How to Get a Second Opinion from Another Dentist in Canada

Getting an Initial Diagnosis and Treatment Plan

You can expect to receive a dental exam when you first see your dentist. Your dentist may also wish to perform X-rays and other diagnostic procedures to help assess your current oral health condition. These images can also be useful when explaining a proposed treatment plan.

Understanding the Proposed Treatment Plan

Once your dentist has completed their examination, they will discuss their findings with you and provide you with a treatment plan. Your oral health is unique. Therefore, every plan is customized to meet your needs.

Your dentist will explain the plan to you, including the potential costs. It is important to understand that these costs may only be an estimate at this stage and could change when you begin treatment. Sometimes, more than one treatment option may be available, which can also affect the price.

What to Do Before Seeking a Second Opinion

If you aren't confident in the treatment plan proposed or would like to explore alternatives, it is worth asking questions to see if your dentist can provide reassurance and help you better understand the treatment plan they have proposed.

Contact your practice and ask if they can assist you with addressing your concerns. Your dentist, a treatment coordinator at the practice or the practice manager should be willing to answer your questions to help you understand the plan more easily.

Questions to Ask About Your Treatment Plan

Before seeing your dentist again, think about a list of questions to ask. Writing these down can help focus your mind on points you would like answered or explained further.

Below is a list of potential questions to consider.

• Why is this treatment recommended?
• How will it benefit my oral health?
• What are the implications of delaying or refusing treatment?
• What are my other treatment options?
• What are the risks of each treatment option?
• How long will the results of the treatment last?
• How can I make the results last longer?
• Do you recommend any preventive dental care to reduce the risk of recurrence?

You might find taking notes during your meeting useful as sometimes there can be a lot of information to absorb.If you are still unhappy or unsure about your proposed treatment plan, you may want to seek a second opinion.

When is a Second Opinion Helpful?

A second opinion can be helpful if you have been recommended to have lengthier, more complex or expensive dental care. Trying to understand a complicated treatment plan may seem a little daunting or overwhelming.

Sometimes, more than one procedure or approach may be available to treat a condition. There might be a difference in the techniques used.

Different materials may be available, and their recommended uses and costs can vary. Your choice of material can also affect how long a treatment lasts. For example, ceramic materials will be more durable than dental composite, a resin material often used to restore decayed teeth.

Getting a second opinion from another dental professional can give you confidence that your proposed treatment plan is the right choice for your dental needs.

How to Get a Second Opinion

There are various ways to seek a second opinion from another dentist in Canada, outlined below.

Ask Your Dentist

If your dentist can see you feel unsure about the treatment they offer, they might even suggest that you get another opinion.

If you are trying to decide whether to have more complex treatment, you might wish to ask your dentist to refer you to a dental specialist. Some practices will have specialists who work part-time in their clinic, who they will refer to for more complex cases.

Any recommendation from your dentist should be to another dental professional not financially connected to them. They should not express offence at this question and should understand that patients sometimes need the additional reassurance of a second opinion. If you don't feel comfortable asking them for a name, use the other resources outlined below.

Find a dentist

You can use multiple external resources to find a dentist - personal recommendations; online search; provincial dental association websites; hellodent; etc. You can read our detailed guide on finding a dentist in Canada if you want to learn more.

Contact Your Dental Insurance Provider

If you have dental insurance, it may be worth contacting your insurance provider. They may have useful advice about seeking a second opinion and can advise you if the potential costs are covered.

Bear in mind that your dental insurance might only partly cover the costs or may pay nothing towards a second opinion. It is helpful to have this information before booking your appointment with another dentist.

Getting a Second Opinion

Once you have identified possible dentists, contact their dental offices to ask about scheduling an appointment.

Before you go, ask your current dentist for any diagnostic information, especially recent X-rays or other diagnostic procedures. Allow plenty of time before your appointment to get this information. The second dentist may be able to request this information directly from your original dental office. Be aware that requesting information like existing X-rays could incur administration fees.

Seeing a Second Dentist

When you see a second dentist, tell them you are looking for a second opinion, but you do not need to explain the findings or treatment plan from your current dentist. The idea is to receive a diagnosis without any preconceptions.

Paying for a Second Opinion

You will almost certainly need to pay for a second opinion, especially if additional diagnostic procedures are needed. According to the Ontario Dental Association, patients can seek a second opinion but will likely need to pay for that additional dental exam and further diagnostic procedures.

What to Expect When Seeking a Second Opinion

The dentist will review your current dental and medical history to ensure all recommended treatments are appropriate. They might require additional diagnostic procedures to make an informed diagnosis, especially if you did not obtain any recent diagnostic information from your current dentist.

Asking questions is important to ensure you understand their diagnosis and proposed treatment. Ask the second dentist the same questions you asked the first.

Possible questions to ask are listed below.

• Why is this treatment recommended?
• How will it benefit my oral health?
• What are the implications of delaying or refusing treatment?
• What are my other treatment options?
• What are the risks of each treatment option?
• How long will the results of the treatment last?
• How can I make the results last longer?
• Do you recommend any preventive dental care to reduce the risk of recurrence?

Making a Decision

You may find that each dentist proposes different procedures or has a different diagnosis.

Different dentists can be equally good but might have differing ideas on how best to meet your oral health needs. For example, their training and experience can differ. Some dentists prefer a more conservative approach towards a problem, recommending the least invasive treatment or adopting a wait-and-see approach. Other dentists will want to treat a problem as soon as possible.

One option when deciding is to return to your original dental office to discuss the second treatment plan with the first dentist. They might be able to help you interpret the information more clearly and explain the differences between the two proposed treatment plans. It is also useful to understand if both will achieve a similar outcome and if not, then why not.

FAQs

Will my dentist be offended if I seek a second opinion?

Explaining to a dentist that you would like a second opinion can be awkward, but it's important that you feel comfortable with your treatment decision. You will almost certainly not be the first patient to seek a second opinion.

In which situations should I seek a second opinion?

You might wish to get a second opinion if you feel your current dentist is not providing you with enough information to make an informed decision. Other situations in which you might want a second opinion are if you are unsure if the treatment is necessary, or if you are unsure about the costs.

How can I need dental treatment if I don't have any symptoms?

Not every dental problem will cause symptoms. Some, like the early signs of tooth decay or gum disease, can cause few or zero symptoms.

However, early treatment can prevent them from worsening and potentially causing discomfort or pain. Delaying treatment may also end up being more expensive and time-consuming to correct in the future.

Conclusion

Dentists have a duty of care to recommend the best treatment for their patients but in some cases more than one “best treatment plan” may exist. It is important to feel informed and in control of your treatment plan. Try to ensure you have all the information you need before making your decision.

If you have an urgent problem, prioritize getting treatment sooner rather than later. Leaving a problem to worsen could result in the need for lengthier, more complex and costlier treatment in the future. Ultimately, the final choice is yours.

*The content provided in this article, including text, graphics, and referenced material, is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional dental advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with your dentist or another qualified oral health professional for questions regarding your dental condition. Never disregard professional dental advice or delay seeking it based on information from this article. If you believe you have a dental emergency, contact your dentist, or seek immediate assistance from an oral healthcare professional.