The Four Levels of Dental Care
We understand that choosing a new dentist can be a challenge, leaving you feeling somewhat uncertain. Dr. Brian Hirschfield, Dr. Brenda Flores Sousa, and our team at Lakeview Dental in Lakeville, NY, would like to share the four levels of dental care, as well as our statement of purpose with you:
Our Purpose is to guide people to achieve the highest level of well-being that is personally appropriate for them and in doing so, enhance the health and quality of their lives, as well as our own.
Living a Healthy Life
In other words, we’ll help you become as healthy, alive, and youthful as you choose. This is a major departure from ‘traditional dentistry.’ Instead of telling you what’s wrong with you and keeping you passively involved in treating disease, we want to provide you with proper information to help you prevent all future disease, protect your present state of health, and renew your oral health as needed in a planned, sequenced, and predictable way.
Formulating a Master Plan
During our time together we work to formulate a MASTER PLAN for their preferred future, prevent all future dental disease, any care to protect the oral system and reduce risk to healthy or normal levels, and renew if there is considerable risk associated with further breakdown in the system. Lakeview Dental
The 4 Levels of Dental Care
Level 1: URGENT CARE
People in crisis or with an emergency problem such as pain, swelling, severe headaches or facial pain need immediate assistance.
Level 2: REMEDIAL CARE
People who choose this level of care desire treatment only when something becomes uncomfortable or breaks. Generally, people at this level prefer short term, quick exams, screening for more obvious problems. They usually will correct immediate problems with as little effort and cost as possible, even though the treatment is not long term and doesn’t address the cause of the problem. Folks at this level aren’t ready yet for a ‘risk analysis’ and a preventive and protective approach. 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 or luck to see them through, at least at the present time.
Level 3: COMPLETE CARE
People at this level of care are serious about preserving and protecting their oral health for a lifetime in good to excellent comfort, function, longevity, and appearance. At this level, patients have a Risk Assessment of the four key areas of the oral system; fully evaluating the gums and supporting structure of the teeth; the teeth themselves, the function of the jaws, muscles and joints, any cosmetic or esthetic risks, and of course their overall general health risk assessment.
Patients at this level are interested in what they can do personally to improve their dental health and arrest any active disease process. They are more interested and want to have more information and become partners in creating their preferred future.
Level 4: COMPLETE CARE—PHASED
Same as Level 3, only, the dental care is phased or staged over time, always focusing on preventing any new disease and taking phased action to reduce risk in one of more areas of the oral system.
Schedule an Appointment
It is common for people to begin at one level of care and progress to other levels of care over time. The choice is yours to make. If you would like to learn more about the various levels of care, learn more about our doctors, our team, and what separates us from other dental practices, please contact us online, or give us a call at 585-978-3085.
