Additional response (from a dentist). I know this person so this is
said in a sarcastic tone, for sure (as this dds did not grow up with a
silver spoon in his mouth):

I would tell this person, "Yeah... you're right. We're all a bunch of
dumb a.sholes who stumbled our way through life, born with silver
spoons in our mouths. As such, we just don't give a sh.t about you and
your type. So, please go away. I'm busy rummaging through my walk-in
pantry for spare cans of corn... probably stuck behind the stacks of
caviar."

Mike

You know that is a hard concept to grasp when you are in pain.  Truth is the
person that is making 28k a year is close to 1/4 million dollars ahead of
the dentist that has spent 4 yrs college and 4 yrs dent school and now days
another year or two refining your skills in a GP residency etc..  Then tack
on another 400+ k with school debts and setting up a practice and you can be
easily over 1/2 million in the hole the first day you open your door for
patients.

No, this doesn't address the person in pain that truly cannot pay for tx.
There should be a balance between a capitalist fee for service and those
that fall between the cracks.  Everything that I see shows organised
dentistry does its part in trying to address this.  It is a complex problem
and certainly the states (read not federal government) need to find a better
way to provide care for the *truly needy*.

Certainly there are callous dentists that don't care, there are in every
profession and trade.  But, most are not equipped adequately to judge which
patient that comes in is truly destitute by simply relying on their word.
Now back to the 400k, many say big deal you're making XX dollars, you can
afford it.  Some older ones can that have an established practice, many
pushing 40 are still dealing with or recovering from their debt. There were
only a handfull out of the 470 including my class and the one ahead and
behind that had that silver spoon.

 The simple facts are that you can only provide so much pro bono service.
If you don't pay attention to this there comes a point that one day you
cannot pay rent, or staff salaries if you indiscriminately provide free
service to everyone that comes in and says "I can't pay".  .  I have been
there and done that - it was a long time ago but I will never forget it.

This isn't an excuse but an explaination,  *free treatment* always costs the
dentist money.  It is not just a matter of saying we won't charge you.

I'm sorry someone in your family is in pain.  Now, tell us where you live
and what options you have investigated so far.  There's a good bunch here
that will offer what we can if you don't jump on us right off the bat.

carabelli

We have a couple of openings around here ...... .how are they with
small firearms?

LOL. JOel, they tell them:  You may use Care Credit for your purchase.

My apologies to Scott as the discussion at Dentaltown does not address
your topic directly.

My point is:  Yes.  There are some dentists who may be pereceived as
"greedy" by lay folks.  In my opinion, these are merely dentists who
have learned the art of sales.  Since our system is generally a private
practice system, dentists can charge whatever they think their work is
worth regardless of what the insurance companies think their work is
worth.

Unethical dentists (the ones who are only out for $) will offer the
most expensive option first, hoping that you will "bite" on that and
accept that treatment.  If you say no, then they may offer a second
option (less expensive).  They will not compromise on the price of any
of their treatments for you.  They are not thinking about what you can
afford.  They are thinking about their business and making the most
lucrative sale.

So be saavy and look for these this.  Arm yourself with knowledge and
ask questions when speaking to your denists.  Some may get annoyed by
this, but be polite and persistent.  Do not appear like you are
ASSUMING they are unethical. Use your own intuition to decide whether
it is a dentist you can trust (providing you with the most honest
care).

In my opinion not compromising on the price of a treatment does not
mean that a dentist is unethical.

But if the dentist is NOT letting you know/understand  all of your
options up front, the dentist may be trying to take advantage of your
lack of dental knowledge and just trying to SELL you their most
expensive treatment.

In my opinion it is not unethical for a doctor to ask for what he
thinks his work is worth. It IS unethical to take advantage of an
unsuspecting patient by not giving them full information UPFRONT so
that they can make their decision based on all of the facts.. not just
some of the facts.

I hope the above makes sense to you.

Now back to your problem. Your wife needs care and it is too expensive
for you to purchase.  You have become forced to become a bargain
shopper.  My suggestion is to seek several opinons from various
dentists before you make your purchase.  Find out all the treatment
options available.

Above all when you make your final decision, seek care from a dentist
who you and your wife feel comforatble with.  Your intuition will tell
you who you can trust.  However if you must simply find the cheapest
offerring and compromise on trust, then you must.

Unlike medicine, dentistry is a business.  Some business owners run
their businesses ethically, some do not.  Find an ethical dentist and a
way to pay for having your wife's work done.

THEN practice preventive care as best you can.  Eat right, floss daily,
brush ... make the monetary sacrifice to visit a dentist eveyr 6
months.   All of these measures help to prevent the "perioodontal"
crisis situation that your wife now has.

I am sorry if I sound blunt or heartless.  I am sorry that care today
is so expensive, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet when it
comes to your health.  We are not a socialized system here.

Good luck to you.  Perhaps Joel or some of the ethical dentists at Sci
med can give you the names of a few ethical dentists that you can
trust.

Sincerely,

Sue

If a pteint cannot pay or is unwilling to pay then they are foreced to
become bargain shoppers.. possibly compromising quality of care.

These sorts of  detnists relaize that most patients do not come in
understanding that there are differen levels of treatments available.

however

The real point is, there are different levels of care that you can
seek.  They thinkn thier work is owrth more than  and spme who relaly
care.  Find a dentists who really cares.

Open full headers and look at the posting computer's IP number. I would
doubt that Sue Madden is JME. They may be having fun impersonating each
other though.

SP

I am just replying to the original poster too.  I was way too rambly
trying to make my point.

To put it bountly and not worrying about the poster's feelings... I
think this poster has a victim's mentality.

It is too bad and it is sad that scott does not think he can afford
care for his family.. but jeepers... I was working 2 jobs and barely
making ends meet and I was always able to take care of my teeth.

Nobody handed me money to get my teeth taken care of.  You have to
practice preventive measures.  Perhaps Scott was never taught the
basics of oral health care...

My honest thoughts,
-Sue

    I may be in the minority here.  It may well be that carbonic acid will
potentiate any decay already going on, but it certainly will not
initiate it.  If it did, I'd be in big trouble, given my massive daily
ingestion of lemon-lime seltzer.

Steve