Today Jim Du Molin discussed how the public views dental care and how many are resentful over the cost. To help illustrate this he referenced a recent NY Times article that discussed the growing use of dental implants. The NYT article said the following:
“In an overwhelming majority of cases, implants to replace lost teeth are by far the best long-term solution for maintaining a healthy mouth. Also, because they rarely need to be replaced, in the long run they are more economical than bridges.
“Bridges are not the standard of care anymore,” Dr. Lawrence J. Kessler, a periodontist and associate professor of surgery at the University of Miami School of Medicine, told me in an interview. “For most people who lose teeth, implants are the treatment of choice.”
“About half a million implants are placed each year in this country. On average, the total cost of an implant to replace a single tooth is $3,500 to $4,000 (more if other procedures are required), or about one-third more than the cost of a bridge. But while bridges have an average life span of 10 years, an implant can last a lifetime.”
It’s true that the procedure is expensive, in part because it is expensive for the dentist and also because it is basically a permanent fix for the patient. But as Jim points out, the interesting part of the article are the comments that followed. Many readers were resentful of the cost. Some blamed the insurance companies for treating implants as “experimental”, which is pretty absurd. Therefore, they refuse to cover the treatment. Others blamed the dentists for charging so much for the treatment.
Other readers defended the dentists, however. One stated: “To the person complaining about fees- you pay for the dentist’s time, skill, care and judgment, not an item off the shelf. The dentist didn’t get the skills by purchasing knowledge and skill pills off the shelf. If you are unhappy with the dentist go find one that makes you happy. Having no concept of ALL the costs incurred by the dentist, you’d be ashamed of complaining about the wonderful dentistry you received.”
How do you view dental treatment? Do you resent the insurance company for not covering certain procedures? Do you resent the dentist for his fees? Do you subscribe to the notion that you’re paying for years of expertise so the cost is worth it?
To read more about this story check out the Wealthy Dentist.
