This question is for dentists-I know SOOOO many people who are in dental pain or are losing their teeth becaus

they cannot afford the high cost of dentistry. What do you suggest they do? And don't say find a teaching clinic as they are terrified of placing themselves in the hands of the unskilled and clinics are also expensive and booked months in advance. Seriously, in this country where millions are spent on war and weapon and killing, where is the compassion for those of us who need dental health?


And from what I understand lack of dental health leads to all sorts of medical complications as well. HELP!

This question is for dentists-I know SOOOO many people who are in dental pain or are losing their teeth becaus
I hate to say this, but shop around. The variation of fees in private dental offices is tremendous. Dentists set their fees by several factors. Most of my fee goes towards paying my staff who do everything to make your visit as pleasant as possible. Some goes towards paying for the equipment, building, electricity, etc. Some goes towards supplies. I charge what I need to charge in order to provide most of my patients the level of care that they have chosen. They don't wait forever in my waiting room, for instance, because I don't book twice as many patients as I can treat properly.





If you find a dentist who works out of his own home with no staff to support him or make your visit more pleasant, maybe he would be cheaper.





I am a dentist with expenses. I live modestly, although on the "nice" side of town. I find that I need to bill at about $300 per hour to cover all of my expenses (staff, etc., named above) and still have ALMOST as much left over as the guy who just cleaned out my sewer pipe or the guy who serviced my air conditioner makes per hour.





There are low fee clinics who treat mostly Medicaid patients, but from my experience, I would rather see you go to a dental school than one of these clinics. There is a better chance of getting decent care in a dental school than a low cost, high volume clinic.
Reply:People need to get dental insurance... if they cannot afford it, they might be able to qualify for medicaid. And university clinics are not that bad... they are supervised by faculties who check every step before the work is progressed, and they charge 50% of regular fees.
Reply:the cost of dental education is tremendous and students graduate on average owing $100,000 or more.


the cost of dental materials and supplies is also ridiculous. there are few areas in which a dentist can reduce expenses without compromising on quality of care. the problem is not dentist charging too much but rather expenses are dictating the prices dentist charge.
Reply:Most of the dentists I work with (more than a few) donate thousands of dollars of free or reduced cost dentistry every year to deserving people. They can't give away what they do for a living all the time.





Do you work and expect no money for it?





If you want to know why many people in this country can't afford decent medical care, you should not be asking dentists. Ask your government.
Reply:i have no pity for your friends. rotten teeth is always, always due to poor hygiene, a bad diet, and overall neglect. most people spend more money on their HAIR each year than their teeth!!! it's like having compassion for a lung cancer patient, a type II diabetic, or a drug and alcohol abuser. you make your bed, you sleep in it.





and don't give me the old "but i was born with bad teeth" excuse. dental health is a product of environment. if that environment includes a daily intake of 500 grams of sugar and a host of bacteria then the teeth are going to rot.

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