Mead Family Dental

warning labels for pop

You've probably seen it in the news. The FDA will require graphic new warning labels on cigarettes starting in September of 2012.  

The labels will be large, covering a large part of the pack of cigarettes. They'll also be pretty gory. You can see all of the new designs at the FDA's website.

Some are pretty sure they'll help reduce smoking. Others are a bit skeptical.

I don't think that these labels are actually meant to educate smokers about the health risks of cigarettes. Everyone knows that cigarettes are horrible for you in many different ways. What the gruesome photos are meant to do is remind you that you're making a poor decision right at the time you're making the decision (when you're going for a cigarette). Will it help? I'm not sure, but I expect the new regulation will trigger a boom in cigarette case sales.

Dentistry's version of "everyone knows it's bad for you but does it anyway" is pop. Or soda for those of you in the northeast. Coke, Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Sun Drop. All that stuff is a double whammy for teeth. The acid in it causes the pH in your mouth to drop, which makes cavities. The sugar in it causes the bugs in your mouth to create acid, which lowers your mouth's pH, which makes cavities.

Just like cigarettes, there's no redeeming value to pop, except that people like to drink it.

So why not require a label on every soda can that reminds the drinker that they're making a terrible choice each time they choose to have a pop?

I suggest this:

or perhaps...

Admit it. You might put down the Mountain Dew if you saw this.

Questions or comments! Email me at alan@meadfamilydental.com! I'd love to be your Saginaw dentist!

Dentistry in the News: "Why Your Dentist Costs So Much."

This post is a follow up to an article I wrote about a few months back. 

My conclusion: if you don't trust that your dentist has your best interests at heart, you need to ask them about it or find another dentist. 

A couple more points were made in the second article that are worth reflecting on. One commenter was quoted to say:

"My wife saw a dentist who quoted her $750. Then halfway through the job, when she was numb and had a big hole in her mouth, he told her he misquoted the price and it was going to be $1,500. She could not exactly argue."

What can I say about this? I'm about 99% sure that the dentist was preparing a tooth for a crown and realized that there were bigger problems with the tooth than expected. The tooth was probably going to need a root canal treatment as well as the crown in order to save it. I'd love to say something like this has never happened to me, but it has. I try to explain possible risks and complications prior to starting a treatment. However, it's not unheard of to need to revise my diagnosis and treatment plan once I've had a chance to look closer at a problem. I try to avoid these kinds of surprises, but when it happens I explain it in plain English. The patient always has a choice to refuse treatment. I'm guessing that this patient didn't feel like their dentist explained what was happening very well and the patient came away feeling like the dentist was putting the screws to them. Unfortunate, to be sure.

Most of the rest of the article tried to explain why a) dentistry is expensive and b) why one dentist costs a different amount than another. I think dentists spend way too much time trying to justify their fees and way too little time explaining why we suggest the things that we do!

The very best part of the article was in reference to "how do I know if my dentist is a good one?"

"Ask a dental specialist, like an endodontist. One specialist wrote to tell me, “The best way to find a good dentist is to find a specialist who sees everyone’s patients on a referral basis. He or she will know who is good and who isn’t. Trust me, as a specialist, I know who is doing what, because I see their work every day.”

That's a tip I had never thought of, but I think it's valuable.

After reading the follow up article I come up with conclusions similar to the first article:

• Dentistry is expensive.
• No one* likes having to have dental work done.
• No one likes paying the bill.
• Prevention is MUCH less expensive than needing work. But having work done immediately is similarly less expensive than waiting if something is broken or it hurts.
• "Dental insurance" isn't really like insurance at all. Dental benefits are kind of like a gift card. Usually it's like a gift card that covers about half of the gift you're looking for. It may help with some of the costs of dentistry but is not likely to pay for more extensive needs.

So talk to your dentist. Ask a lot of questions. Get a second opinion. Or third! Try to be a good consumer and you'll feel a lot less like a victim.

If I can answer any questions about this post or any other dental questions I would love to hear from you! I can be reached by email at: alan@meadfamilydental.com. I answer all of my own email and would love to hear from you! Or you can call the office at (989) 799-9133. I would love to be your Saginaw dentist!

 *I know there's probably someone reading this who thinks "I like seeing my dentist so much I'd go more often if I could!" You are great people to have as patients, but frankly, I wonder about you. 

Happy 4th of July!

"During the American Revolution, the legal separation of the Thirteen Colonies from Great Britain occurred on July 2, 1776, when the Second Continental Congress voted to approve a resolution of independence that had been proposed in June by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia.^[4][5]After voting for independence, Congress turned its attention to the Declaration of Independence, a statement explaining this decision, which had been prepared by a Committee of Five, with Thomas Jefferson as its principal author. Congress debated and revised the Declaration, finally approving it on July 4."

Important Independence Day traditions:

• Held since 1785, the Bristol Fourth of July Parade in Bristol, Rhode Island is the oldest continuous Independence Day celebration in the United States.
• Since 1916, Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, Brooklyn, New York City supposedly started as a way to settle a dispute among four immigrants as to who was the most patriotic.
• Since 1959, the International Freedom Festival is jointly held in Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Ontario during the last week of June each year as a mutual celebration of Independence Day and Canada Day (July 1). It culminates in a large fireworks display over the Detroit River.
• On the Capitol lawn in Washington, D.C., “A Capitol Fourth,” a free concert, precedes the fireworks and attracts over half a million people annually.
• Whatever traditions your family has for the 4th of July!

We hope you enjoy your Independence Day not matter how you choose to spend it! 

 

(facts taken from Wikipedia)

Saginaw dentist offers amazing discount club!

Let's say you don't have dental insurance but you're still interested in top notch preventive dental care. Preventive services like cleanings, exams, fluoride treatments and x-rays are one of the most cost effective ways to catch dental problems when they're small. You know this and you want to stay on top of things.

One advantage of having dental insurance benefits is that most preventive services are either paid for or heavily discounted. Dental benefit plans are willing pay for these types of preventive services because, in theory, it will reduce the amount of other treatment you might need.

Here at Mead Family Dental, we want everyone to have the incentive to come in for regular preventive care. So for those without dental benefits, we offer the Mead Family Dental Gold club!

Here's how it works:

For a yearly fee you get all of your exams, cleanings* and x-rays. Along with that you receive a 20% discount on any other dentistry that you choose to have done. Make sure you check out www.meadfamilydentalgoldclub.com for all of the specific details. Also remember, the more family members you add, the greater the value!

We've had a LOT of people joining "the club!" Most of them are finding that it's way less out of pocket expense to join the Gold Club, especially if they were planning to have preventive care anyhow! 

If you have any questions about our Gold Club I'd love to answer them! Email me at alan@meadfamilydental.com. I answer all of my own email and I'm pretty quick about it, if I do say so myself!

We'd love to be your Saginaw dental office!

Better than a punch in the arm

I saw a 15 year old patient yesterday. He's going to be getting braces and he had a groove cavity that I was concerned about. I recommended that we restore the groove before he gets his braces on. I explained the pros and cons to Mom and he listened intently. When I was done with my explanation, I asked him if he had any questions.

"Is it going to hurt?"

Are there any other questions more important than that?

I replied, "No. But I am going to give you anesthesia."

Then I remembered I was talking to a 15 year old patient and and not a dental colleague.

"Which means I'm going to give you a shot that will numb the area. But I promise that you won't feel the shot. If you feel the shot, you can punch me in the arm as hard as you want to."

His face brightened. He and mom were both satisfied, I think.

So, how can I be so sure he's not going to punch me in the arm?

I have to admit that there are some areas of the mouth that are more difficult to give a painless shot. The upper front teeth are especially challenging to do without discomfort. But over the years I've refined my technique enough that I'm pretty sure I'm safe.

Here are my secrets...

• really tiny needle: whenever possible I use a 30 guage needle. This makes it so the patient doesn't feel the poke part of the shot. Very occasionally I need to use one that's a bit bigger. When I do, I actually use the small needle first to numb the area where the larger needle will have to go.
• really slow injection: injection pain comes from delivering the anesthetic solution too quickly. I often take a minute or more when I'm giving anesthetic. Some patients think I'm dawdling...and I am, kind of. But I've had really good luck giving comfortable shots this way.
• the wiggle: sometimes I will wiggle the patient's lip as a distraction from the shot. This works surprisingly well. I learned this trick from my dad, who is a dentist in Midland and still uses it to this day.
• topical numbing gel: we have several kinds of topical anesthetic gels that we will place in the area that we're going to give a shot. I dry the tissue really well before placing the anesthetic and let it sit for a little while.
• STA: I sometimes use the STA unit. This high tech tool uses a computer to deliver anesthetic in a slow and controlled way. 

No one likes getting a shot. We do our very best to make having dental work done comfortable and easy. And some patients feel better knowing they can punch me really hard in the arm if I hurt them.

Do you have questions or comments about this blog entry? Would you like to become a patient in my Saginaw dental practice? We'd love to have you! You can email me at alan@meadfamilydental.com or call the office at (989) 799-9133.

***Edited on 6/8/2011***

I saw him yesterday afternoon. He didn't punch me. 

Happy Memorial Day!

All of us here at Mead Family Dental would like to wish you a happy, healthy Memorial Day 2011. We're grateful for those who served in uniform and we remember those who died for the cause.

Be safe and keep in touch.

Mead Family Dental Gold Club vs. brighter.com

I just saw a news item about a new dental discount service called "brighter.com." 

I'm not able to see exactly how it works, but it seems to be a "dental discount plan" administered by a company. The company is clearly aiming the service toward those individuals or families that do not have dental benefits to help defray the costs of dentistry. You pay a certain amount to brighter.com and they give you a list of brighter.com dentists that will give you discounted prices on services. Membership doesn't appear to include any services, they just entitle you to discounts. You pay the dentist directly at the time of service. The service boasts that you will be able to see how much a service costs online so you can comparision shop. 

The idea is intriguing, but let me see if I can take a little wind out of their sails:

• The plan is limited to the dentists that have signed up with them on their website. I would expect that in a larger metropolitan area you may find more dentists who have signed up. Around us (Saginaw Bay area of Michigan) the pickings appear to be limited.
• The fees listed on the site (they listed "prices typical in Freeland, MI 48623) were all over the map and didn't seem consistent with fees that I charge for procedures.
• They listed nonspecific procedures with a fee. For instance, they quoted a fee of $254 for a "cavity." A cavity is not a service. A cavity is a hole in the tooth created by acid from oral bacteria and dietary acids. A cavity can be small or large and can be fixed in a variety of ways. I couldn't tell you how much it would cost to restore a cavity without diagnosing the problem first. 

This is a business model put together by bright people who don't know all that much about dentistry. They understand that people without dental insurance are looking for discounted dental care. The concept is good. The idea of being a loyal, paying patient in return for a discount just makes sense. But why does a third party like brighter.com need to be involved? In fact, doesn't paying a third party a monthly or yearly fee add to potential costs?

"Well," you say, "dentist's certainly aren't offering this kind of a discount plan."

You're right...I'm not offering this kind of a discount plan. I'm offering a MUCH BETTER ONE!

The Mead Family Gold Club is an excellent option for those without insurance who are interested in top notch preventive care and would like a discount on dental services. You can find the details here or just go to www.meadfamilydentalgoldclub.com. But here it is in a nutshell: for one low price you get cleanings, x-rays and exams for a whole year and a killer discount on other dental procedures.

Interested? Email me at alan@meadfamilydental.com or call the office at (989) 799-9133. We'll give you all the information and get you on the road to dental health and great discounts! 

Your "cousin" in the business

I got an email from my cousin last week. He described going to a new dentist. He liked the office and thought the dentist was a good guy. 

My cousin is a pretty level headed guy. He's certainly not distrustful of professionals that I can tell, but he didn't have a relationship with this new dentist. He was concerned that maybe his dentist was trying to oversell him on dentistry. The dentist was suggesting some pretty expensive treatment that he had never had before.

Health care professionals have a dilemma. There's an inherent power imbalance in the doctor/patient relationship most of the time. The doctor is highly trained in a very specific area and the patient usually doesn't have a lot of knowledge in this area. Last year National Public Radio aired an interview with an economist by the name of Dan Ariely that infuriated a lot of dentists. The interview essentially described what a lot of people believe about dentists. Since dentists diagnose dental problems as well as treat them, there seems to be a distinct conflict of interest. Why wouldn't a dentist represent problems as bigger than they are if they're going to get paid more?

Dentists got mad. Really mad. The story challenged the dental profession's ethics and integrity. I have to admit that I was pretty mad about the story myself. You might notice that I commented on Dr. Ariely's blog and was disappointed that he never replied to the fact that data he quoted in this interview doesn't seem to exist.

However...when I took a step back I realized that his major point is worth thinking about. Why wouldn't a dentist take advantage of such an opportunity? There's no way to standardize dental diagnosis. One dentist might see a cavity where another dentist might want to "watch" the area for changes. 

What's the solution here? Is there any way to know if your dentist is ripping you off? 

I suggest that there are things you can do as a patient:

• Have a relationship with your dentist. If you don't feel comfortable asking your dentist questions about the condition of your teeth and the treatments that they offer, then you're probably at the wrong place. This one is pretty tough if you're in a new town or going to a new dentist. 
• Ask them to show you: if a dentist or their office staff cannot explain and show you the problem that they're asking you to fix with expensive treatment, then be skeptical. It doesn't make you a jerk, it makes you a smart customer. A dentist confident in their diagnosis and treatment will take the time to make sure you understand and believe in the treatment. 
• Get another opinion: I know for a fact that most dental patients won't do this. I'm convinced that they think that their dentist would be offended. Perhaps some would be. I'm not. I know that a patient that understands the treatment that I'm offering them is more likely to be happy with the treatment. If they check with someone else and they say, "yup, that's what I would do" then everyone wins. If they take a look and say, "whoa, I'm not sure I agree" then the patient can gain more understanding and perhaps make a better treatment choice. Dentists don't all treat dental problems the same way. A disagreement with treatment plans doesn't mean that one dentist is doing it wrong. Second (and third, and fourth...) opinions make for better understanding.

This Saginaw dentist is happy to be a second opinon. Further, I will happily give a second opinion at no cost to the patient or nominal cost if we need more diagnositic information is necessary to reach a diagnosis. We need more patients making excellent decisions about their health and they shouldn't avoid getting second opinion because it's very costly. 

So are you wondering what happened with my cousin? After we talked (actually IM'ed on Facebook) he actually emailed his dental office and asked for his x-rays because he was seeking another opinion about the proposed treatment. They obliged him and he emailed me his x-rays. Although I couldn't render a diagnosis simply by looking at x-rays I was able to explain that the treatment his new dentist offered didn't look out of line from what I could see on the x-rays. You know what's even better? The dentist called to make an appointment with my cousin apologizing for not explaining the treatment in more detail. 

Second opinions make for better treatment decisions. And no one stole anyone's patient and no one got hurt. Isn't building relationships with your dentist grand?

Do you need a "cousin" in the business in the Saginaw Valley? I'm happy to do it for you. Email me at alan@meadfamilydental.com or call the office at (989) 799-9133. If you're not from around here I don't mind doing some leg work to make it happen. Patients who are better informed make better decisions and that's good for everyone!

This Saginaw dentist will testify before a Michigan senate committee!

Sorry for no blogging so far this week. I've been busy preparing to testify before a Michigan senate committee on three bills that will benefit dentists and patients in Michigan!

• senate bill 213: This bill would correct a loophole in the law that doesn't allow pharmacies to fill out of state prescriptions from dentists. Why is this important? Think or a patient living in the western Upper Peninsula who sees a dentist in Wisconsin. 
• house bill 4192: This bill would amend the Michigan Automated Prescription System to allow a MAPS registered dentist/physician to check their own controlled substance prescriptions.
• House Bill 4389: This bill would give retired dentists and podiatrists special immunity when working on indigent populations. This would allow retired dentists to work without having to purchase malpractice insurance. This is the same immunity that physicians currently have.

Why am I doing this? My experience with testifying before a Michigan house committee was really good. I feel strongly that this potential legislation is very positive. Having a practicing dentist speak about how the laws will affect patients and dentists in the state of Michigan lets these legislators see why the legislation is important. SOMEONE should let them know...why not me? Another dentist colleague of mine is going to be testifiying as well. I appreciate that Dr. Tom Poirier is coming too!

Stay tuned for more blogs! I have some pretty amazing things that I'm working. I can't wait to show them to you!

Dentistry in the News: "Is Your Dentist Ripping You Off?"

I recently read an article posted on Yahoo entitled "Is Your Dentist Ripping You Off?" 

I think I'm supposed to be upset that the author could accuse my profession of such a thing. I wasn't. I actually found the article to be reasonable and well thought out.

The author explains that his friend is going to need some dental work:

"Cost of the crowns: $1,395 apiece. Cost of foundation fillings, or 'cores' to put the crowns on: $326 apiece. Total bill, if you’re scoring at home: $3,442."

The take home message here is "dentistry is expensive." I can't argue with that. That's a lot of money to spend on a couple of teeth. The author went on to explain that this particular dentist was expensive for his region. The author called the office to ask why this they charged so much more and he seemed irritated at the response he got: 

"The office assistant told me 'not all dentists are created equal,' and of course, this dentist is one of the best in the area, using a great lab."

Perhaps he is an awesome dentist. As long as the friend of the author is O.K. with the fee the dentist is charging, I'm not 100% sure why the author cares. It seems that the author is using this particular situation to explain that dentistry is expensive. He goes on to ask the most important question in his whole article:

"But how can someone who is not a medical professional know if their dentist is worth their fees?"

The author goes on to suggest some very useful and common sense ideas about how to evaluate if you're getting the most for your money at the dentist's office. My favorite point that he makes is about prevention:

"Prevention saves a boatload of money. Brush, floss, and use your fluoride rinse..."

Readers of this blog know that I completely agree. Prevention can keep costs down better than anything else. If you're having dental professionals clean and evaluate your teeth on a regular basis it's much easier to catch problems when they're small. But what if you've already ended up needing some work? What if you're too late for prevention?

This is reality for a lot of folks. Many people have stayed away from the dentist because they perceive that they can't afford to have their teeth fixed and/or they are afraid of the dentist. Unfortunately once you've stayed away for awhile the cost of fixing things usually goes up. Further, dental insurance is not very much like health insurance. Dental insurance limits the amount that they will pay for in any given year. If you've been away for awhile your insurance will only help so much. So either you're going to be paying significant amounts out of pocket or you're going to do a little bit this year, a little bit next year and so on. Further, dental insurance won't cover all treatments. They usually cover whatever fixes a problem most cheaply for them. They don't take into account what may be better for the patient in the long run. (think dental implants vs. bridgework)

What you need is a relationship with your dentist. You need to trust the dentist's diagnosis and you need to trust the dentist's motives. You need to be able to let the dentist diagnose your problems and recommend treatment, but also you need to be able to let the dentist know what your financial limitations are. I read some of the many comments from readers about the article. Many of them were like this one:

"I don't trust them either...went to the dentist for a cleaning...was told that I had a couple of cavities (understandable) and that my "bite was off." What does that mean? I ask...your bite is uneven (side to side, not an over or underbite) and can lead to other problems down the road. Hours and hours and a couple thousand dollars later, nothing feels different at all. I got up sold like I was buying a car!"

It made me cringe to read some of the comments. So much of the anxiety and pain that these people go through could be avoided. If you're not sure that your dentist has your best interests at heart, you need to ask. Let the office know! If you're skeptical of the dentist's diagnosis you need to get another opinion before treatment is started or perhaps you just need to find another dentist. Further, you need to require that your dentist's office explains the costs of treatment to you before starting treatment. You shouldn't be surprised by a bill. So much of our problem with health care in this country is caused by patients not making the decisions about how their health care dollars are spent. If you're only finding out how much you owe for treatment after it's done...it's too late!

I was bracing to not like this article. I thought it was quite well thought out. It brings up a lot of good points and most importantly it reminds us that we need to have a relationship with our dentist and their office. If you don't feel like you can ask questions and that you're not being taken care of properly you need to find another dentist. 

Questions of comments about this post? Do you have any questions you'd like to ask a dentist? Feel free to contact me at alan@meadfamilydental.com or call the office at (989) 799-9133. We're always taking new patients and would love to be your Saginaw dentist!