THE FIVE LEVELS OF DENTAL CARE we offer to people who choose our practice
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We understand that choosing a new dentist and dental health team can be a challenge, leaving you feeling somewhat uncertain. We are writing to welcome you, and to share more specifically our beliefs about what we do for people.

We started the practice in March 1996 with the aim of building a practice for those people who would value our service for the quality it adds to their lives. That quality is the chance for you to be as healthy as you choose

Our ultimate aim is to help you achieve a healthy, comfortable mouth, a strong, stable bite and a confident, radiant smile for life.

This is a major departure from the way we were trained. Instead of telling you how healthy you ought to be, we will try to help you understand your choices about dental health and then let you make a free and informed choice. Your first choice in this regard is how you would like to begin with us. There are five levels on which people may choose to be seen in our practice.

Level 1 . . . . URGENT CARE . . . .  People in crisis or with an emergency problem such as pain, swelling, or bleeding who need immediate help. We see urgencies immediately, whenever possible.

Level 2 . . . . REMEDIAL/CURSORY CARE . . . .  People who choose this level of care desire treatment only when something breaks or becomes uncomfortable. Generally, people at this level prefer short term cursory type of examinations, screening for very obvious more advanced problems. They usually want to correct immediate problems with as little effort and cost as possible, even though the treatment may not be a long term solution. People at this level are not yet ready for a comprehensive examination and long term treatment plan. Their motto might be, “Let’s just take care of what is wrong today and not worry about tomorrow.” These people may be counting on fate and luck to see them through, at least for the present.

Level 3 . . . . SELF CARE . . . .  People choose this level of care if they want to keep their teeth a lifetime in good or excellent comfort, function, and appearance. People at this level choose to have a comprehensive examination, fully evaluating teeth, gums and supporting tissues, as well as, the dynamic relationship of the jaw to the continued health of the dental system. During this examination process we jointly formulate a long term plan for their preferred dental future. However, due to the current life circumstances or beliefs, they will follow a holding plan until they can proceed to a higher level. They are interested in what they can do, personally, to improve their dental health and arrest any active disease processes, but are not yet ready to commence major treatment. People at this level are monitored through frequent preventive maintenance visits.

Level 4 . . . . COMPLETE DENTISTRY . . . .  People at this level are similar to the people described above. They choose to have a comprehensive examination and formulate a long term treatment plan designed to achieve a dental future of choice not chance. Unlike the Self Care person, they are ready to commence treatment. They also want to understand and control the causative agents of dental disease. Again, prevention and hygiene are important before, during and after treatment.

Level 5 . . . . WELLNESS RESOURCE . . . .  People here are in excellent dental health. They want to attend our preventive clinic one to four times per year, with complete monitoring examinations done annually. These people practice highly effective levels of nutrition with home care and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Our intent would be to assist these people in finding others in the community who might help them to attain even higher levels of personal wellbeing.

We hope these levels make sense to you. It is not uncommon for people to begin at a lower level and progress over time. If we can help with your decision regarding the level most comfortable for you to begin, please call us. Yours for better health and wellbeing, Bill Whateley BDS (Lond) and Team.