Getting it right
In dentistry, unlike in medicine, where a misdiagnosis can result in a loss of life, practitioners almost always get away with a misdiagnosis with few or no repercussions, even when it involves extracting a tooth or teeth that should have been spared. The unfortunate part is that patients rarely even realise they have received an incorrect diagnosis.
Although a dental misdiagnosis normally goes unnoticed, its effects on a patient’s well-being should not be disregarded. They can be detrimental: painful experiences, unnecessary medication, pointless surgery or the loss of teeth, which cannot be reversed or given back.
Finding a dentist with the talent and commitment to always ensure an accurate diagnosis may not be easy. Arriving at a correct diagnosis requires adequate scientific knowledge and the skill to apply it, built on years of proper training and clinical experience.
One of the things you can do to help get an accurate diagnosis is to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to ask. If you are not comfortable or satisfied with the answers, ask again, or ask another dentist if necessary, until you are confident you have found the real cause of your condition.