5 tips to Improve the Quality of Your Dental Care
Everyone has a role in making health care safe. As the patient, you should participate in every decision about your health care including Dentistry.
- Be an active member of your dental care team
- Ask questions and get answers that you can understand
- Expect the staff to ask you why you are there
- Speak up if you think you have been confused with another patient.
- Tell your dentist of dental staff about medical problems, medications, allergies or bad reactions you have had in the past
- Keep a record of all medications vitamins and supplements you use
- Ask what any prescription is for, side effects, or possible drug interactions.
- Know when and how to take the medications prescribed.
- Talk openly with your dentist and the dental team about your care and treatment choices.
- Tell your dentist about any medical problems you may have
- Understand what your treatment plan is and the number of visits you will need.
- Inform your dentist if you are having difficulty with getting follow up care.
- Make sure that when you need dental care, you and the dentist agree on what is going to be done during the appointment.
- Ask what will be done, how long it will take, and what to expect during the procedure
- Inform the dentist if you have had reactions during previous dental work such as anxiety, anesthesia, or medications
- Read all consent form and ask questions until you understand.
- Know what you should and should not do at home, how to take your medicines and when to return for follow-up care
- Ask for written instructions
- Request a second opinion if you are not comfortable
- Keep all follow-up appointments.