Explain It to Me Is my dentist scamming me?
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Sep 18, 2024 In this insightful discussion, Mary Otto, an independent journalist and author of 'Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America,' and Dr. Lisa Simon, a general dentist and internal medicine physician, tackle the question of dental trust. They dive into the historical divide between dentistry and medicine, exploring how this affects patient care. The conversation highlights the challenges of dental insurance and accessibility, especially for underserved populations, while sharing personal anecdotes that illuminate the complexities of oral health.
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Wisdom Teeth Scam
- Matt felt scammed when a dentist suggested pulling all four of his wisdom teeth, despite Matt only having three.
- He believes dentists recommend wisdom tooth extraction as an expensive, unnecessary procedure.
Judgment in Dentistry
- Patients feel judged in dental settings, preventing open communication.
- Medicine is moving away from judgment, but dentistry hasn't caught up.
Dentist-Patient Tension
- The dental payment system creates tension between patient and dentist.
- Dentists are incentivized to offer more services, while patients want to avoid costs.