I had this happen to me, again, on Friday. It continues to happen and is becoming somewhat epidemic. Patients come into me for a 2nd opinion. I tell them they have 1 or 2 cavities. They are shocked. I ask them why they are so shocked. They tell me that they went to dental office XYZ because of a 1/2 off deal they saw. And that that dentist told them that they had around 8 or 9 cavities and that the patient also needed a crown.
Two things.
#1 Rules of economics. If a dentist offers 1/2 off of ANYTHING you have to understand what is going on. Where is the dentist getting that 1/2 off from? The city is not charging him half price for electricity, water, sewer, garbage collection, etc. The owner of his building is not giving him 1/2 off his lease that month. The dentist is not cutting the staff wages by half for that pay period. The dental supply company is not offering 1/2 supplies. You see what I'm saying. The ONLY thing that can be cut is the profit of the company. In other words ..... the take home pay of the dentist. Now, it may be totally possible that the dentist is an amazing guy. And that he wants to take home less money for the good of mankind. And thus is offering these great deals. And I, when appropriate, have given discounts to folks that are having a hard time. But I know those people. And I know that they are in need. But to offer huge, across the board, discounts is something totally different. The dentist, more often then not, needs to make up the lost revenue. And where does he do it? By finding more work to do in your mouth. It happens ALL THE TIME. Bring people in on the cheap and then find a boat load of work to do. Weather they need it or not. Thus making up for the freebies. PLEASE BEWARE OF THIS TACTIC. Get a second opinion.
#2 You get what you pay for? Just don't get taken to the cleaners. I often hear people talk about their aging parents. And they talk of them fondly. Especially when they become injured in a fall or other accident. They tell me, "I got mom the best hip surgeon in the state." or "I got dad the best cardiologist around." I have NEVER heard. "Dad broke his hip. So I took him to "Hips in a day" or "1/2 price hip" or "I got a coupon in the mail for a free knee brace with hip replacement, so I took dad there." It is a VERY good thing to save money. "I" want to save money. Everyone does. But WHERE you save the money is the important thing. Save money on the Blue Ray player, the cell phone bill, or not getting the under carriage treatment at the car wash. But going for the cheapy hip, knee, or brain surgery is just not smart.
Conclusion. I am NOT saying that I am the only honest dentist out there. What I AM saying is to get several opinions before you start any major work. Go to the coupon guy. Then go to the water fountain and marble counter top guy. Finally finish up at the guy in just the run of the mill office. Compare them. THEN make your choice. Also, make sure you decide where you want to spend the money for quality workmanship and where you don't really care. Do you want a Walmart bike or a bike shop bike? And its okay to get either of them at different times. Compare prices. Call my office. I will give you my prices with no gimmicks or questions asked. Then call other offices. Get their prices. Compare.
Knowledge is power. Once you have done your homework, compared, and shopped around, then make your choice. And weather its at my office, or someone, else's is immaterial to me. I just want people to be happy with the treatment the get.
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