Helping patients understand and accept the best treatment plans

The global recession has brought a significant reduction in the number of patients seeking dental treatment. Dentists have reported anecdotally that many patients are not accepting treatment plans in spite of needing or wanting the treatment and being able to afford it. With proper education, patients who can afford treatment can be motivated to accept it. Education generally is necessary to stimulate behavior change, which in the context of this article is acceptance of treatment plans. Avoiding patient education leads only to patients' requests for minimal, urgent treatment. In-depth patient education usually leads to acceptance of at least a portion of the proposed treatment plan. It is suggested that dentists and their staff members plan and carry out diagnostic data collection together; that dentists present honest, thorough treatment plans or, if necessary, develop sequential treatment plans; and importantly, that dentists charge moderate, reasonable fees that they would pay themselves for the suggested treatment. Such activities will increase treatment plan acceptance, motivate new patients to stay in practices and help ensure a practice's financial viability and success.