UnSymmetrical

Patient communication Professional, high-quality work Office performance Reasonable fees

Communication begins with the first phone call to the practice.

How is your call received?
Are they willing and able to answer reasonable questions you may have?
How much time is set aside for your initial exam?
Do they send out information you can fill out ahead of time?
Does the office run on time?

Questions you may want to ask about professionalism might include:

How long has the doctor been in practice?

How long has the doctor been in the area?

How long has the doctor been mercury-free?

Does the doctor use special precautions during amalgam removal? (Precautions such as providing an outside air source to breathe during mercury removal and a special suction and/or barrier devices to minimize mercury vapor escape.)

Does the office have air filtering devices to remove mercury vapor from the air?

Can you speak to any other patients regarding care at this office?

Is there carpet in the patient treatment areas? (Carpet will trap mercury amalgam as well as bacteria and cannot be fully cleaned. It should never be in the treatment rooms.)

Has the office building always been a mercury-free dental office? (If there has been mercury used in the office before, office air mercury vapor levels may be much higher due to the inevitable spills that occur during handling. If mercury was never used in the building, then there would have been no chance for spills.)

Ask the dentists for physician referrals for detoxifying mercury from your body. This is as important as removing the source of mercury poisoning. There are many good and effective methods. Find out what is best for you.

If the answer to all the first three questions is the same, then the doctor has always been mercury-free and has been in your area the whole time. He or she will have developed a reputation that will be known in your community. If the doctor has not been mercury-free the entire time of practice, you may want to ask what made them change their minds and become mercury-free. Did the doctor take continuing education to learn the new techniques associated with being mercury-free?

The most important information can be gleaned during the time you spend with the doctor. This can be termed office performance.

Does the doctor fully and willingly answer your questions?
Are the answers seemingly knowledgeable and clear?
Is the doctor flexible on your treatment plan or rigid?
Is the doctor willing to take your treatment at your pace?
Do the fees seem reasonable?
Are you seen on time?
Does the doctor spend good quality time with you and have good eye contact? Does the exam seem thorough?

If the fees seem high, get another estimate. Fees can vary by large numbers, depending on the particular focus of the practice. There is usually more than one treatment plan (more than one way to approach your particular case) that will fit your needs for amalgam replacement. There are a few dentists that put profit before quality.

If you are new to an area, how do you find a starting point?

Two resources you can call are Consumers for Dental Choice (610-649-2606) or the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT 407-298-2450).

If you are still unsure of your comfort level after the exam, ask if the dentist could just work on one tooth to see how it goes. Then, without risking much, you can get a feel for the way the doctor and the staff work.

If you are more than unsure of your comfort level after the exam, get another opinion, if possible.

Finally, rely on your common sense and recognize how relaxed, professional, and knowledgeable the doctor and staff seem to you. Notice how you feel in the office and with the doctor. Common sense and that inner feeling we all have will steer you correctly.

JAMES E. HARDY, D.M.D.

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