PATIENT GUIDE
Bring Better Questions to Your Consultation
Use this checklist to keep the discussion focused on your own concerns. You do not need to choose a product or treatment package before the dentist has explained the findings and suitable options.
01
Explain the concern
Describe what you notice, when it began and what you would like to improve.
02
Understand the options
Ask why the proposed treatment is being considered and what alternatives are relevant.
03
Record the decision
Keep the agreed plan, quote and any unresolved questions together.
Explain What You Want to Discuss
Describe your main concern and what you would like to understand. Ask whether the appointment is an initial discussion, a clinical examination or a treatment-planning visit. Keep an open list of questions rather than arriving committed to a procedure name.
Ask About the Assessment
Who will assess the case? What information is needed at this stage? Which questions can only be answered after an in-person examination? If records are needed, ask for the approved secure sharing process; do not send sensitive records through an unapproved enquiry channel.
Understand the Recommendation
What is the proposed aim of treatment? What alternatives should be discussed, including keeping or monitoring existing teeth where relevant? Which aspects depend on findings during examination? Ask the clinician to explain the reasoning in language you understand.
Separate the Stages and Costs
Ask for a written list of treatment items, named materials or implant systems, investigations, temporary and final work, proposed visits and costs. Confirm what is excluded, what might change and how any revised plan would be agreed.
Clarify Travel and Aftercare
Who coordinates arrival and appointments? Which transfer or accommodation arrangements are included? Who receives your treatment records? Which partner is relevant after you return home, what do they offer and what could you need to pay?
Know Your Next Step
Before ending the conversation, recap what has been agreed, what is still provisional and who will contact whom next. Ask how to obtain written clarification, the treatment terms and the relevant contact details.
Keep a Simple Decision Record
After the consultation, note the questions that were answered and the ones that remain open. Keep the date, the contact name and the current version of any proposal together. If a later discussion changes the work or price, ask for an updated record.
Separate the clinical recommendation from your preferences and practical constraints. This makes it easier to return to the team with a focused question about an alternative, the scale of the proposed work or the timing of a visit.
Use the Written Proposal to Check Understanding
Read the plan alongside the quotation. Can you identify which teeth or jaws are involved, what each stage is intended to do and which items are temporary or final? Ask for plain-language clarification wherever a material name or procedure label is doing too much work.
Finish by confirming the next action and who is responsible for it. That might be another discussion, an in-person assessment or a request for records through the approved process. A useful consultation ends with an understandable next step.
Your Consultation Notes
| Topic | Question to ask | What to record |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis | What do the findings show? | The concern being treated and any further investigation. |
| Alternatives | What other options are suitable? | The trade-offs discussed and your preferences. |
| Scope | What will happen to each tooth? | The tooth positions, procedure and materials. |
| Visits | Which stages require an appointment? | The sequence and any provisional dates. |
| Costs | What could change the estimate? | Inclusions, possible extras and the approval process. |
| Aftercare | Who arranges the next review? | The contact, location and written terms. |
Before the Appointment
- Bring the dental records requested by the team and your current medical information.
- Write down the three questions you most want answered.
- Note any travel constraints and the need for a companion or access arrangements.
Before You Agree to the Next Stage
- Ask for an explanation of anything you cannot describe back in your own words.
- Check that a changed proposal has an updated written estimate.
- Know who will answer any follow-up question before treatment begins.
More Questions, Answered
What if the recommendation changes after examination?
Ask the clinician to explain the new finding and how it changes the proposed work, schedule or cost. Review an updated plan before agreeing to the next stage.
