What to ask before accepting a dental treatment plan

• What exactly is my problem, and why is this plan recommended?
• Which procedures will be done on which teeth (by tooth number)?
• Is each procedure recommended for health or for appearance?
• Was a less invasive approach tried or considered?
• Were an examination and imaging (panoramic or 3D X-ray) done? Which findings is the plan based on?
• Is the plan based on a dentist's examination, or on photos and background information?
• If a different procedure turns out to be needed during treatment, what happens?

• What other treatment options are there, with the advantages and disadvantages of each?
• What happens if I do nothing, or delay treatment?
• Why do you recommend this option over the others?
• How does it compare with an alternative I could have in my own country?

• What are the possible risks and complications of this procedure, and how often do they happen?
• If a complication occurs, what is done, and who pays?
• Can the procedure be reversed? How much of the tooth will be removed?
• Is this plan suitable for my age, health, medicines, gums and bone?
• Is other treatment (gums, decay, root canal) needed first?
• How often does this dentist do this procedure, and with what results? (An answer is not proof of quality, but an evasive one is informative.)

• Who will carry out the treatment, and what are their specialism and experience?
• Will an assistant or a different dentist take part?
• What is the facility's authorisation certificate, and the agency's if there is one? (see the verification page)
• Which accreditation or certificate is held, and what does it cover?
• How are sterile conditions and infection control ensured?
• If sedation or anaesthesia is planned, who will give it, and where?

• Which materials will be used (ceramic, zirconia, metal framework) and which brands?
• For an implant: brand, model, diameter and length. Will the implant details (brand, model, batch number) be given to me in writing at the end?
• Which laboratory makes the crowns or prostheses? Is any production abroad?
• Can I see the origin and documentation of the material?
• What information will I receive so that another dentist can look after this work in future?

• How many stages are there, and how long is the wait between them?
• How many trips are needed, and how many days in total?
• Will there be temporary teeth, and when is the permanent restoration made?
• If the plan changes or healing is slow, how are my stay and costs affected?
• Is it suitable to fly straight after treatment?

• What is the total price, and what does it include and exclude?
• Is the price per tooth, per jaw or a package?
• If an extra procedure is needed, how is its price set and how will you get my approval?
• Is there a deposit? How much, and when is it refunded?
• What is the guarantee: length, what it covers and what it excludes? (in writing)
• What conditions must I meet for the guarantee to apply (check-ups, care, visits)?
• Who pays travel and accommodation for a correction under guarantee?
• Is there complication insurance, and what does it cover?

• Who can I contact once I am home, by which channel, and how fast will they reply?
• When and where are the check-ups? Could my own dentist do some of them?
• Which symptoms mean I should call you straight away?
• Will I be given the treatment summary, X-rays and material information? (see the dental records page)
• What check-up frequency and cost are advised for long-term care? Will restorations need renewing, and when?

Is there enough bone, or is a graft or sinus lift needed? Immediate loading or a waiting period, and why? Which implant system and why? If an implant fails, what happens and how does the guarantee work? What will my local dentist need to know to look after it?

Veneer or crown for each tooth? How much tooth will be removed from each? Were less invasive options (whitening, bonding, orthodontics) considered? How were my bite and chewing assessed? What are the temporary restorations like? What if I want the result changed later?

Why is a crown needed (decay, fracture, root canal)? Do healthy teeth have to be cut? Is an implant an option instead of a bridge, and how do they differ?

What are the stages, which teeth will be kept and which removed, and why? Can an independent dentist check the plan? How were the bite and jaw joint assessed?

How long in total, which check-ups are needed and which can be done remotely? What is the retainer plan? What happens if treatment is left unfinished?

What is the chance of saving the tooth, and is extraction and an implant the alternative? One visit or several? Will a crown be needed afterwards?

No. They are a patient's right (see the patient rights page), and a good dentist is glad to answer them. Discomfort at being asked is itself information.

Trust is built on information you can verify. Ask for the answers in writing, and if they are refused, get another opinion.

Compare what the price covers, not the price alone: the same procedures, the same materials, the same guarantee and the same follow-up plan. Two prices with different scope side by side are misleading.

Ask both dentists in writing for the reason for the difference. It may come down to need, material, approach or aesthetic preference. The decision is yours, once you are clear about risks and what cannot be undone.