Comments on: Meet them or bring them?

By: Bob Miller

Bob Miller — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 22:48:49 +0000

Thank you very much for your reply Dr. Mead. After I wrote this I did some research that corroborated your opinion, including the ADA and AAP statements on laser therapy. When I returned to the dentist I asked for just the deep cleaning, with scaling and root planing. The dentist gave me a hard time about it, and they asked me to sign a disclaimer that stated that I might lose teeth, etc. because of my decision. They did the cleaning at least, and now the dentist has shifted to blaming my gum pockets on tightly spaced teeth and recommending invisalign and something called maxillofacial therapy. As far as I can tell the dentist diagnosed periodontistis based on very quick probed pocket depths and my xrays. My gums don’t bleed and I have a copy of my radiographs; comparing them to examples online it seems to me that my bone loss is mild at most and the spaces she pointed out to me as bone loss are normal or close to it. Unfortunately my insurance is only accepted by about 3 dentists in our area, and I have already gone through two of them. I guess I’ll keep trying to talk with this one, but I wish I did not need to be so skeptical.

By: Alan Mead

Alan Mead — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 17:27:15 +0000

A couple things:
1) You don’t need antibacterial injections and laser treatment for gum disease. If you feel like your dentist is “selling you” on something you need to hold them accountable. Ask them questions until you feel like you’re getting the whole story. If you can’t get there…you need to find another dentist.
2) Your dental condition has literally nothing to do with your insurance coverage. Some people with great insurance need no dental interventions outside of a plain old “cleaning.” Some people with decent dental insurance coverage need way more work than their insurance will cover. Make your dentist explain themselves to you. Make them talk to you like a person and not an insurance policy or a potential dollar amount.

By: Bob Miller

Bob Miller — Sun, 17 Dec 2017 03:17:09 +0000

My repeated problem with dentistry is not that I am unwilling to pay for good care, it is that often options are presented as necessary when they are really not. For example I recently changed dentists because my dentist said he needed to remove all my amalgam fillings because they contain mercury. My new dentist wants to charge me an extra $600 over my insurance coverage (which covers a normal deep cleaning/scaling etc) for antibacterial injections and laser treatment for my periodontitis. How do I know this is reasonable? I don’t have this problem at all with my MD. Maybe the reason is the insurance system.

By: Off Island Dental

Off Island Dental — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 13:39:44 +0000

Like it or not, it’s important to have strong skills to convince patients about dental treatment. Sure, it’s more “fun” to have a new iPhone in the short-term, but what about long term health affects? This is a great article about the reality of patient mindset these days. Thank You!

By: Nearby Dental

Nearby Dental — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 15:43:21 +0000

Excellent article Alan.

By: Mdental

Mdental — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 07:41:16 +0000

Thanks for the information.

By: Manhattan Beach Dental Center

Manhattan Beach Dental Center — Wed, 17 May 2017 19:24:13 +0000

The best that the dentist can do is communicate their recommendations, the consequence of not addressing these dental issues.

By: Heritage Trace Dental

Heritage Trace Dental — Thu, 11 May 2017 18:24:25 +0000

I would say a practitioner should be understanding of each patient’s unique position.

By: Wheatland Dental Care

Wheatland Dental Care — Wed, 10 May 2017 19:09:07 +0000

I would imagine that to a patient, a hefty investment into one’s dental and oral health may not be a priority, and that jet ski may look pretty good. I guess many people do not understand the ramifications of ignoring dental problems in the present.

By: Mdental

Mdental — Mon, 20 Mar 2017 05:34:20 +0000

Great valuable and important info thanks.