Dr. Millie Morrison explains what goes on behind the scenes at a dental office and how this translates into the price you pay for dental work.
Dentistry has been plagued by associations to high costs since the beginning of dentistry, but there is a reason why prices end up being what they are.
I wanted to take the time to detail, for you, the factors that contribute to the fact that prices are the way they are.
A common question I get from patients is “why is dentistry so expensive?” And it usually comes up when we’re discussing different options, and as soon as the price tag comes up, the eyebrows go up higher and higher, before disappearing completely. 😅
It is not something that many people they want to talk and not to many people they like to talk about this.
And for that reason, I thought writing this article would help shed some light on the costs involved. So you know what's going on behind the scenes when you pay for something.
What contributes to these high prices?
It's generally accepted that paying a higher price for something means you're getting a better quality product. It's the same in dentistry.
- A slightly higher price means you are getting the best quality and that your treatment is done with the best products. Ultimately, meaning it is the best thing for you.
- There is also a lot of equipment and materials that we need and that is another big cost. For me personally, I like to use the best quality composite on the market. It comes from the United States and I know exactly how it works. I wouldn't use anything else because I can't guarantee that I will be able to give my patients the same results and effectiveness if I don't use this particular material.
- We also have a lot of regulatory bodies that charge a lot for insurance and to be part of certain bodies that make sure everything is up to standards and work behind the scenes.
What else can affect prices?
Another reason dentistry can be a little more expensive is if the dentist continuously invests a lot of time in his continuing education.
For example, this year I'm doing a degree, and last year I did another one-year course. All of this costs time and money, but it then means I can give you the best options and treatments.
When you come and ask me for a filling, I can give you the best filling with the most up-to-date knowledge. I can use the most modern techniques that will ensure that your filling will last as long as possible. At the same time, ensuring that you will have minimal problems with it in the future. So what I'm essentially doing is investing in my patients.
What does this mean to you?
Do these factors then mean that my dentistry is a little more expensive?
Yes, but that's because instead of going around the corner and buying something that will do the job for five dollars, I spend £500 on something that will give you the best result.
How time affects costs
There is also a limited amount of time each day that we can work. Unfortunately, I can't stay up until two in the morning, so everything must be calculated in terms of time. All my treatments take a certain amount of time, because I want to make sure I'm giving my patients the best quality.
If you find someone who can give you the same service, the same time, the same care, and at a 50% discount, then of course you should accept. But I don't see that. I see works that routinely come back to us that don't work out because things didn't go according to plan or because someone thought they were going to get something but ended up with something completely different.
“When things are done quickly, without much planning, then the biological cost is huge.”
We can redo the work, but it's not always as simple as redoing it. Sometimes, if you're lucky, it's very easy. We can take out the filling that failed and put in a new filling, but sometimes it's a little more complicated. For example, dif the tooth (or teeth) have suffered irreversible damage or if they were damaged on a much larger scale, then correcting these problems ends up costing even more than it would have cost if they had been done correctly from the start.
Biological cost vs. financial cost
When I talk to patients and colleagues, what I ask them to consider isIt's not just the financial or time cost, but also the biological cost.
Often, when things are done quickly and in a hurry, without much planning, then the biological cost (how much damage is done to the teeth) is huge.
For example, when we're restoring your smile, I could cut your front six teeth and put veneers on, which can give you a pretty good smile instantly. Or I can take the time to plan the case properly; put the teeth in the right place, maybe do some whitening or maybe just do some marginal bonding, and although this process costs more and takes longer, the damage to the teeth is so minimal that will allow you to use your teeth for a much longer period of time.
If cases are planned properly, then the biological cost is very low and that's the most important thing happening in dentistry right now, to make sure we're as minimalist as possible.
Dental tourism
Dental tourism has recently increased in recent years as people seek cheaper dental treatments or alternatives to those available in the UK.
When people asked dentists about this, they were somewhat reprimanded and told not to consider going abroad because either you would be scammed or the dentistry would be terrible, the treatments would be unsuccessful and you would have to redo everything in the UK.
And this only leaves an unpleasant feeling for both the patient and the dentist. When I am asked about treatments abroad, what I ask my patients to understand is that there are good and bad dentists everywhere. There are good and bad dentists in Spain, there are good and bad dentists in Turkey, etc. The most important thing is to choose a good dentist.
The only difference between here and there is that here you speak the language, you understand the social cues. and, based on these, you know if the dentist can take care of you.
If you go somewhere where you don't speak the language or don't know the social cues, how can you be sure they can give you what you want? How can you make a judgment call? It's much more difficult. So you just have to make sure you trust your dentist. And again, it comes back to the same thing – lead with biological costs and quality, rather than being led by financial costs.
Source: enlightensmiles.com
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