experience; he is extremely committed to ongoing
education. He has traveled across the nation to further his expertise and has greatly
surpassed the state requirements for dentists. He is a member of the International
Congress of Oral Implantologists, American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the
Academy of General Dentistry.

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