A woman came to me for a second opinion. She’d seen another dentist and was doubtful of their treatment plan. She wanted to tell me what the other dentist had recommended but I cut her off:
“Just tell me what your problems are and what you want done.”
The woman was surprised.
“Aren’t you interested in what the other dentist thought?” she asked.
“No,” I answered. “In fact it would be bad if you told me. It could alter my thinking. You’re here to get my opinion and I want to give it to you without any outside influence.”
That’s the long and the short of it.
You’re far better to judge every situation you come across on its merits. The moment you listen to what another dentist thought or read the past records then your opinion might get altered.
Patients sometimes arrive at my office with their old dental records under their arm. They hand them across as if they’re incredibly valuable. Little do they know that they’re often of no use. Sometimes, depending on the situation, I don’t even look at them. I never want to be blinded by a patient’s past history.
I encourage you to be a blank slate and always look at patients with fresh eyes.
