The good dentist

How do I recognise patient-friendly, good dentists?

The dentist has to take enough time for his patients and the actual dental treatments. He always works thoroughly and diligently.

• Prices:
  The patient is informed about all costs, of course also the own co-payments, before the dental treatment in a written quotation. Of course it may be possible that other necessary measures will then result from the actual treatment. They have to be arranged with the patient. Furthermore the actual offer should always contain a detailed offer whereas the quality and the price are clearly comprehensible to you as a patient.


• Opening hours:
  The dental practice reacts to the needs of its patients. It should also offer treatments on Sundays and public holidays. Treatments for employed persons or for patients who travelled from far should also be possible early in the morning or later in the evening.


• Consultation:
  The dentist and the assistants explain the course of the treatment to the patient calmly and in a language which is understandable to him, especially with respect to prophylaxis. No questions should be unanswered after this consultation.


• Waiting time:
  Basically a patient should not wait for his treatment for more than ten minutes. Of course unexpected emergencies or other complications can occur. In this case these waiting period should be bridged by immediate information, offering coffee or other drinks and other means of entertainment.


• Provision:
  The dentist regards the patient as an equal partner. He is fully integrated into the dental provision by him. All decisions are made together with the patient and of course the dentist informs the patient in detail about all treatment carried out. He tells the patient in detail what he has to do for the dental workings to last longer and without complications.


• Treatment units:
  If a dental practice is equipped with more than three dental chairs a patient should be careful. For this could be an indicator for the so-called �assembly line work�, especially in areas which are close to a border. In this case it is advisable to ask detailed questions and to eventually consult another practice.


• Alternatives:
  The dentist takes enough time for his patient in any case. He discusses the therapy, enlightens the patient about the reasons for the diagnosis and also offers a suitable alternative. The patient�s financial condition plays a major role in this context.

The approach of a dentist and his assistants has to be thoughtful and focused on the patient�s well-being.

• The injection_
  A good dentist almost always works pain-free. He basically has to ask the patient whether he wants to have an injection.


• Hygiene in a practice:
  The practice basically has to provide for ultimate tidiness and hygiene. Wearing a mouth and nose guard is compulsory for the assistant and the treating physician. The use of working glasses and gloves also goes without saying.


• Dental calculus:
  It is by far not enough that dental calculus is just removed. Basically teeth also have to be ground and polished after the removal of dental calculus.


• Prophylaxis:
  In any case a good practice also offers a professional dental hygiene for its patients.


• Magnifier glasses:
  In order to recognize exactly how the dentist has to work on the patient the operation microscope and the magnifier glasses also have to be used all the time.


• Gingival pockets:
  A dentist should basically take bleeding of gums very serious. In the case of reducing gums he measures the depth of the gingival pockets. He diligently treats this and other periodontal problems and makes sure the patient is enlightened enough about consequential damages and can adopt suitable measures.


• Consequential damages:
  The so-called minimally invasive method should be basically used by a good dentist. This means that the dentist always prevents recognisable tooth damages in any case before consequential damages occur. The dentist also has to treat existing tooth defects at an early stage and hence exclude consequential damages to a large extent.


• Expensive materials:
  Hightech and the best most modern equipment and material are not a guarantor for a good and patient-friendly treatment. After all these things have to be paid for (by the patients). The experience and diligence of a dentist is much more important than the most modern equipment.

Technical operations

• X-rays:
  Enough x-rays whose results are discussed with patients are imperative requirements for exact results and an optimal treatment. Certainly the manufacture of double pictures should be avoided, also for the patient�s protection from x-rays.


• Fillings:
  Fillings basically last for eight to twelve years or also longer. If fillings have to be inserted newly in the first two to three years this can also be regarded a bad sign. In this case the patient should have legitimate doubts about the dentist�s skills. It basically applies that no further work has to be carried out after the conclusion of a treatment.


• The fit of dentures:
  No matter whether the patient was supplied with crowns or bridges, fillings and inlays. It always applies that everything has to fit 100 %. The dentist has to adjust or replace all fillings and the whole dentures in case of a slightest strain or a feeling of pressure at his own expense.