Its a license to print money by how much they charge. Mine lives on a huge acreage and I suspect her patients are helping to pay for that
Imagine spending a lot of money and years to get a specialized education and then getting paid well to do that job. The nerve.
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But living an honest life - for that you need the truth. That's the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, leads to liberation and dignity. -Ricky Gervais
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While subjective accusations are flying everywhere why don't we actually being in some science talk.
Dental radiology (xrays) are an adjunct to their clinical exam. When it comes to evidence in identifying dental carries (cavities) or worse conditions, some studies found that xrays do not add diagnostic ability in a healthy, low risk population.
BUT keep in mind that dental xrays have extremely small amounts of radiation and may help the dentist identify problems. My complaint is that they cost money and I don't have insurance, so in the case I find it a bit of a money grab since they harass me for them constantly.
The other, likely larger issue (of which I'm trying to track down the study) is that a large number of dental carries/cavities are very small and self limiting. I believe it was also an ADA practice guideline that suggested the majority of cavities under a certain size should be left alone and not filled. But I have never heard of a dentist in Calgary telling someone they have a cavity and not wanting to fill it.
*In your dentists defense, the above may be what's being taught in schools and suggested as best practice. I've found a trend in Calgary healthcare that a lot of practitioners across the board are quite conservative and err on the side of caution.
Then there are the completely absurd circumstances, like when I was about 10 and my dentist wanted to pull six teeth because of crowding. My teeth, without being pulled, are perfectly fine. That would have cost thousands.
An environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.
I went to a dentist once when I was 12 and once when I was 42. I'll probably go again when I'm in my 70's. I do think they probably sell more dental services than are really needed under the guise of prevention and treating relatively small things in the hope of stopping potential big things. No one I know gets out of the dentists office with just a check up. Like when you take your car to the dealership for an oil change vs going to mr lube. I don't think anyone needs a cleaning twice a year. I don't think anyone needs xrays as often as they do them. And I do question actual costs involved...20k in Canada is often 300 bucks in a modern US trained Costa Rican dentist's office. Even in the states the closer you get to he border the less professional services cost. I told my dentist I'd see her in 2047 but I still get reminders that they've made an appointment for me that I need to cancel twice a year.
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I don't think going for a cleaning twice a year is all that bad. Doing it frequently means it is a lot quicker and less painful than when you put it off. I've only had work done that actually needed doing, I don't get told I need work every time I go in. X rays are once ever 2 years. Maybe I just have a good dentist. And everyone's teeth are different, some people can get away with not going often, I guess.
I feel like Dentistry is the most overpriced thing I’ve ever spent money on in my life. The value for what you get is not there imo. Therefore I feel like they are crooks due to overcharging.
Obviously everybody’s experiences are different but not having a dental plan through work for the last decade sure makes you question the value of getting ripped off at the dentist. I suspect those with good health plans don’t feel the same as me because they aren’t directly directly ripped off as hard.
Imagine spending a lot of money and years to get a specialized education and then getting paid well to do that job. The nerve.
For sure, they're entitled to be paid well. But it seems like some of them like to tell people more appointments and services are needed when it's really not.
For sure, they're entitled to be paid well. But it seems like some of them like to tell people more appointments and services are needed when it's really not.
And this is a perfect example of why privatized health care can be problematic
Dentistry in Calgary is like Realty. The hardest part of having a successful practice is attracting customers in a highly competitive landscape with a relatively hard to differentiate product. So no surprise some go a little borderline insane with the marketing side (as many realtors do).
I go in for an appointment every 3 months, seems excessive... No cavities since though, so I’ll continue with this frequency of visits for now. Last visit was only ~$20 with my insurance.
That’s the thing, if you have insurance it’s one of those easy decisions that you may as well “take advantage”. But that’s the whole point. Dentists are taking advantage because it’s good for business. Not all dentists (I assume), but certainly mine, and then even the new one I go to after switching due to generally hawkish behaviour.
The sentiment that dentists are taking advantage of people is fairly widespread and if doesn’t mean they should not be fairly compensated for their schooling, experience, skill and costs and profit to run their businesses. Where people see line crossing is into the abuse of pricing and sort of weird predatory business practices that are frequently at play. These are valid criticisms in my mind and dentists could easily shed this wide held view by simply not engaging in slime ball business practices.
I also wonder why insurance companies have not been more “on top” of dentists practices and pricing regimes.
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Is it normal for dentists to contact the insurance companies ~2 weeks before an appointment and then base their recommendations on what is covered? For my last appointment they knew (down to the dollar) what would be covered and what wouldnt, and conveniently everything they recommended was within the annual coverage limits
