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.
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Wisdom Teeth Upsell
- Matt felt scammed when a dentist suggested pulling four wisdom teeth, despite him having only three.
- This incident made him question dentists' motives and financial transparency.
Opaque Dental Payments
- Dental care payment systems differ significantly from medical care, creating confusion and skepticism.
- Patients often lack clarity on costs and coverage, unlike typical medical procedures.
Dentist Incentives
- Private dentists are incentivized to offer more services due to their income structure.
- This creates a misalignment of goals between patients seeking minimal intervention and profit-driven dentists.