Here’s a subject that comes up from time to time: Is it necessary to have dental insurance? I spoke to a good number of people and this is what I found… the majority of individuals I talked to said they were not covered by dental insurance; they’d rather deal with problems as they arise instead of paying a monthly rate for coverage they may never need or use. The rest of the people said dental insurance is just that, insurance in case of an emergency, and they feel it’s worth having for peace of mind.

But isn’t there a third point of view? Shouldn’t we be using dental insurance as a preventive measure? Keeping up with your dental hygiene and visiting your dentist for checkups has been proven to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Isn’t that reason enough to participate in a dental insurance plan? Insurance carriers typically pay a higher percentage to the dentist for cleanings and x-rays, with little or no out-of-pocket cost for the patient. By contrast, when problems are detected, insurance carriers usually pay only about 50-60% of the bill, and the patient is responsible for the balance. For some procedures, this can turn into quite a bit of money, so the percentage paid by insurance is not as helpful.

In summary, if dental hygiene is maintained throughout the year, most tooth and gum catastrophes can be avoided, proving that dental insurance is money spent wisely. Right?

OK, Dental Geeks – the video below will separate the die-hard Dental Geeks from the wannabes.

My buddy Logan, who is an artist in Paris, sent this to me because he knows I am in the dental industry. He tells me this video/song is all the rage in Paris clubs right now. Why wouldn’t it be?!? It is awesome.

Who can say that they don’t love the Muppets? Personally, I am very fond of the Muppet girl who has a long ponytail and swings her hair emphatically while she sings about her joy of brushing: her teeth, not her hair.

Ironic point of interest: This video probably never made it big in the US because NONE of the Muppets have teeth.

Enjoy!

Greetings, Geeks. I was out in Chicago on business and the topic came up about a California dentist who is suing an implant manufacturer:

http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/21804

I read what I could on the case – I think all Dental Geeks should read it, too. Would love to hear your feedback.

Situation:

Dentist places lots of implants over a two-year period.

In the two years, he has 12 patients with failure.

He “repairs” mishaps free of charge.

Dentist sues implant manufacturer.

Case pending.

I am so jaded that my first thought was, “It’s not the product, it’s the ability. I mean, the Egyptians were putting seashells in people’s mouths as teeth thousands of years ago…”

Another exercise —

Google the following: Dental Lawsuit

Page after page after page of current lawsuits/cases: Patient suing dentist, dentist suing manufacturer, specialty law firms that focus on dental malpractice.

Geesh – it’s making my head spin.

TIME – I don’t have enough of it. I need more of it…to take care of the little things in life, like my oral health. I just finished several rounds of market research (focus groups) with GP dentists and dental specialists.

Like many of you, I am a “one-stop-shop” type of guy. I love Costco® and mega-malls – saves time and makes my life easier. I used to feel the same way about dentistry. My GP dentist is awesome. He is a great guy who is very skilled at cosmetics, and I proudly show off his work on a daily basis every time I smile.

I am probably due for a root canal (asymptomatic at the present time, thankfully), but I remember his last words to me: “Mike, it’s a back molar, I could do it here… or refer you to an endodontist.”

Maybe I’m overanalyzing the situation. My gut says to go with the endodontist. My heart says I trust my GP. My smartphone calendar says that I don’t have time for either option this month.

So where is all this leading? I wish the referral process was much easier. I don’t want to be the one to decide who takes care of the procedure that I need; I don’t want choices. On the one hand, I wish my GP dentist would have said, “Mike, let’s schedule the root canal here – it will be a breeze and I have done 10,000 of them just like it,” or “Mike, Dr. XYZ is the endo that I refer to and she will take care of the procedure.”

From my very recent research, I have found that a large percentage of GP dentists truly feel that they can do it all in their office: endo, perio, implants, etc. On the other side of the coin, the specialists truly expressed their passion for the specialties in which they work.

My hypothesis is that GP dentists are fearful, in these economic times, to refer out of the practice and potentially lose the patient. I mean, a course of perio therapy with a periodontist isn’t a one-visit fix!

I am certainly not going to let my GP physician do a rhinoplasty; and, if I inquired, he would give me a referral with ease.

Is it me or is there a breakdown in the dental referral arena?

Howdy, Geeks! I am starting a feature for the blog called the “Mentor Series.” I will be discussing people who have had a profound influence on my career in dental. These people come from all professions within dentistry: dentists, hygienists, dental manufacturer executives, lab technicians, and even some outstanding dental salespeople. I hope you enjoy reading about these dental greats; they have helped me immensely and have been great contributors to my success.

Mentor Series – Mentor #1

Leading off my new Mentor Series is a dentist who has had a major effect on my professional dental career: Dr. Joe Blaes. Dr. Blaes was one of the first Key Opinion Leading dentists that I met, well over a decade ago.

I recall clearly that I had scheduled an appointment with him at the Greater New York Dental Meeting. In preparation, I had devoured months and months of his writings in Dental Economics (Dr. Joe Blaes is the Editor in Chief of PennWell Publications’ Dental Economics). His “Pearls for Your Practice” editorial segment had a distinct and highly regarded brand within the industry. If your product or service was mentioned favorably in “Pearls for Your Practice,” you were golden!

Dr. Blaes’ writings truly acclimated me to a foreign industry. I quickly learned the benefits of flowable composites, and from that point on, I would never look at a veneer the same way. Dr. Blaes has an incredible knack of distilling complex scientific concepts into easily understood information. Most of my early dental learning is directly attributable to Dr. Joe Blaes’ writings.

Years later, I was walking the McCormick Place show floor at the Chicago Midwinter Meeting with Dr. Blaes. We were meeting to discuss an upcoming roundtable session that he was to moderate for a client of mine. We decided to get a cup of coffee when, to both of our chagrins, a molar cap flew out of my mouth onto the carpet in front of us. I think I cursed, and Dr. Blaes put his arm around my shoulder and said, “Follow me, Mike!” We proceeded to the show floor and went into the booth of a large dental manufacturer. Dr. Blaes slapped on some gloves and directed a salesperson to get him some materials and a curing light. By this time, a crowd had formed around us… I remember sitting on an office chair. Within fifteen minutes, my tooth was repaired. During the reparations, Dr. Blaes conducted a demo of the products he was using. The crowd applauded, and Dr. Blaes and I proceeded to our meeting. Seven years later, the crown is still in place. Thank you, Dr. Blaes! (I never even got a bill from him!)

Aside from being an incredible clinician (his Midwestern patients are truly lucky), Dr. Blaes is an incredible educator and friend. Never too busy to return a call or email, it is clearly understood why he is so passionate about dentistry. His biggest personal brand element? His smile. Someone can see Dr. Blaes’ smile from a mile away, and it is rare to see him without one.

I am so pleased to be starting off my Mentor Series with Dr. Joe Blaes. To find out more about Dr. Blaes, please see the links below… and when you do meet, tell him The Dental Geek sent you!