tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92009788926767620722011-08-04T08:42:28.549-07:00peachylemonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9200978892676762072.post-14564803915608735062009-09-15T11:28:00.001-07:002009-09-15T11:54:59.543-07:00Ever heard of one bad apple ruining the whole bunch? This sums up so well what is wrong with health care today. <div>When most people think of health care, visions of men (and women) in white coats with stethoscopes around their necks and sharp, useless hair cuts flicker across their mind but health care also includes dentists. Medical doctors have gotten a shaft recently in the media and dentists with their sly tactics have somehow managed to avoid all this bad press. I am here to set the record straight. They are both fiscal pirates. <div>I recently went to a dentist to have a crown placed. As I am sitting in the dental chair (guillotine <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 17px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; ">is more like it) this dentist mentions how <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">invisalign</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 17px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; ">might be a good choice for me. Mind you I never mentioned problems with my slight over bite and no other dentist in my 30 year history has ever mentioned braces. After my questioning about the necessity of this procedure he mentions it is purely cosmetic but his receptionist had <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">invisalign</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 17px; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 16px; white-space: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; ">placed and she lost 10 lbs. For the record I am NOT overweight, just ran a half marathon and have been complemented for my smile many, many times. Not only does this Dentist X have many handy dandy pamphlets lying around in his office (can we say kickback?) but on top of it most insurances do not even cover this procedure. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>To make matters worse the crown that Dentist X placed starts to hurt. After this bitter experience I found a more experienced and more honest doctor who tells me that I need the crown replaced but warns me that my insurance only covers replacing crowns on the same tooth every 60 months! I have no idea where they came up with this number but it seems like an absurdly long time. Thankfully this first dentist X replaces the crown for free but sitting in this chair he now suggests I have a root canal! </div><div><br /></div><div>This is when I decide to start writing a blog to vent my frustrations about health (and dental) care in this country and some (not all) health care providers. I know not all providers are like this because I happen to be one and have colleagues who are not seduced by money. </div><div>After this experience I strongly believe in second opinions so much so I believe in getting a second opinion for that second opinion. So all of you patients out there do not settle for one or two answers and in the end of the day always question people, especially ones that perform procedures. </div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/9200978892676762072-1456480391560873506?l=peachylemon.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>peachylemonnoreply@blogger.com0