Abstract
The results of patient interview and questionnaires given at the time of dental examinations indicate the type of information a patient places emphasis on when making decisions concerning dental treatment. It is not uncommon for patients to have misconceptions about the presence or absence of dental caries. Therefore, it is important to adequately explain that the presence or absence of pain is not necessarily related to the presence of dental caries, nor that it is a sufficient criterion upon which to accept or reject treatment. In addition, whenever it is necessary to remove healthy dentin, the reason for doing so must be explained in easy to understand language. When recommending extraction of the wisdom tooth, it is also extremely important to inform the patient of the need for the extraction as well as the risks involved in clear, easy to understand words. With implant dentures, the lack of impartial explanations concerning the drawbacks has been a problem. With regard to the recurrence of dental caries, it is important that the dentist foster the kind of doctor-patient relationship in which patients find it easy to express their grievances and complains. In dental treatment, it is imperative that patients be educated in oral hygiene so that their decisions can be heeded as much as possible.
