Implant + Perio Clinic

One of the questions patients rarely ask is: “What treatment would you choose not to do?” Yet it is often one of the most important questions in dentistry. Much of modern healthcare focuses on what can be done. New techniques. New materials. New technology. New possibilities. And many of these developments are genuinely exciting. But experience teaches a slightly different lesson. Just because a treatment is possible does not automatically mean it is necessary.

Over the years, some of the most important decisions we have made for patients have involved not proceeding with treatment. Not because treatment was impossible. But because it was not the right answer. Sometimes that means leaving a healthy tooth alone. Sometimes it means delaying treatment until a patient has had time to think. Sometimes it means choosing a simpler solution instead of a more complex one. And occasionally it means saying: “I don’t think you need treatment at all.”

Because every patient deserves clarity

Those conversations are rarely dramatic. They do not produce before-and-after photographs. They are not the stories most people tell about dentistry. Yet they are often the moments that matter most. Because good dentistry is not simply about providing treatment. It is about exercising judgement. The goal is not to find something to do. The goal is to find the right thing to do. And sometimes, the right thing is surprisingly little. In our experience, patients rarely regret taking time to make a thoughtful decision. What they regret more often is feeling rushed into one. This is why consultations are so important.

Not because every patient needs treatment. But because every patient deserves clarity. The treatments themselves change over time. The principles do not. Protect healthy teeth whenever possible. Treat disease early. Listen carefully. Respect uncertainty. And never forget that behind every treatment plan is a person placing their trust in you. Dentistry has given us many opportunities to help people. Some of the most meaningful have come from knowing when not to intervene.

About the Authors

Dr Sanaz Tehrani, DDS (Germany), and Dr Pedram Negahban DDS (Germany), DipImpDent RCS (Eng.), AssocFCGDent, are the Clinical Directors of Implant & Perio Clinic in Marylebone, Central London.

Having worked together for many years, they share a simple belief: patients should never feel rushed into treatment, and healthy teeth should be preserved whenever possible.

Implant & Perio Clinic is located on Portland Place, Marylebone, near Harley Street, London W1

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