How to Select the Right Dentist for Your Family by:Shawn Van de Vyver, D.D.S.

Choosing a dentist for your family can be difficult

. The first question for the dentist that comes to everybody's mind is 'do you take my insurance?', which is very important, but it isn't the most critical factor to take into consideration. There are several questions you should ask your prospective dental office to find out if it is the right office for you and your family.

Below we discuss three dental office types and what their practice philosophies may be. Keep in mind these are generalizations, that every office is different, and these opinions may not accurately reflect the practice philosophy of an individual office. Please consult with your prospective office before making any decisions based on these generalizations. These descriptions provide you with some general information to ask more specific questions at your dental office.

Dental Office Type

There are generally three different types of dental practices- individual private practices, multiple-location and doctor group practices, and university dental schools. Each type of practice may have distinct characteristics that make it right for you.

Laboratory Work

This is a hot topic in the news lately. You may have seen or heard reports of dental laboratories operating outside of the United States that produce inferior dental materials for use in U.S. dental offices, like dental crowns containing lead. Any time a dental appliance needs to be fabricated, like a crown, bridge, or partial, it needs to be sent to a dental laboratory usually outside of the dental office. Many group practices choose to send a majority of their laboratory work overseas to be fabricated because the costs are much lower, providing higher revenues. However, they may receive inferior products in return that are not up to acceptable U.S. standards. These practices may even be considered insurance fraud. In a group practice, the driving factor is profit, and overseas labs give them lower costs with higher profit margins, sacrificing overall quality. Private practices and dental schools will usually support local laboratories and rarely send lab work to be completed overseas.

Office Fees

A standard fee schedule is called UCR, or Usual, Customary, and Reasonable. Dental schools use a much lower fee schedule, about half of what a private practice dentist would charge, for their services because they are delivered by dental students, not licensed dentists. Most private practices can only charge UCR fees because that is the limit insurance companies will pay. Group practices, because they service a higher volume of patients, have more negotiating power with insurance companies and can therefore command higher fees for the same procedure. In this case, you will pay more at a group practice because they have negotiated a higher fee with your insurance company.

Personality

Dental schools and private dental practices cater to their patients. Building patient relationships is usally a major goal. In large group practices, the major operating goal is volume; to get as many patients in the door as possible. Seeing more patients in a day simply means each patient gets less personal attention by the doctor, hygienist, and staff. Also, with multiple offices and doctors, you are not always guaranteed you will see the same healthcare provider you have in the past. Turnover is also much higher in so-called 'dental mills' so your provider may not even be at the same location for a long period of time.

Community Service

In some dental schools, community service is required for graduation. Clinic rotations in underserved areas, many times, are mandatory courses in dental schools. Many private practices also support their communities. Have you ever seen a little league baseball, soccer game, or fundraising event with a dentist office sponsor? Community involvement does not have a direct return on investment, so larger group practices tend not to volunteer for community activities.

Treatment

Treatment in a dental school setting is very limited and highly supervised. You can rest assured knowing that treatment at a dental school is necessary. All treatment plans from dental school students are reviewed by several licensed dentists, and all treatment is supervised. Treatment plans from a group practice, however, can amount to thousands of dollars of unnecessary overtreatment. Group practices are driven by profit margin and patient volume. More treatment on more patients means more to their bottom line. Treatment performed in a smaller private practice setting, however, is usually geared toward prevention. You are most likely getting necessary treatment to eliminate disease and prevent disease progression.

Technology

Private practices are the best places to go for high tech dentistry. While their equipment is functional and acceptable, dental schools do not have the budgets to continually invest in the newest emerging technologies such as digital x-rays, digital impressions, electronic charting, CAD/CAM restorations, and electric handpieces. The same is generally true for group practices, simply because multiple locations need to be upgraded simultaneously, and more staff members are involved in the training required to use and maintain the new technology. It is cost prohibitive for a group practice to invest in newer technologies in multiple locations. A small private practice, however, can quickly and easily implement the newest technology to make practice easier, more enjoyable, and treatment results more effective and predictable.

Convenience

Group practices are ideal for patients who require immediate treatment, like a late-night toothache or broken tooth. Multiple doctors operate a group practice and can be available more often. Group practices usually have extended hours and are open many weekends and holidays. Dental schools are not open when students are on summer vacation and, even when school is in session, the appointment times are specific and for long durations. Private practices are also inconvenient if you need to see a dentist right away. Private practice dentists may have limited availability and it can be difficult to get an immediate appointment if necessary.

How do I know if a dental office is part of a group practice?

Group practices usually have more than one location. If the office you are inquiring about has mulitple locations, odds are it is a group practice. The main focus of a group practice is to target as many patients as possible. So, one tactic group practices use is to market using radio and television advertisements. These media are so expensive, single office private practices cannot use them. Most advertisements you hear on the radio or see on television are for large group practices. All that matters is treating more and more patients. That is why group practices also participate with large volume PPO insurance plans or capitation insurance plans. Individual dentists are not compensated enough so single private practice offices may not participate with PPO or capitation plans.

These descriptions are generalizations about many types of dental practices, and may not accurately describe or reflect a particular practice's treatment philosophy, standard of care, or operating protocols. These descriptions are only the opinion of Clawson Dental, and are only provided to describe some of the many ways dental offices may operate their own, individual businesses.

About the author

Dr. Shawn Van de Vyver, a family and cosmetic dentist, owns Clawson Dental, a cosmetic dental practice in Clawson, MI. He can be contacted by sending an e-mail to DrVan@ClawsonDental.com or visiting Clawson Dental.

POST COMMENT

Trigger Point Therapy by:Steve Hefferon Arthritis Treatments- The Natural Way by:William Doyle Aortic Dissection: Are You At Risk? by:William Doyle Alzheimer's Disease - A Carer's Guide by:William Doyle Alcoholism Treatment Options by:William Doyle Diätplan - Shed All Those Extra Kilos with the Most Effective Diet Plan by:Zaibatt Zaki Qigong - The New Age Of Healthcare by:Shawn Phillips The Carbohydrates To Keep Off Your Shopping List If You Want Six Pack Abs by:Anthony Chapman Zoom Teeth Whitening - A Professional Teeth Whitening System by:Jeyanth Watson Hemorrhoids Caused by Gallbladder Surgery Complications by:Jo Ellen Watkins Cirrhosis - Prevention And Treatment by:John Daniel Rivera Career In Thai Massage by:Kanokwan Thapech The Shocking Gluten-ADHD Link - Can Celiac Disease Cause ADHD? by:Laura Ramirez