You refer if your expertise does not extend to the level demanded for treating the diseases you are considering, or if the problem your patient has is not a dental problem and you wish to refer to a physician to rule out or treat the systemic disease. Referral is never meant to be a way to dump patients whom you simply don't wish to treat. Follow up and evaluation of treatment is an important aspect of your practice. Obviously you should follow a patient under active treatment to be sure the treatment you have prescribed or performed is working. Follow up is also important from the patient's point of view.
Patients have the opportunity to ask questions or clear up misunderstandings.
Follow up is important from the standpoint of your ongoing assessment of your practice. These are important ways to tell if you are maintaining a successful practice. You have now come to the end of the modules that prepare you with the diagnostic skills to begin to complete the cases in the laboratory portion of this course. Go to the course index page and look at the Example Case. Then you can try the 7 test cases you need to complete before you finish this course.