Gastropod cover image

Gastropod

Is My Dentist Scamming Me? (guest episode)

Jan 14, 2025
Mary Otto, a journalist focused on social issues and author of "Teeth," teams up with Dr. Lisa Simon, a general dentist and internal medicine physician, to unpack the complexities of dental care. They explore the historical divide between dentistry and medicine, revealing how this impacts patient trust and care. With personal anecdotes, they discuss the frustrating nature of dental insurance and systemic gaps in accessibility, especially for vulnerable populations. They advocate for integrating dental and medical practices to improve patient outcomes.
48:25

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The lack of upfront cost estimates for dental procedures creates confusion and vulnerability among patients, fostering skepticism about dental care.
  • The historical separation between dentistry and medicine contributes to mistrust in dental recommendations, highlighting the need for potential integration of both fields.

Deep dives

Confusion Surrounding Dental Costs

Navigating the costs associated with dental care in the U.S. often creates confusion and skepticism among patients. Many individuals, like the podcast caller Matt, feel uncertain about the financial aspects of dental procedures, as they often receive treatment recommendations without upfront cost estimates. This lack of clarity contrasts sharply with general medical procedures, where recommendations typically come with a clearer understanding of insurance coverage and out-of-pocket costs. Consequently, patients may feel vulnerable, akin to being scammed, when faced with sudden expenses for procedures that they may not fully understand.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode