Know Your Options

Posted on April 4, 2017

Question:

I had orthodontic treatment with the removal of four healthy teeth behind my canines. My brother had treatment for similar problems but had no teeth extracted. I was not informed by my orthodontist about a non-extraction option. Did he have an obligation to tell me about other options?

Answer:

Yes, he did. Most states have statutes or laws governing “informed consent.” Under most informed consent statues is a clause stating something to the effect of: “A reasonable individual, from the information provided by the healthcare provider under normal circumstances, would have a general understanding of the procedure and dentally or medically acceptable alternative procedures or treatments. This information should include risks and hazards inherent in the proposed procedure.” If you are offered an extraction only treatment plan, please pay a visit to our office.