Getting Ripped Off? – Part 3
May 29, 2011
For the last couple of weeks we have been discussing an online column that was forwarded to me called “Is Your Dentist Ripping You Off?” If you missed any of the columns, be sure to look them up online. This week I wanted to discuss more of the comments readers made after the column was published.
Many of the comments are rants from obviously angry people. As I read through the 9 pages of comments, it is obvious that people are mad about the cost of dentistry and things in general. It is also obvious that many of the contributors have a very negative opinion of the profession. This is a disturbing trend.
What does the following comment say about this particular person’s view of dentistry? “It is about time dentists got investigated. They over charge, they underpay and take advantage of their staff. Why do they use dangerous toxic materials like mercury in fillings?…….and the unnecessary braces they subject little kids to. They actually x-ray the whole head. This industry is ripe for massive investigations. Hopefully it will happen before more people are damaged by unnecessary or shoddy work.”
In addition to this comment being highly inaccurate, it is coming from someone who is probably angry at life in general, let alone dentistry. The point is that this is the trend. People are losing trust in professions that used to be well respected. Why? Life isn’t getting any easier. The cost of living seems to be continuously rising and loyalty and trust are slipping away as a consequence of just being able to make ends meet. As disposable income decreases, people are spending less on things they do not feel are essential.
I discussed a comment last week from someone who was complaining about the cost of a crown. What if you need 10 crowns and the cost is $15,000? Let’s get one thing straight – no one needs crowns. You may need a crown or 10 to save your teeth but you always have the option of taking the teeth out. That would cost a lot less. Someone might say – I can’t justify spending $15,000 on my teeth. There are people who will spend $40,000 on a car that they drive for 5 years and trade in for $10,000. Most people use their teeth more than they use their car and the teeth don’t depreciate. It is the responsibility of the dentist to educate the patient so that the patient can make the most informed decision on what is right for them.
Unfortunately, dentistry is not getting cheaper and the broken system we call dental insurance is not getting any better. So, for now, dentistry is one of those things you have to decide where to place on your priority list. Just keep in mind that your health, including the health of your teeth, has a direct effect on the quality of your life.
Now, as far as this trend of losing trust and loyalty, you have to make a decision about where dentistry falls on your priority list first. If your dental health is not important to you, you could be the one making all the negative comments about dentists and dentistry, probably do not go to the dentist on a regular basis, and will most likely suffer the consequences. If your dental health is important to you, seek someone you like and trust as a person. If you find that person, they will make sure to take good care of you. You have a choice.
Getting Ripped Off? – Part 2
May 22, 2011
Last week I told you about an online column that was forwarded to me called “Is Your Dentist Ripping You Off?” Basically, the author was questioning why there can be such a discrepancy in fees or treatment plans between dentists. The author also gave suggestions on how to pick a dentist and did note, “Don’t select a dentist on price alone.”
This week I wanted to discuss some of the comments that readers made after the column was published. It is interesting to note that there were people on both sides of the debate. The first comment came from a dental assistant. She says, “It is fair to comparison shop but remember that cost is not always the best evaluation tool. It is a much better idea to check around with people you trust to see if they like their dentist.” She goes on to say, “Most dentists like their patients to be informed about their health and partner in all decisions. In our office, patients are always given the optimal solution as well as the options and their pros and cons.”
I would agree with these statements but would add that you, the potential patient, make the ultimate decision as to who your dentist is. Just because someone else “likes” a particular dentist does not mean that person is right for you. Although it is impossible for you to be able to evaluate the clinical skills of a particular dentist, which is unfortunate, the most important factor is that you trust who you are going to.
Here is a comment from another reader. “What’s disgusting is that the dentist pays the lab about $450 for a crown and marks it up 200% or more. What happened to the accepted profit margin for a business of 20-30%? What a rip.”
Can dentistry be expensive? Absolutely. Who is to blame? Is it the insurance companies that have not raised their yearly maximums since 1970? Is it the dentists who are price gouging? Is it the dentists who are over treating? Is it the government? I think of solutions for this all the time but always come up dry. There are so many factors. I have never heard one solution that fixes all the problems. If you have one, I would love to discuss it.
Here are some of the issues. Today, as I understand it, the cost of an undergraduate education at Tufts University is about $52,000 a year. That’s over $200,000 to get a bachelor’s degree. To be a dentist you have to spend at least four more years in school. Tufts Dental School is currently around $75,000 per year. That is another $300,000 to bring the total cost of 8 years of education to over $500,000. That is a tough nut to swallow on graduation day with no job, no income, no house and a beat-up car. I’m not saying you should feel badly for those poor dental graduates; I’m just saying it is a factor.
Any small business owner will tell you that running a small business is a challenge. Dentistry is no exception. The average overhead for a dental practice is tough to say because it depends on where you are in your career, what type of office you have, and where you practice. However, I can tell you it is high. Again, we dentists are not looking for sympathy: I’m just saying it is a factor.
There are other factors for cost such as the perceived level of expertise of a particular dentist, the quality of the laboratory used (which makes a huge difference), continuing education expense to keep current,demographics, etc. I will discuss more of these next week when I review some other interesting comments.
