Who decides your dental care?

How do you decide whether to seek dental treatment? Are you usually preventive minded and proactive? Do you only call when you sense discomfort or an obvious cavity, fracture or serious gum problem?


When you do decide to schedule with a dental office are you referred by a friend or family member or do you search the internet or telephone book or other direct ads? Do you consider any dental practice or are you strongly motivated to go where your dental insurance is in network for PPO discounts versus normal acceptance of your plan?


Do you believe there may be any difference in the quality of treatment you receive based on cost?
Is the treatment that you need so routine that you feel it makes little difference.


If you do need major procedures such as a root canal or bridge or some treatment of your front teeth would that make a difference? Do you believe that all dentists have similar experience and spend the same amount of time or use the same quality labs and supplies?


For some patients the answers to some or many of these questions is: "It does not matter at all or very much". They will then be highly persuaded to go with the "cheaper and faster the better" formula.


Many other patients do realize there is a difference.


It is true that new dental graduates will have very similar training. After that point there will be a very wide range. Doctors have choices to make regarding what equipment and supplies they purchase. They can very greatly with respect to the additional training they receive and use after dental school. They also have the ability to choose how much time they want to spend on patients and relate their focus and time to the fees they charge. The Dentist and staff spend time diagnosing your health status and then educating you. They not only perform your actual treatment but also strive to make you comfortable during that treatment and when providing you with temporaries and post op care. In addition to the amount of focus and time spent , there can be  much variation regarding quality of lab work and materials used for your treatment.


We believe patients have the right and responsibility to choose. It is a good thing to have dental insurance. It should be seen as a helpful benefit whether it pays in full or just a portion.
Unfortunately too many patients are strongly swayed by things that are not under their direct control. Your employer or union often decides which insurance plans to offer. Your insurance plan decides which procedures to cover and to what extent. The fee schedule designed by your particular plan may be anything from very basic to generous. It is really up to you, the patient to decide what you are comfortable with.


In the last 5 to 10 years there has been a great amount of change within dental insurance. As we all know, there have been major changes due to the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care). Thus fare the effect on dental and eye care has been minimal and indirect compared to medical coverage and for some the ability to sustain a full time employment.


I believe that our influence by politicians and insurance companies has already had significant effects on dental as well as medical care. While the goal was to spread health care to those less fortunate, there has unfortunately been adverse effects on those who previously had coverage and access to care. Many of us realize that there are ranges and different standards.


I will address this more in my next blog.