http://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/articles/2015/05/20/no-dental-insurance-dont-wait-for-something-to-go-wrong
I found this article because of my google plus dental health group. Dr.
Howard M. Steinberg posted it.
I read the article and the author points out that there can be huge costs associated with lack of proper dental care, including preventive treatment.
A quote from a quote in the article states:
"Their reasons for delaying or forgoing care: high costs and lack of price transparency, according to the 2013 U.S. Survey of Dental Care Affordability and Accessibility (linked to attribute report). But like forgoing health care, neglecting oral health could be a costly exercise in denial."
Dental care costs are indeed high and many people fear that they are going to be told that they need to spend thousands of dollars for this treatment or another. So, patients are naturally frightened.
I also think there is an underlying feeling among many patients that they might be cheated by their dental health care provider. And I suspect this is something that is more pervasive than many would care to think or admit.
There is an article about this at Dental Fear Central:
http://www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/unnecessary-dental-work/
I recommend reading that entire article.
I suspect that patients are afraid that their ignorance about health care matters can be taken advantage of. It's sort of like going to a mechanic for your car. You are always wondering if you really need that $1500 dollars worth of work done on your car - or in this case - your teeth.
Experiment You Can Try
So, what I'm about to share with you won't help your confidence much, but it does underscore the hidden fears that I think a lot of dental patients have. (Whether they consciously recognize the source of the fear or not).If you were to go to a dentist and he were to tell you that you have 8 cavities for example, how would you feel if you immediately went to another dentist who said you only had 3 cavities? And what if you went to a third dentist who didn't find any cavities?
If you think that scenario or others similar to it don't happen, then try the experiment yourself. You can go to three different dentists and you might find out that they all have very different ideas of what kind of work needs to be done and / or to what extent.
High Costs And Lack Of Price Transparency
"Their reasons for delaying or forgoing care: high costs and lack of price transparency, according to the 2013 U.S. Survey of Dental Care Affordability and Accessibility (linked to attribute report). But like forgoing health care, neglecting oral health could be a costly exercise in denial."
I wish that some focus would go into reducing those costs and helping patients feel more confident that they won't be taken advantage of.
I think that if that were accomplished, dentists would see more patients visiting their practices and more patients would feel better about visiting their dentists.
But, I fear that is not the reality for many people.
I hope things can improve and get better on all fronts. It would be great for dentists to have happier patients and for those patients to have more trust in their dentists.
Please share your thoughts below on this topic.
Sincerely,
ToothyGrinsStore.com
1-888-586-6849
PS: one of the most powerful tools for home use that can help promote healthy gums is this one!
