You have a patient in desperate need of care due to gum disease, but they are flat out refusing any treatments outside of a regular cleaning. How would you respond to this situation?

Because you'll likely have around six to eight minutes to respond to an ethical scenario like this during your dental school MMI, you can take the time to be detailed in the approach that you would take. For a question like this, providing examples of times you've educated others and maybe swayed their decisions could stand out to your interviewer at this MMI station.

The first thing you want to focus your answer on in this scenario is making sure the patient is educated on their condition and the potential ramifications to their oral health if left untreated. You can also discuss various options available. If a patient refuses treatment, giving them different treatment options can sometimes convince them to reconsider treatment. Once the patient knows their options and the consequences of not being treated, explain that the ball is now in their court.

"If I'm ever faced with a situation like this, my first course of action would be to ensure that the patient understands the impacts of gum disease on their oral and overall health. The patient might not be aware that gum disease has been linked to an increased risk of conditions like high blood pressure and heart disease due to inflammation. Then, if I feel like out-of-pocket costs for treatment are a factor in the patient's decision, I'll present all treatment options to the patient. I would discuss non-invasive procedures like scaling, antibiotic treatments, and various surgical treatments. Of course, I would discuss the lifestyle and home care necessary, like regular brushing, a softer toothbrush, flossing, and tobacco cessation, if necessary. Once I'm sure the patient is aware of their options, I would tell them that I look forward to hearing back from them shortly and close our time together."