Austin Institute of Dental Medicine

I appreciated the attention to detail and transparency around both treatment and cost. Before performing anything, they checked my insurance coverage and showed me the coverage and final cost on the screen beside the chair where I was receiving treatment. They also provided a pillow and chapstick at the beginning of the appointment, which was a thoughtful touch. What stood out most was how willing everyone was to ask questions and explain what they were observing, possible root causes, treatment options, timelines, and alternatives. I initially didn’t know what to expect and was concerned I might be encouraged to agree to unnecessary treatment, so I appreciated how candid and collaborative the discussion was. For example, I have gum recession on the left side of my mouth. They asked whether I brush hard or clench my jaw. I explained that I use a soft toothbrush and am mindful of brushing pressure, but I sometimes catch myself clenching my jaw without first realizing it. When that happens, my left jaw can become painful and swollen and even affect my left shoulder. They seemed to understand exactly what I was describing and suggested that I may benefit from a mouth guard. We also discussed the fact that I take medication that can cause dry mouth and don’t always drink enough water, which may have contributed to some relatively new cavities. I explained that I brush at least twice a day and floss daily, and that I had stopped chewing sugar-free gum because of the jaw discomfort. Rather than simply telling me to get fillings immediately, they discussed xylitol gum, hydration, being mindful of clenching and avoiding favoring one side while chewing, and prescribed a toothpaste to see whether the areas improve. They recommended that I return in three months to reassess whether fillings are still necessary. I also asked about treatment options for the gum recession and said I would potentially consider grafting, but wanted to speak with orthodontics first, have my retainer addressed, and get a closer look at the jaw issues. Someone from orthodontics stopped by during the visit to speak with me, and we scheduled a separate appointment later in the week. One thing that did surprise me was that flossing wasn’t initially included during my cleaning. I had flossed immediately before the appointment, but I still expected it as part of a routine cleaning. When I asked about it, he offered to floss and said I had done a good job caring for my teeth beforehand. It wasn’t a major issue for me, but it was something I noticed and didn’t understand why it was optional during the session. They did initially recommend fillings, and I told them I wasn’t comfortable making that decision that day because I had primarily booked the appointment for a routine cleaning. I wanted to understand the severity of the decay, what progression might look like, what treatment alternatives existed, and whether the fillings would still be necessary if the prescription toothpaste and other changes were effective. They were receptive to that and gave me room to make an informed decision rather than pressuring me. My insurance covered the initial visit, so I paid $0 out of pocket. Importantly, I did not feel that I was treated differently after making it clear that I wanted to carefully consider the more expensive interventions they had proposed before committing to anything. They still took the time to clean my teeth, answer my questions, discuss alternatives, and help me understand what could reasonably be reassessed later. During the visit, I ultimately had input from two dentists and an orthodontic resident. I have not yet independently validated all of the treatment recommendations through outside consultations or a second professional opinion, so I can only speak to my experience with this practice thus far. Based on that experience, however, I came away with a positive impression. They were thorough, candid, curious about underlying causes, transparent about costs, and respectful of my desire to understand my options before consenting to treatment.