Specialty Referrals

A general practitioner refers a new patient to a periodontist. The periodontist performs a crown lengthening procedure to enable the construction of a full crown restoration of a tooth that had fractured leaving too little tooth structure to restore. During treatment by the periodontist, the patient questions the qualifications of the referring dentist. The periodontist does not condemn the work of the referring dentist, but does not give a positive response. Sensing the periodontist's hesitation to praise the referring dentist, the patient asks for a recommendation to another general dentist. The periodontist on request presents the patient with the names of two dentists who are both "very talented."

The original referring dentist receives a letter from the periodontist indicating the completion of the periodontal procedures only. The patient did not return to the original dentist for the needed restorative treatment but rather went to see one of the dentists recommended by the periodontist.