There's a wide range of dentists out there in terms of philosophies, treatment philosophies, training, knowledge, and experience. All of these factors play a role in how a dentist is going to treat their patients and take care of them, how they're going to recommend treatment, and what kind of treatment they're going to recommend.
These elements all play a role in treatment planning. If a patient comes into their office and says, "Hey, I have this going on," you can talk to five different dentists and it's very possible that you can get five different treatment plans. As a patient, it's your responsibility and your challenge to figure out which of these treatment approaches are right for you.
Conservative vs. Proactive Dental Treatment
One of the biggest differences we see between dentists and how they recommend treatment or plan treatment for you as a patient is whether the treatment is more conservative or more proactive. This essentially involves doing more treatment versus doing less treatment or maybe not doing any treatment at all. It's a complicated question, but we're going to try and dive into it.
Sometimes, in some situations, doing more conservative treatment is best. For the most part here at Crown Dentistry, we try to do as little treatment as possible to address the problems and any potential future problems, but not so much that you're going to cause undue harm or trauma to the teeth or the mouth. That gets complicated because there are many different situations that may arise in the mouth, but by and large, that's what we try to do here.
Dental Technology
Everyone is generally familiar with some of the more basic technologies we have in the dental office. One of the most common that most people know about is X-rays, which are images that let you see what's going on in the middle of the teeth as well as things happening underneath the gums that you generally can't see with the naked eye.
There are many other pieces of technology that help us figure out what's going on in the patient's mouth. Some other tools are intraoral cameras, which are cameras that go inside your mouth to take pictures of your teeth, gums, and cheeks. These images are displayed on a computer screen and magnified to a power of maybe five or ten times life size. This is helpful because it can reveal things we can't necessarily see with the naked eye.
Other tools we use in the office include cone beam X-rays or computerized tomography machines. These devices take scans of your teeth, bone, and hard tissue, anything in your skull and mouth, and replicate them on a computer, allowing us to take measurements and plan implants outside of your mouth.
We Always Consider The Patient's Goals At Crown Dentistry
Patients come in with their own goals for their mouth and oral health. I think that's excellent. It's always good to have a goal that influences any potential treatment you receive as a patient and potentially influences how I present treatment to you. If I know that someone is more interested in keeping their teeth, I might present a course of treatment geared toward saving more teeth versus extracting teeth or opting not to treat certain teeth.
Our goal at Crown Dentistry is to try and save as many teeth as possible and keep as many teeth in your mouth as possible. The caveat is that sometimes this may require more treatment or more work, sometimes more time and money invested in your mouth. This may or may not align with your own patient goals. The most important thing is for us to communicate, so that I can know where you're coming from, you can know where I'm coming from, and we can find common ground. That's what we're trying to do when determining your own oral health goals.
Comparing Different Dental Treatment Plans
There are a couple of things a patient should consider when comparing differing treatment plans from different dental practices. One is, are you comparing apples to apples? You need to ensure that the treatment plans being compared are the exact same treatment options.
For example, one dental practice may be proposing fillings, while another might be suggesting some fillings and some dental crowns. These aren't exactly the same, which means prices and the time required to complete the treatment may not be the same. You want to ensure you're comparing the same thing.
Additionally, you want to look at the pros and cons of any recommended treatment. There are many excellent treatment options we can offer you as dental providers. Each has its pros and cons. There is no perfect treatment option. Everything has an upside and a downside. It's all about figuring out what's important to you as the patient and also what your dental provider can do according to their knowledge and expertise.
Another consideration when evaluating different treatment plans is whether the dental providers, the people who will be performing treatment on your mouth, are the same. This requires a little more research, time, and conversation, but it's really important.
Trust and Communication At Crown Dentistry
Trust and communication are vitally important to any doctor-patient relationship. When patients come into our office, one of the first things I try to do is get to know them a little bit. This is because it's interesting and fun to learn about people and what's important to them, but it's also crucial because it impacts how we take care of you as a patient and how I might alter or fit my treatment recommendations to best meet your needs.
It's really important that we communicate our practice philosophy to you. It's crucial that we understand what's important to you as the patient and what your goals are. Basically, we try to tailor and customize every treatment plan to fit you, providing a personalized recommendation that suits you and your mouth.
Choosing the Right Dental Provider
We have patients who want the best for their mouth and who visit different dentists to find what works best for them. The most important thing is to talk to your dental provider or providers and figure out what they're offering you and what benefits you might have from choosing one office over another. It's challenging because there are many dental practices, with a wide range of practitioners in terms of knowledge, experience, capabilities, and technology.
The most important thing is to find someone you trust. You need to communicate with them, and they need to communicate with you. You must let them know what's important to you, and they must inform you of what they can provide as a dentist. This requires time, energy, and intention. However, once you establish these aspects in the first new patient appointment, if you're able to get on the same page and we as dentists are able to understand what's important to you, and you as a patient are able to understand what we represent as a dental practice, then everything else will progress more smoothly.
Why do dental prices vary between dental practices?
We've been getting a lot of questions about why dental prices vary between dental practices, even for the same treatment. The answer is that there's a lot of variation between dental practices. There are obviously many dentists out there. Often, you'll see a dentist on every street corner as you drive down the street. But the reality is we're not all the same. There's a lot of variation in knowledge, quality, and treatment philosophy. Some dentists are absolutely amazing. They're extremely skilled and want what's best for their patients. There are also dentists who may not be as skilled, either because they're newer or they just haven't had the training or experience.
Additionally, some dentists may not have your best interest in mind as a patient. I'm not trying to put anybody down; that's just the reality. Of course, there are many dentists in between those extremes. The reality is that we're not all the same, and there is a big difference in knowledge, experience, and quality when you go from one dental practice to another.
How do materials and lab work affect dental prices?
Just like the variation in knowledge and experience between dental practices, there's also a difference in materials, lab work, and training. Some dental practices choose to use the best materials and the best labs for their work with crowns, bridges, implants, and dentures. There is a wide variation in dental labs and dental product companies. Some are better than others, and some cost more. Just like in any other field, sometimes you have to pay more for quality.
However, paying more doesn't necessarily mean you're getting the best quality. It's really important that we as dentists do our homework and research to ensure that you, as patients, are getting the best quality of materials, lab work, and technology for the most fair and reasonable prices.
How does training and experience impact dental prices?
We've talked about the variation between dentists regarding knowledge and experience. Dentists who have more knowledge and experience often have undergone more training. For example, there are many dental specialists who have gone through more schooling than I have as a general dentist. These specialists include oral surgeons, endodontists who do root canals, and periodontists who treat gums. All of these specialists have more schooling and thus more knowledge than the average general dentist. All of this costs money. As a result, their prices for treatment are often higher.
Similarly, many general dentists have undergone additional training beyond their original dental school training. That training also costs time, money, and energy. All of these factors can lead to higher costs, but the result is that you, as the patient, receive a much higher level of knowledge and expertise when we take care of you.
What causes variation in dental implant prices?
There is a significant level of variation in dental implant prices. Dental implants are very popular among patients right now, and the technology is amazing, growing in leaps and bounds. There is a decent amount of price difference between dental implants because there is a significant difference in the level of training and expertise of the dentists placing the implants.
Dental implant placement is difficult and requires a lot of knowledge, training, and experience. That knowledge and experience require investment in money and time. Practitioners who are more experienced in placing dental implants may charge more because they've invested a lot of time, money, and energy to be the best they can be.
How does location impact dental pricing?
The location of a dental practice definitely impacts dental pricing because some areas simply cost more to live in, affecting where the practice is located and the cost of staffing. Wages may be higher in one area of a city than in another area. Prices will definitely fluctuate from one city to another. For example, things cost more in the Bay Area than in Sacramento. It's reasonable to assume that prices will also be higher in the Bay Area versus Sacramento.
How does insurance affect dental prices?
When a person has dental insurance, their prices are often set by the insurance company. There are many patients who don't have dental insurance and might see different pricing. One of the advantages of having insurance is that treatments are available at a particular price. We are sensitive to the fact that many of our patients don't have dental insurance. For instance, we offer an in-house dental insurance plan to our patients without insurance, allowing them to receive treatment at a discounted rate.
Why is comparing dental prices important?
Many people want to compare prices for their treatment at different practices. It's important to ensure you're comparing apples to apples. You need to make sure the treatment being compared is the same. It's also important to consider the knowledge and experience of the dentist performing the work. For example, it's not necessarily reasonable to expect the same price from a dentist who just graduated last year versus one who has been practicing for 20 years.
Additionally, if you're seeing a general dentist versus a specialist, the prices may not be the same, even if the treatment is. For example, getting an implant from an oral surgeon or periodontist may be priced differently than at a general dentist. It's crucial to not just look at the bottom line and final price but to consider what's behind that price.
Why is trust important in the dentist-patient relationship?
I believe one of the most important aspects of the dentist-patient relationship is trust. I do my best to build that trust from the moment our patients walk in the door. I try to connect with them, understand where they're coming from, and learn what's important to them. I also strive to be upfront about what we do here, what we stand for, what's important to us, and how we can help.
All of this aims to build a good relationship where the patient feels they can trust me to take care of them. If that trust isn't present and you don't feel it being built, then it may not be the right practice for you, and a second opinion could be needed.
How does Crown Dentistry ensure quality and reasonable pricing?
When it comes to dental costs and making informed decisions, I want our patients to know that we strive to offer quality treatment at a reasonable price. We're committed to researching materials, training, staffing, and every aspect of our practice to deliver quality dental care that considers their needs and wants, allowing them to leave our office in a better place than they came in.
It's your right and responsibility as a patient to research and understand what's happening in any dental practice you visit. You want to ensure the practice has your needs and wants in mind and that they're doing their best to deliver quality care.
If you’re ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our services, we’d love to hear from you. Call us at (916) 848-2145 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your smile.