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To the person who PMed me saying "of course you dentists/doctors defend each other", I don't understand where you got that idea. When I see bad dentistry, I show the patient what it's supposed to look like, then show them what theirs looks like. They can then figure it out for themselves. I then say, "if you have questions about your dental work, you should talk to the dentist that did this work." Not quite sure how that is defending anyone.
Maybe they looked at your teeth and thought they were salvageable and gave you a high price to discourage you from having them all pulled
I think you're on to something here. When I see a new patient and determine through my initial discussion with them that they are potentially going to be a major pain in the neck, I simply quote them a fee so high they run out of the office and never darken my doorstep again. Where did I learn this trick? From a dental school professor. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if that's what happened here.
The corporations are called "DSOs" - Dental Services/Support Organizations. You are right that the easiest way to identify a private practice is one that is named after the owner, but these days there are several private practices that are NOT the name of the owner. Usually this is done for marketing purposes - easier to find on a Google search.
Many corporate offices are trying to hide the fact that they are corporate in their marketing, almost as if they know their reputation among the population and dental community. You the nail on the head with the naming - there is a very large dental corporation that I will not name here with offices all over the country named "Your Town Modern Dentistry" or "Your Town Dental Group". They try to give the appearance that they are doctor-owned, private practices. The easiest way to identify those is that they will have the exact same web page - only difference is the location and name of the doctor(s).
Finding a dentist can be difficult. Honestly, the best dentist is the one you feel the most comfortable with. I have seen patients with a mouth full of garbage dentistry, but they absolutely love their dentist and trust them wholeheartedly. I don't try to throw that dentist under the bus. I simply tell them what I see and let them decide for themselves. If they are more comfortable with their other dentist, I understand completely. No hard feelings at all.
Sorry, yes DSO. You're right about the websites, I checked and found almost 20 dental practices in the area with the same website design as the guy who tried to sell me the $78 bottle of chlorhexidine, I did a little more research and found that the logo is that of Pacific Dental Services.
After my two failed attempts to find a good dentist I think I found a keeper. He's a mile from my home & he's had his own practice for 20 years. He spent a lot of time looking at my x-rays and examining my teeth. I won't go into all the boring details, but basically this is how it went.
He gave me three treatment plan options and discussed each one with me, he didn't push or try to talk me into more expensive work. On one of my teeth that has decay under the crown, rather than replacing the crown he said he can fix the decay without removing the crown, he explained it but all I got out of it was something about gums and a laser.
He's going to have the hygienist do a regular perio maintenance cleaning and if she finds anything that would require more work he said he would charge me a small amount extra for the additional time involved to treat the one or two teeth that he thought might warrant that.
He didn't push me to make up my mind and said he could all the work at once in one sitting, or he could spread it out over 6 or 8 months and I could pay for it over that time.
Sounds great! I know they're out there, our dentist does great work and is considerate of patients' resources as well.
Good luck with your new dentist! That'd be great if he can remove the decay under the crown without taking off the crown. I didn't know they could do that.
Sounds great! I know they're out there, our dentist does great work and is considerate of patients' resources as well. Good luck with your new dentist! That'd be great if he can remove the decay under the crown without taking off the crown. I didn't know they could do that.
Thanks! I didn't know they could either and I'm not sure how they do it all I heard was something about 'laser and your gums' that sort of freaked me out, so I sort of missed the rest of what he said. Maybe one of our resident dentists here can explain it.
Regarding previous posts here...you do NOT always get what what you pay for....but you will NEVER get what you DON'T pay for. I recommend going to Mexico because fixing those cases is sending my kids to college.
Regarding previous posts here...you do NOT always get what what you pay for....but you will NEVER get what you DON'T pay for. I recommend going to Mexico because fixing those cases is sending my kids to college.
Regarding previous posts here...you do NOT always get what what you pay for....but you will NEVER get what you DON'T pay for. I recommend going to Mexico because fixing those cases is sending my kids to college.
No thanks. I'd rather get things right done the first time.
No thanks. I'd rather get things right done the first time.
and thousands of people are going to Mexico and having no problems with their dental work whatsoever.
Do you actually believe that every person using a dentist here in the US never has had a problem despite spending way more money $$$$$$$$$$$ ?
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