How Can You Choose A Dentist When You Need Big, Complex, And Difficult Dental Work?

First and foremost, the integrity and honesty of the dentist should be the top requirements. You can never truly tell how technically superior a dentist is, but you must be able to trust the dentist over a long period of time. Big, complex, and difficult cases often take more than a year—sometimes even two years—to complete. When patients question the intentions behind my recommendations, sadly, I know that the patient is not ready to move forward with the treatment they truly deserve.

Secondly, big cases must be planned very carefully. Most patients think that big, complex, and difficult cases fail during the execution or technique stage. In reality, they usually fail at the planning stage. As Benjamin Franklin said, “Failure to plan is planning to fail.” Most true big cases are started and finished in fewer than 3 out of 100 cases. In other words, it is extremely rare for these treatments to be fully completed. I know—it’s an amazingly low number. But that is the reality.

Third, ask the dentist what the final result will look like at the end. It is perfectly okay for you to ask this question. Different dentists use different tools to visualize the final outcome for patients. Through simulations, mock-ups, or photos of similar cases, a dentist should be able to show you what the final result is expected to look like. A dentist must have a clear mental image of the finished work. In contrast, patients are often completely unsure of what the outcome will be.

Big, complex, and difficult dental work is not something all dentists aspire to treat or even enjoy. It causes headaches—even for dentists! Not all dentists should handle or enjoy this type of work. But for me, the reward is far more satisfying than routine dental fillings. That is why it is perfectly fine to ask another dentist or seek a second opinion.

By no means does this mean your dentist is not good. A good dentist is one who knows—and respects—their boundaries. I would rather choose a dentist who is highly competent in a smaller area of expertise than one who is less competent while attempting larger, more complex cases.

If someone had told me at my dental school graduation that I would be the dentist treating big cases in New York, I would have laughed hard. But life is funny. Now, I have a burning passion to treat this small—but incredibly rewarding—segment of the dental population.