Ask the Dentist!
All Dental Care is the Same: Right?
If you’ve read any of my other posts you’ll know I’m not a fan of anything or anyone that comes between the dentist/patient relationship. From large dental corporations to dental insurance companies, money is the name of the game. Large, multi-office dental corporations recruit young dentists straight out of school to work in dental chain offices where often dollars made is more important than quality care provided. The lure of a “free” dental exam and cleaning is quickly replaced with a sticker shock treatment plan of work that may or may not be needed. Dental insurance companies sign on dentists to be preferred providers which amounts to the dentist working for the insurance company. This in turn leads to what’s economically better for the insurance company and not what’s best for the patient.
Thankfully this is not the norm across the board, yet.
Some large group practices provide very good care but, unfortunately, I have yet to find an insurance company that does not have their own best interests in mind.
So, what do you do? My advice is to use your gut feeling when it comes to dental treatment. If something doesn’t sound right or you don’t understand something, ask questions. Ask to have the procedure explained to you. If the dentist refuses or seems aggravated by that request that should be a red flag. Remember, you have the final say so when it comes to your dental care. My job is to educate patients on what I feel is the best treatment and then allow them to make an educated decision about their treatment.
When it comes to dental insurance companies, that’s another story. While a few, very few, companies are tolerable to work with the majority make the dentist’s life miserable. Claims are consistently denied, reimbursements are low and coverage rules are constantly changed without notification. Having said that it often makes me wonder why patients allow dental insurance companies to dictate their dental care. Almost daily patients refuse necessary dental treatment because their insurance does not cover it. Unlike medical insurance dental insurance has a yearly maximum “benefit” and once that maximum is reached that’s it. Any costs after that are the responsibility of the patient. Since dental insurance maximums have not changed since the early 1970’s most dental care costs today far exceed the maximum benefits. I’m often asked which is the best dental insurance to have and my answer is the one someone else pays for.
Although dental care can be expensive there are many options other than dental insurance. While our office is not a provider for any dental insurance company we do as a courtesy file and accept dental insurance for our patients as well as offer financing through CareCredit. Our Loyalty Membership Plan provides a competitive alternative to dental insurance. For more information, give us a call at 225-926-4203.