Dentaltown March 2020 - 44

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and give them the option to treat it or not, with the associated risks. And would not throw the
prior doc under the bus. I would thank him for leaving me work.
You know there are multiple ways to diagnose decay. It is not black-and-white, as some are
trying to make it. To the OP, what do you mean by early occlusal decay? ■
12/14/2019

randy9798
Member Since: 12/06/17
Post: 29 of 42

If taking over for a very conservative doctor, you need to first study patient charts. If you see
they have been coming for years, you need to tread very lightly. Do not give a reason for people
to leave right away. First visit should be a meet-and-greet. Try your best to impress them with
who you are. You can gently recommend treatment if super-obvious. Leave up images and just
show patient. At this time, do not talk. They will either ask you to fi x it or you can watch it. In
six months, if you can show the cavities getting larger ,you can now express some concern about
them getting too large. By now they will have some trust in you and see you as their doctor. ■

12/14/2019

skdrake
Member Since: 09/26/05
Post: 31 of 42

We can argue diagnosis and treatment planning, what's a cavity and what's not. But we
shouldn't accept patients or their parents yelling at us. Begin as you mean to go on. If I had
allowed patients to yell at me when I started my practice, I'd expect patients to still be yelling
at me now, because I would have broadcast the message that it's OK for patients to yell at me.
Nope. And I think I've established here that I have some pretty weird patients! But if a
patient yells at me or my staff, they are dismissed. ■

12/14/2019

Jamar M Jackson
Member Since: 04/03/05
Post: 32 of 42

My comments were directed to the OP, Buckeye-you have given your advice and I'm not
trying to sway you one bit. Poll 10 dental students about what's a stain to watch and what's decay
and you'll get at least 11 different answers. We have no idea what the true state of these teeth are,
and we are light years from declaring anyone negligent. This only thing we have here for 100%
sure is a peeved parent and the OP asking for help.
Given all possible responses to the yelling mother, the OP dismissing this patient can only
result in the most negative outcome possible. This is not just my opinion; this is a fact. The
patient is lost, zero treatment is rendered, the parent continues on believing their kid's teeth are
pristine, the patient badmouths you to all their friends, you have gained a bad online review and
learned nothing in the process. Zero professional growth in management of patient expectations, which is arguably one of the most important skills a dentist can have.
Dismissing this patient is in fact the easiest thing to do-just move on. Calling the mom
and trying to work through this, that's the hardest thing to do, but ultimately the most beneficial for everyone. I'm not telling the OP to be a doormat and let people yell at them, but there
are times that working through and past a problem will yield results and experience that are
worth the effort.
To the OP: Think about calling the mom and inviting her back. Think about how amazing
it would be if you turned this completely negative experience into a positive one. Think of how
much better you would be at dealing work this situation next time it happens, and it will happen
again and again. You will learn to anticipate these conflicts and head them off before it even gets
to this point. Good luck! ■
12/14/2019

How do you deal with overbearing parents?
It's never easy inheriting a practice and the patients (and problems)
that come along with it. Luckily, "drsstein" received tons of helpful tips
from fellow Townies on how to deal with patients like these in the future?
What do you think? Share your tips and more by viewing this message
board online at dentaltown.com/magazine.

MARCH 2020 // dentaltown.com

DT0320_MB2_Mom_AG.indd 44

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Dentaltown March 2020

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