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Before you fork over money for one of those reduced payment plans, be sure that your preferred dentist takes them... in my experience (working in the field), typically (but not always) the sub-par dentists (as well as the dental clinics) tend to take them to make up for not having enough patients otherwise. If your dentist takes them, then that's great, but don't buy first and then try to find someone who will do the work for substantially less money.
Very good advice. I lucked out and had an awesome dentist in FL. I'm not even sure why he offered the plans. But I did call some local TN and NC dentists that use plans and obviously I didn't use them. But I do feel like I'm being ripped off by my NC dentist.
I'm a dentist in Pennsylvania working in a clinic that serves the working poor and people who are on medical access. I can tell you that in this economy my clinic is actually thriving and the private dentists are huring bad because so many people are losing their jobs and applying for the medical access card. And to their surprise, when they actually come in for a checkup and cleaning we offer them the same restorative care that they would've received at any private office. Yes, we do root canals, crowns, dentures, extractions, restorations all at a fraction of the price private dentists do. Some of the dentists in this area keep raising their fees and people simply can't afford it, and the funny thing is the dentists won't reduce their fees. I see people all the time around town that tell me that they went over to get their records because they can't afford the private dentist anymore. The office I work at will always stay busy, no matter what the economy is like. It's the private dentists that are hurting.
I'm a dentist in Pennsylvania working in a clinic that serves the working poor and people who are on medical access. I can tell you that in this economy my clinic is actually thriving and the private dentists are huring bad because so many people are losing their jobs and applying for the medical access card. And to their surprise, when they actually come in for a checkup and cleaning we offer them the same restorative care that they would've received at any private office. Yes, we do root canals, crowns, dentures, extractions, restorations all at a fraction of the price private dentists do. Some of the dentists in this area keep raising their fees and people simply can't afford it, and the funny thing is the dentists won't reduce their fees. I see people all the time around town that tell me that they went over to get their records because they can't afford the private dentist anymore. The office I work at will always stay busy, no matter what the economy is like. It's the private dentists that are hurting.
Well you would think they would get a clue in a bad economy. My dentist worked on me for about an hour for a root canal and I paid $1100.00 cash. Greed. Let's see what happens to the greedy in this economy.
You'll always need a dentist, no matter what's going on with the economy. It's funny, I don't see any mentioning the word greed when it comes to auto mechanics and their hourly rate. And what you're forgetting is that many dentists work long hours too, and many can't even retire because they have no one to take their practices. There are so many dentists up where I live that are over the age of 60 that want to scale back and bring another dentist on so they can retire, not going to happen because they can't find any new dentists. I've already seen some that have just closed their offices and donated their equipment, small consolation when it comes to $1100 for a root canal.
Having worked for an endodontic practice, remember that especially when you go to a specialist (which I hope you are doing for a root canal!), you are paying not only for their expertise, but for the equipment. Surgical microscopes, digital xray machines, all those little nickel titanium files that get tossed after a couple of uses....
I agree that I don't think too many dentists will be going out of business any time soon. People will always need their teeth worked on, and especially if they accept dental insurance, dentists will have their appointment books (or in these times, software) packed to the gills. I know that the endo I worked for books two to three weeks in advance.
Dr. Smiley, they can't find dentists to take over their practices? Not enough graduating new dentists, you mean? Or none who have the means to buy into an existing practice?
I live in a very rural area in upstate Pennsylvania and no, there aren't too many dentists coming to this area. Remember, a dental student will more than likely go back to the same area he/she came from before starting dental school, so if they aren't originally from this area chances are they won't come here. There are plenty of dental graduates, but most of the ones I graduated with back in 2006 are either from the west coast or went into a residency, or the military. Temple University graduates around 120 students each year, Penn graduates many too. It's hard to buy a practice right away after leaving school. Most dental students coming out of school are very far in debt, and when I say debt, I'm not talking about some rinky dinky mortgage either. I'm talking about debt will over $200K, so imagine that kinda of debt at 5% over 30 years, yea, trust me that monthly payment will be well over $1000K/month. Most dental graduates want to go somewhere to make the most money and as fast as possible. Most want to just go out and work and not worry about operating a practice from the getgo. Maybe after a few years they start thinking about that, but not right after school. There are a few that go right into practice owning the whole place, but those are also the same people that are shutting the lights off at the end of the night too, not something I'm interested in doing that's for sure. Plus, I'm a loan repayment program thru the state which helps out tremendously!
I am wondering if there are any dental schools near you. When I lived in Boston and we were young
we went to a dental school where the soon to be dentists did our fillings. They did have a reqular dentist to watch so you were safe. I do know if you qulaify some dentist will arrange no intrest
or a very low rate for your work. Even with dental insurance, for a cleaning I still end up paying 35.00.
Since the work is not mandatory now, just wait. You also could ask the dentist for a discount, all he can say is no.
They want you to pay up front because they're rip-off artists. It doesn't cost them thousands of dollars to work on your teeth. And truth is, if the general public had access to anesthesia they could do the work themselves!
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