Re: Dentists-Second Opinions?

From: Joel M. Eichen, D.D.S. (joeleichen_at_yahoo.com)
Date: 06/12/04 

Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 06:32:55 -0400

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 00:23:31 GMT, "jwndds" <jnelsondds@shaw.ca> wrote:

>I have more than enough work to do being honest. I'd have to hire an
>associate if I went the less than honest route to cover the extra work.

REPLY

That's an old argument a la Ann Landers, but not necessarily a good
argument.

A very busy dishonest dentist might still TRADE UP a patient who needs
root canal, crown, crown lengthening for the little kid in need of
three occlusal restorations .......

> You
>can't generalize a whole profession (mechanics, dentists, doctors, topless
>massage parlors, etc) by observing a few people. There are honest dentists
>and I'm sure there are dishonest ones. Pick someone you trust. Have them
>explain the need for the treatment. I use an intraoral camera to show
>caries that the people cannot see at home or I explain the radiographs to
>them.
>
>I'd say most dentists are honest and will be completely honest with you.
>I'd guess at around 98%. Watch out for the 2% though.

I AGREE

>
>jwn dds
>
>"Steve Mashakis" <booleanguy@yahoo.com> wrote in message
>news:d2e79ef6.0406110521.7ffaf106@posting.google.com...
>> Is it common practice among dental patients to get a second opinion
>> about work that their dentist tells them needs to be done?
>>
>> The reason that I ask is because of something I have suspected for a
>> long time. Since a number of dentists work for dental groups,
>> which are nothing more than businesses which encourage there
>> employee's to "produce" and bring in business, doesn't it stand to
>> reason that they might
>> tend to do some work on patients that doesn't really need to be done?
>> Why should dentists be any different that people in other professions
>> who have been found to be cheating their customers. I suppose that I
>> suspect this might be happening in the dental profession because it
>> seems to be so competitive; there are a lot of them out there.
>

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