We Have All Been There

 

Secondly, we as a profession should realize that the larger and more complicated a restoration is, there is more chance for failure. I’m sure I’ve done large bridges that have more opportunity for flexing and other things that make a long-term prognosis difficult to predict but failed to explain this to a patient before the treatment was performed and for the most part been lucky. A patient who knows this can happen is less likely to be upset if they knew there was a possibility of failure. Not to say that patient dissatisfaction was a factor in this case, but depending upon the patient, it easily could be a problem. We as dentists have the tools, procedures, and skill to do a very good job of restoring esthetics and function in even the most compromised mouths. I can think of no other body part that can be replaced where function and appearance is so lifelike. We need to make sure that we take the time to explain to patients that just as their natural dentition can fail, so can any restoration, no matter how well it is planned and fabricated.  

 

Lastly, I see this e-mail from the colleague as reaching out to the only group that can possibly understand the frustrations and complexities of what we do as dentists. Dentists all have these issues at one time or another. Discussing problems, concerns, frustrations, and even successes with our fellow dentists is healthy and reassuring. I feel for those of us who isolate ourselves in our own practices and totally internalize the myriad of issues that we face on a daily basis. Reach out and communicate!