who decides whether i see a specialist or a general dentist at ar 32

Two people decide: the dentist who examines you recommends, and you choose. Neither should happen without the other.

The dentist's side

At AR 32, Dr Avinash Bamane or Dr Rashmi Bamane sees you first. They take your medical and dental history, examine you, take digital X-rays if needed and work out what is wrong. Then they decide whether it is something they will treat themselves or something that needs one of our MDS departments. The aim is to arrange the right specialist for your case, rather than one dentist attempting all of it.

Signs that usually point to a specialist

• Root canals: curved or extra canals, a tooth that was treated before and failed, or a tooth that hasn't settled after treatment. These go to an endodontist.
• Extractions: an impacted wisdom tooth (one stuck in the bone or gum) or roots lying close to the nerve. These go to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
• Gums: deep pockets, loosening teeth or bone loss from periodontitis (advanced gum disease). These go to a periodontist.
• Bite and alignment: braces or aligners go to an orthodontist.
• Young children: for ages one to ten, we recommend our MDS paediatric dentist (pedodontist).
• Patches, ulcers or lumps that don't heal within a couple of weeks: oral medicine.

Signs a general dentist is the right choice

Most dental care doesn't need a specialist. Small and medium fillings, scaling, straightforward extractions and many crowns are routine work for an experienced general dentist. Sending these to a specialist adds cost (₹1,500 for an MDS consultation instead of ₹500) without adding much benefit. If anyone, anywhere, suggests a specialist for something simple, it is fair to ask why.

Your side of the decision

• Ask what the specialist will do that the general dentist can't.
• Ask what happens if you don't see a specialist, or if you wait a few weeks.
• Ask for the specialist's fee and the treatment fee before agreeing. Our fee list is in the online store, and the final cost is confirmed after examination.
• Take the plan home. You don't have to decide in the chair, and nobody at our clinic is paid on what you spend.

If another dentist referred you

If your own dentist elsewhere has already suggested a specialist, bring their note and X-rays. Dr Avinash or Dr Rashmi will still examine you briefly, because the plan has to make sense to the clinician who coordinates it, but a clear referral usually means you reach the right department faster.

If you disagree with the recommendation either way, say so. Sometimes a patient prefers a specialist for peace of mind, and sometimes a patient would rather a familiar dentist does a borderline case. Both are reasonable conversations to have.