Questions before treatment

A short list of questions is easier to carry into a dental office than to remember there. These come from two places: the American Dental Association's consumer site, MouthHealthy, and Florida's dentistry statutes.

Education, not a dental practice. Florida Smile Works does not examine, diagnose, or treat.

Questions from the ADA's MouthHealthy

These are the ADA's own words. They are the ADA's suggestions, not Florida law.

From How to Choose a Dentist (in Four Steps), under "A few questions you might want to ask are:"

• "Will the dentist explain ways to help you prevent dental health problems? Is dental health instruction provided?"
• "How does the dentist and office staff handle emergencies outside of office hours?"
• "Is the office staff familiar with your benefit plan, and do they offer financial options for treatment costs?"
• "Will your medical and dental history be recorded and placed in a permanent file?"

The same page adds: "Make a list of questions and bring your records so the dentist can take a look at your dental history if you want to ask something more specific."

From Your Top 9 Questions About Going to the Dentist—Answered!, under "Consider the following:"

• "Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file?"
• "Does the dentist explain techniques that will help you prevent dental health problems? Is dental health instruction provided?"
• "Are special arrangements made for handling emergencies outside of office hours?"

That page also says: "Only your dentist can determine what the best treatment plan is for you. Have questions about your oral health or certain dental procedures? Start a conversation. Ask your dentist to explain step-by-step."

Questions from Florida statutes

These follow from what Chapter 466 requires.

• "Who is my dentist of record?" Section 466.018 says "Each patient shall have a dentist of record." That dentist "shall remain primarily responsible for all dental treatment on such patient regardless of whether the treatment is rendered by the dentist or by another dentist, dental hygienist, or dental assistant." Read section 466.018.
• "Can I have the dentist's name, contact telephone number, after-hours contact information for emergencies, and license information?" Section 466.016 says "Every dentist shall provide each of her or his patients with her or his name, contact telephone number, after-hours contact information for emergencies, and license information." Read section 466.016.
• "Where is the license displayed?" The same section says a practitioner "shall post and keep conspicuously displayed her or his license in the office wherein she or he practices, in plain sight of the practitioner's patients."

Checking a license

Choose a dentist covers license checks and has its own short list of questions.

Sources

• American Dental Association, MouthHealthy, How to Choose a Dentist (in Four Steps). Read 2026-10-17.
• American Dental Association, MouthHealthy, Your Top 9 Questions About Going to the Dentist—Answered!. Read 2026-10-17.
• Florida Legislature, Fla. Stat. 466.016, License to be displayed. Read 2026-10-17.
• Florida Legislature, Fla. Stat. 466.018, Dentist of record; patient records. Read 2026-10-17.