The Top Ten
July 13, 2012
This season is often the time there is an influx of new patients being seen in dental practices. Many of the new patients I have seen this spring are people who have not been to a dentist in five or more years. Here is a list of the top ten reasons these patients say they have stayed away from the dental office:
10. Fear of pain
9. Missing work time
8. Moved and haven’t “found” a new dentist
7. Have been out of work
6. My dentist retired
5. Can’t find an office I am comfortable in
4. I don’t like the dentist
3. Economy
2. Lack of concern
And…….the #1 reason people have stayed away from the dentist – Didn’t have insurance.
One of the new patients I saw yesterday (a 40-year-old) said to me, “I haven’t been to a dentist for over five years because I didn’t have insurance. I haven’t had any problems but now I have insurance”.
After examination, this patient was very glad to hear he did not have any cavities. He was not so glad to hear that he had moderate periodontal (gum) disease. When questioned on his familial history he said, “My mother has dentures and I know my father is missing some teeth but I think he’s okay”.
Despite the fact that most people do not know the details about their familial dental history, most seem to know if their parents had/have their own teeth, go to a dentist on a regular basis, and a general knowledge of any problems they have encountered. I always ask this question because it is a good general guideline as to potential dental issues facing the person sitting in front of me.
Luckily for the new patient described above, he will be able to regain most of his dental health with appropriate non-surgical periodontal therapy. However, he was made aware that he has bone loss that will not come back, and because of his genetic pre-disposition for periodontal disease (which affects some75% of the population), life-long maintenance, including hygiene visits every 3 months will be essential to maintain his fragile periodontal status.
And……if his goal is to be healthy and keep his teeth for his life-time, this means every 3 months for the rest of his life…..regardless of whether he has insurance or not. We talked about the annual cost for this maintenance with or without insurance and he was surprised to hear how affordable it is to maintain health.
As I have predicted, due to people staying away from the dentist, dental emergencies are on the rise. I have seen more emergencies (broken teeth, pain, etc.) this spring than I can remember in the recent past. Emergency room dental visits have risen at a staggering rate…..and just so you know, the hospital cannot do anything for you other than prescribe pain medication which often helps only minimally.
I urge you not to put off dental visits. If you have any of the “excuses” listed above, I would suggest re-prioritizing and putting your health at the top of the list. Many dental offices offer complimentary….FREE…initial visits. Talk to the dentist and dental staff about your concerns. There are ways to manage any of these concerns. If the dental office you go to does not listen or does not have a solution, move on to another office. Get a plan that is manageable for YOU!
Made in China
May 29, 2012
I just returned from my semi-annual journey to my dental lab in Georgia where I meet with a group of dentists who share both the laboratory we use and the passion for excellence in what we do. The topic of dental restorations made overseas came up. Mr. Terry Fohey, certified dental technician and owner of NuCraft Dental Arts, one of the finest dental laboratories in the country, believes that a dental patient should have the right to know where the materials are coming from that are being put in their mouth.
China and other countries can claim to use specific materials, but there are no regulations in place to verify the information. There are also no regulations that allow a dental patient the right to know where the materials came from that are being placed in his/her mouth.
With the help of a State Senator from Georgia, Mr. Fohey is proposing legislation requiring dental laboratories to disclose to the dentist the material contents and point of origin of every dental restoration. It would also require the dentist to disclose the information to the patient should the patient ask. Would it make a difference to you whether or not your crown was being made in the United States or not?
Why are some dentists and dental laboratories farming out dental restorations overseas? Like everything else in the world, money is the reason. I get advertisements in the mail daily of dental laboratories able to make crowns for ridiculously low prices. It apparently sounds enticing to some practitioners.
Wonder why some dentist’s fees are higher or lower than others for this service? There are actually many factors that go into the creation of a fee for a procedure that requires a laboratory expense. The patient never sees the laboratory expense in most cases because it is built into the total fee. Clinical experience, clinical skill, office overhead, time required, and nature of the practice are all things that go into the creation of a fee.
The cost of the laboratory procedures also greatly affects the cost for the dental procedure. Let’s take crowns for example. I have seen laboratory fees advertised as low as $39 per crown and know of other dental labs whose fee is a few hundred dollars per tooth. Some patients would accept a lower quality product going into their mouth for a lower cost and others would not.
There are even machines you can buy that can fabricate crowns while you wait. There are many choices. It is basically up to the dentist to decide what he/she feels is in the best interest of the patient based on knowledge and skill.
In my experience, laboratories that cost more tend to make a better product. That better product which gets put in your mouth is a direct reflection on the dentist placing it. Excellent lab work, however, does not make up for less than perfect clinical skills. I have been in practice for 16 years. It took me a good 7 years to find a laboratory that meshed with what I try to accomplish for my patients…..and believe me, it was painful getting there.
We live in an ever-changing world. I try to buy American as often as possible, but realize that it is not always feasible. Mr. Fohey summed it up this way, “This bill is simply about disclosure. It does not restrict anyone from importing dentistry. Instead, it just makes us all play by the same rules.”
