It feels like we ask for people’s opinions on everything. What should I wear today? I’m thinking about buying this car. What do you think? I’m looking at two homes to buy. Which one do you like? The bigger the decision, the more opinions we seek out. While more opinions can bring clarity, it can also breed confusion. Where I don’t see people valuing a second opinion is in dentistry. I think there are three reasons why people don’t readily seek a dental second opinion.
1. Seeking a dental second opinion is time consuming. You have to find an office that can get you an appointment in a timely fashion. That appointment also has to work within your hectic schedule. It can be difficult to take time off work, especially if you just took time off to visit the first dentist you saw.
2. Seeking a dental second opinion can be expensive. If you just went to the dentist and your insurance paid for your preventative exam and X-rays, they aren’t going to pay for another round of the same thing two weeks later. You are going to be completely out of pocket for your second opinion visit. This second visit can easily cost between $200-$300, or more depending on how many X-rays you have taken and which dentist you see. So not only have you missed work, but you’re now at least a couple hundred dollars out-of-pocket.
3. It can be embarrassing. You are obviously seeking a second opinion because you didn’t agree with what the first dentist was telling you. Maybe he/ she didn’t give you an option that you were wanting. Maybe the dentists was going to refer you out to a specialist and you didn’t want to see someone else. Maybe you felt like the fees that they quoted you sounded outrageous, and they very well could have been. Regardless of the circumstances, what happens when you seek a second opinion and the second dentist tells you the exact same thing that the first one told you? Do you do back the first dentist? Do you stay with the second dentist? It’s an uncomfortable situation for many people.
All things considered, wouldn’t it be ideal to find a situation that is convenient, affordable, and completely devoid of the awkwardness that you find in seeking a dental second opinion? This is where secondopinionsmile.com comes into play. You can request an email or virtual consultation with a licensed dentist. That dentist will give you an unbiased diagnosis and recommendation. It’s unbiased because he doesn’t stand to benefit financially from doing the dental work recommended. All dentists are different; some are more conservative than others while others can be very aggressive when recommending treatment. If we’re being honest, most aggressive dentists are financially driven, which has caused a lot of distrust from the general population, and rightfully so. The consultation also costs a fraction of the cost a patient would pay if they actually went to a dental office for a second opinion.