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I remember when I was young and I thought that I understood the meaning of life and everything else. We all (me included) know how wrong I was.
I was discussing different dental practice approaches with a very young dentist who has been practicing for 3 years. Our discussion included a fee for service practice (which is what my office is), an insurance model where all or most insurance is accepted and patients only have the dentistry that their insurance company approves or covers and the corporate model which is the department store of dentistry.
The young dentist who has neither the dental skills nor the experience to manage an office said on the forum that a fee for service dental practice is not the best for patients. My response was that all of the finest dentists in the United States ARE fee for service.
Please stay with me on this:
In 1961 dental insurance came onto the market as a benefit to employees. The limit was $1,000 BUT in 1961 $1,000 bought 8 and a third crowns which was an incredible amount of dentistry. Fast forward 56 YEARS and the limit on most dental insurance policies is either $1,000 or $1,500 which in today's world buys ONE CROWN....And back in the day, insurance covered 95% of the dentist's fee. (Aside: Imagine if you didn't get a raise for 50 years!!!!!)
When a dentist accepts many insurance plans including the very bad ones that cover 30% of the usual fee, you have to ask yourself, "How does the dentist make a living from the small amount that the insurance pays?"
The answer:
1. They run from room to room and see 2,3, or 4 patients at the same time.
2. They try to do as many crowns as possible because crowns are the most profitable.
3. They pay their staff as little as possible so that there is high turn over
4. They use the cheapest labs and dental materials.
So how does MY fee for service practice compare?
1. I see ONE patient at a time minimum 1 hour
2. I do as few crowns as possible and try to keep all of your natural tooth structure.
3. My staff is one of the best paid and you know that because you have seen them for DECADES.
4. I try to use excellent labs and some of the finest dental materials made.
So, from a patients standpoint, where do you think that you could possibly receive the best care? Fee for service practice or an insurance based practice?
I guess it depends how much you value YOUR teeth.
(Aside: If insurance paid the same amount of care as in 1961, the limit on your dental insurance would be almost $10,000)
