The written treatment plan is the document that defines what has been agreed. Its adequacy, rather than the fee it states, is the most reliable indicator of how a course of treatment will proceed.
Diagnosis and findings
The plan should record the clinical and radiographic findings on which it is based, including periodontal status, occlusal assessment and the imaging reviewed.
A plan that proceeds directly to proposed treatment without stating findings cannot be evaluated by the patient or by any subsequent clinician.
Sequence and staging
Procedures should be listed in the order they will be performed, with the interval between stages stated. Healing periods following extraction, grafting or implant placement should be specified, as these determine the overall duration.
For patients travelling for treatment, this section determines the number and length of visits and should be explicit.
Itemised fees and contingencies
Each procedure should carry its own fee. Foreseeable contingencies, particularly grafting requirements that cannot be finally determined until surgery, should be identified with their associated cost.
The circumstances under which the total would change, and by how much, should be stated in advance.
Alternatives and warranty
The plan should identify the alternative treatments considered, including no treatment, and the basis on which the recommendation was made. Warranty terms, review intervals and the maintenance the patient is expected to undertake should be stated.
A plan meeting these criteria takes time to prepare and is provided before payment is requested. Its absence is itself a finding.
For an individual assessment of your case, you can request a consultation at our Bogotá practice.
