THE FOUR LEVELS OF DENTAL CARE

We understand that choosing a new dentist and dental health team can be a challenge, leaving you feeling somewhat uncertain. 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 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. Dr. Voget can always be reached by cell phone.
 


Level 2 . . .
REMEDIAL CARE.. . .People who choose this level of care desire treatment only when something breaks or becomes uncomfortable. Generally, people at his 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. Folks 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 jaws 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 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 his level are monitored through frequent preventive maintenance visits with our hygienist.


Level 4. . .
COMPLETE DENTISTRY . . .People at his 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, they work closely with our hygiene department before, during and after treatment.