Question:
I am positive the last dentist I had was nothing but a dishonest,
incompetent, money-grubbing creep. So now, how do I find a truly GOOD,
skilled, dentist? How can one tell whether or not a dentist is good?
And how do you know when he says "You need a post", "you need a
filling", whether he's really filling a tooth that needs filling, or
just filling up his bank account?
References? I've asked around, and no one I know seems to think their
dentist is good or trustworthy! Except for one, and he doesn't accept
my dental insurance!
Answer:
that is a good place to start. if a dentist does not need to accept insurance,
that means that enough people are willing to take money out of their pockets
and give it to the dentist -- insurance be damned. i know that does not make
you life easier but it is a good indication of his ability to survive. the
very best dentist I know works that way
can't you submit your insurance yourself for reimbursement? do you have to
have the dentist do it?
My friend went to the UCLA dental
school once, had some really scared kid working on him, got a bad
diagnosis (though the prof reversed it) and then my friend bailed out
of there before any work was done! I've heard other stories as well. I
know there are some successes as well, but I'm not up for playing
"Dental roulette".
As for can't I bill my insurance company, yes I can, but what I'm
looking for is a dentist who is part of Delta Dental. so I can get
much lower rates. Is it impossible to find a good dentist who is part
of Delta or Cigna Insurance PPO or HMO Plans? (I'm beginning to think
so.) And if that is the case, Why are there so many lousy dentists???
If someone is good why should they work for
less. This is America. Land of free enterprise and capitalisim. Virtually
every dentist I know has dropped Delta over the last five years.
They used to ask you to work for 90% of your usual fee. Now they are down to
80% of your usual fee. And probably headed lower. Why is that? Is it good
for dentistry or good for the dentist or the patient? No, it is what Delta can
sell in the market place to make themselves competitive with other dental
insurance providers.
And finally, there are so many lousy dentists because there are so many lousy
patients. You've said it yourself. You are finding it impossible to find a
dentist who will do good work for less money instead of saying you are willing
to pay a good price for good quality. While you might eventually find someone
who is really good and just likes to be a charitable soul. Most of us have
spouses to clothe and feed, children to educate, parents to help support in a
nursing home, etc.
