I've never seen this kind of comment, so that is helpful to me. Is there any way to vet dentists to know how competent they are? As a regular person, it just seems that at best I look for someone who seems like a sincerely compassionate person and doesn't push fluoride and is recommended by other regular people, but I really don't know h…
I've never seen this kind of comment, so that is helpful to me. Is there any way to vet dentists to know how competent they are? As a regular person, it just seems that at best I look for someone who seems like a sincerely compassionate person and doesn't push fluoride and is recommended by other regular people, but I really don't know how to tell. I'm one who has dental trauma and breaks down on the chair, so it would give some semblance of control to my experience and trust to have a plan for picking someone.
You’re absolutely right! It’s difficult for the general public to ascertain the quality of dentist they select. You’re just on a good path. Find someone who takes time with you, cares for your past experiences that were traumatic and talks to you about your dental condition in a way that allows you to feel in control of the care you select. He/she should take time to educate you and give you treatment options. A good rule of thumb right now is to find someone who is in a stand alone practice. Venture capital is taking over dentistry and these corporate offices are moving towards the institutional model of medicine.
Perhaps a good litmus test is to choose someone who respects your wishes for no fluoride without pressuring you to change your mind. Good luck!
That makes good sense that the stand alone practice is one point to look at. To me it suggests that the dentist wouldn't be tied to corporate processes which usually emphasize profit over people. It also suggests they have to survive on their personal reputation and so would value honorable and respectful work. It seems to me that going with that might also be not accepting insurance, as insurance seems to exert influence over treatment as well, in a way that I distrust.
The bad about that, though, is that if you are poor, you are in a tight spot. When I tried to have my daughter seen, all of the local dentists refused to see her because we have government insurance that is not seen as worthwhile for the local dentists. I didn't realize this and spent hours and hours trying to find her a dentist, with them all refusing to see her even for cash once I had mentioned the insurance. They could be seen as criminally liable to refusing the insurance while accepting cash. I understand that, but it resulted in a rural Midwest blacklist for all children with government dental insurance, thus making it impossible for them to be seen except at basically two corporate dental offices which are well known to rush the kids roughly through and milk them quickly for the treatments that are reimbursable. It is like a factory. It took me a year to pay off the loan cost of having my child seen by a dentist a very long drive away whom I lied to, saying I didn't have insurance. And even then, I still wonder if all of that work of crowns and such on baby teeth was truly helpful or was bad for my kid.
I do often which for truly good advice from someone who knows and who I could actually trust. That is why I am so interested in what you might say.
Thank you for sharing your story and for more accurately calling out what is happening in my profession. I hate it but I did not want to disparage dentists who are part of corporate dentistry. There are good and bad dentists in all walks of our field!
I hate how you’ve been treated! There is a strong tendency to over treat especially in pediatrics. I hope that you find a great dentist who listens to your concerns and does not push you into procedures you do not desire.
You could follow my Substack for the one or two dental newsletters that I write. Use the comments section of those newsletters to ask any question. It is my passion to help people understand their dental health and to optimally reduce their need to see the dentist. It should be our goal as providers to support health discussions that make you need us less!
I've never seen this kind of comment, so that is helpful to me. Is there any way to vet dentists to know how competent they are? As a regular person, it just seems that at best I look for someone who seems like a sincerely compassionate person and doesn't push fluoride and is recommended by other regular people, but I really don't know how to tell. I'm one who has dental trauma and breaks down on the chair, so it would give some semblance of control to my experience and trust to have a plan for picking someone.
You’re absolutely right! It’s difficult for the general public to ascertain the quality of dentist they select. You’re just on a good path. Find someone who takes time with you, cares for your past experiences that were traumatic and talks to you about your dental condition in a way that allows you to feel in control of the care you select. He/she should take time to educate you and give you treatment options. A good rule of thumb right now is to find someone who is in a stand alone practice. Venture capital is taking over dentistry and these corporate offices are moving towards the institutional model of medicine.
Perhaps a good litmus test is to choose someone who respects your wishes for no fluoride without pressuring you to change your mind. Good luck!
That makes good sense that the stand alone practice is one point to look at. To me it suggests that the dentist wouldn't be tied to corporate processes which usually emphasize profit over people. It also suggests they have to survive on their personal reputation and so would value honorable and respectful work. It seems to me that going with that might also be not accepting insurance, as insurance seems to exert influence over treatment as well, in a way that I distrust.
The bad about that, though, is that if you are poor, you are in a tight spot. When I tried to have my daughter seen, all of the local dentists refused to see her because we have government insurance that is not seen as worthwhile for the local dentists. I didn't realize this and spent hours and hours trying to find her a dentist, with them all refusing to see her even for cash once I had mentioned the insurance. They could be seen as criminally liable to refusing the insurance while accepting cash. I understand that, but it resulted in a rural Midwest blacklist for all children with government dental insurance, thus making it impossible for them to be seen except at basically two corporate dental offices which are well known to rush the kids roughly through and milk them quickly for the treatments that are reimbursable. It is like a factory. It took me a year to pay off the loan cost of having my child seen by a dentist a very long drive away whom I lied to, saying I didn't have insurance. And even then, I still wonder if all of that work of crowns and such on baby teeth was truly helpful or was bad for my kid.
I do often which for truly good advice from someone who knows and who I could actually trust. That is why I am so interested in what you might say.
Thank you for sharing your story and for more accurately calling out what is happening in my profession. I hate it but I did not want to disparage dentists who are part of corporate dentistry. There are good and bad dentists in all walks of our field!
I hate how you’ve been treated! There is a strong tendency to over treat especially in pediatrics. I hope that you find a great dentist who listens to your concerns and does not push you into procedures you do not desire.
You could follow my Substack for the one or two dental newsletters that I write. Use the comments section of those newsletters to ask any question. It is my passion to help people understand their dental health and to optimally reduce their need to see the dentist. It should be our goal as providers to support health discussions that make you need us less!
oh that's awful. I'm so sorry that has been your experience.
Venture capital is indeed destroying everything good.
Good on you Mama for doing your best to do the best for your kid. It's tough.
Wish