Yes, we realize times can be relatively tough. And yes, we realize it is getting more and more difficult to spread your earnings among all your expenses. Times have changed, medical expenses are rising, and dental insurance plans offer higher premiums with lesser benefits. We know patients want to spend their dental dollars wisely. However, what you may think as a wise dental provider decision may be more expensive than you realize.
Lower fees are a huge attraction for the general public. Even free services are a huge attraction. Many dental offices provide lower fees and even free services. But is this truly in your best interest? Any business that uses these marketing methods to attract customers are honestly hoping you will spend even more money in their business. It has to be this way. No business can survive simply and only by offering lower than market fees and free services unless they have an alternate supply of money like having won the lottery or unless they modify or create their business practices to account for this method of marketing.
So, to make up for the lower fees and free services they do depend on you to spend more money or they may cut their expenses in some way. Perhaps they can entice you to purchase other goods and services while you are present in their place of business. Perhaps they are motivated to be more aggressive at selling you more because they have offered the lower fees or free services to get you “in the door”. Perhaps they hire a lower paid staff. Do you see what I am saying? This is simple math and business principles.
So how does this apply to a dental practice? More and more often we have found patients being told and/or pressured to pursue dental services that are either not truly needed or are a bit “overboard”. Yes, people and dentists have tendencies in their personalities and in their way of living. Some of us are more aggressive and some of us are more passive. Some of us are more honest and some of us are not as honest. This is life. So when patients are enticed with lower fees and free services, there may be more of a need to make up for those early losses in revenue. This is where the honesty and ethics of your dentist fits in.
Do you know the dentist? Is the dentist an employee of a clinic or retail-type practice who may be pressured to “meet the numbers”? Is the dentist working to provide profits for a dentist-owner or stock-holders as well? Does the dentist truly have a vested interest in providing what is best for you, the patient?
We all have these differences in our personalities and in our tendencies. But what do you want for your dentist? We suggest your asking friends for recommendations based on your wants. We suggest your looking online for reviews on your dentist. Don’t your teeth deserve more than simply entrusting their care to the lowest bidder?
We invite you to find out more about us. We invite you to peruse our reviews as well. We invite you to see what you may be missing by contacting us in any way you see available on this web page.