Hi,

So my wife says she won’t kiss me anymore. She’s made comments about my teeth being a little yellow and that my breath smells stale. I drink coffee, which I think may be contributing to the “stale” smell, but otherwise I brush twice a day, although I could floss more. The point is, during my last dental visit I told my dentist about my issues, and she suggested that I do a “deep cleaning.” I want to know if this will actually help or if it’s just a frivolous treatment that’s just a way to get me to spend money. How do I know if this dentist has my best interests at heart?

Thanks,

Hank, Greensboro, NC

 

Dear Hank,

I’m sorry your wife won’t kiss you! Let’s hope we can fix that problem immediately.

First, I understand why you’d question if you need this type of a procedure before you’d agree to have it. Why spend hard-earned money on something if it’s not going to make a bit of difference? If you’re getting regular cleanings every six months and you take pretty good care of your teeth, that should be enough, right? It’s what everyone else is doing.

Well, this is not always the case. Even if you have a great dental routine at home, some deposits linger on your teeth and harden over time. For some people, deposit build-up is more of a problem. Also, having health issues, smoking, coffee-drinking, among other things, can exasperate the problem. Thus, dentist use “deep cleaning” methods to combat deposits that you just can’t fight off by yourself.

But a good dentist will tell you this. The best dentist will tell you this, and then encourage you to ask questions about the things you don’t understand.  If you need clarity about why you may need a particular treatment or exactly what it does for you, then you shouldn’t have any qualms about asking. Be an advocate for your body and your wallet. If when you ask, the dentist seems to brush you off, maybe it’s time to do an internet search for a new dentist. . .

It’s always a good idea to do a little research on any dentist you plan to go to. Review what past patients are saying about her/him. You are paying the money, you deserve to have individualized care. There are many dentists whose top priority is not taking your money, but making certain they give you the best dental care possible. So find a great one. That way when he or she recommends a treatment for you, you don’t have to always second-guess what his or her motives are for suggesting it. Oh, hopefully your wife will want to kiss you again soon.

Hope this helps!

This blog is sponsored by Buffalo dentist Warren M. Krutchick, DDS.