Dr. Katie ToThe Wellness Dentist, CEO and Founder of Center for Wellness Dentistry and Wellness Dentist Institute.

What a Real Second Opinion Looks Like at Our Practice

21 Feb 2026 · 1 min

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1:27

In this video, Dr. Katie To explains why obtaining a second opinion is valuable, especially for extensive or unfamiliar dental treatment plans. She introduces the concept of "wellness dentistry," which prioritizes uncovering the root cause of a patient’s oral issues rather than merely patching symptoms. To provide a genuine second opinion, the practice requires a comprehensive new‑patient examination—identical to the intake for any new patient—so that any underlying systemic or remote factors contributing to a localized problem can be identified. Dr. To warns that treating only the visible issue without deeper assessment can lead to recurrence, worsening conditions, and higher long‑term costs. The video encourages patients to seek a thorough evaluation before deciding on treatment, positioning the practice’s comprehensive exam as the foundation for an informed, holistic second opinion.

Chapters

We get this question a lot. I know sometimes when you're at the dentist and you hear about a really big treatment plan or something scary or something that you've never even heard before, I think it's super smart to go out and get another opinion. I think that's really the best thing that you can do. When you come into our practice, we do wellness dentistry. Wellness dentistry means that we are always going to strive to get to the root cause, to the real reason that whatever troubles you're having are occurring. We're not going to simply look at this issue, patch you up, and send you on your way. So in order to get a second opinion from one of our wellness dentists, we have to do a comprehensive new patient visit. Just like if you called us to become a new patient and establish care. And you may say, dawn, why? I really just want her to look at this one spot. I get it, I do. But what if that one spot is being caused by something going on over here or. Or something else that's systemic? And we simply said, yeah, that maybe is the way to go, but we didn't actually get to the root cause of it. When you don't look deeper, guess what? That problem is going to come back. That problem could even get worse. That problem could end up costing you a lot more pain, suffering, and money down the road. So if you want to get a second opinion from one of our wellness dentists, we're happy to do so, and we're going to do it with our comprehensive exam process.