Dental treatment is considered to be a very expensive affair, which is
something most of the people would agree with. To cap it all, there is a lot of
variation between the fees of different dentists. Many persons are not sure
about the reason behind this wide variability, and some naïve patients tend to
select their dentist based upon the fact that his consultation and treatment fee
is the least among all. This is not the smartest way to make such an important
decision. The person might be able to save some of his hard-earned money, but
he might actually be doing more harm to his own body, which may lead to an
exponential expenditure in the future. When a patient goes to a dental surgeon
who tends to cut his costs, it needs no rocket science to figure out that to
make the most out of his low fee; the quality of the treatment could be
compromised. This, of course, does not mean that a dentist who charges the most
is the best one. Patients need to do their homework diligently before choosing
their dentists, and analyze thoroughly the reasons a dental surgeon is charging
the amount he is.
Sometimes
it is hard to compare fees of different dental surgeons. More often than not, it
is like comparing apples and oranges. Patients need to read the fine print and
figure out what all is included in their treatment charges and what’s not.
Some
dental surgeons tend to provide an itemized list of the full treatment. For
every additional procedure which is to be performed, be it an x-ray or the fee
of a visiting specialist, the charges would increase accordingly. Other dentists
offer a package deal which includes everything so that patients don’t need to
worry that they will be charged extra for each additional procedure. There are
pros and cons of both these options, and it is important that patients understand
exactly what the best option for them is.
Unfortunately,
most of the patients are not experienced enough to ask important
questions. The questions the patients need to ask their dentist are, “What
would happen if, during the course of treatment, it is felt that the tooth
cannot be saved, and would have to be extracted? Do I lose all my money? Or
would I get a part of it refunded?” Once a patient gets the treatment of his
teeth started and during the course of the treatment, the doctor feels that the
tooth cannot be saved, not only it means a wastage of time of both the dentist
as well as the patient, but the patient’s money also, in a way, seems to go
down the drain.
It
is equally important to find out whether the dentist’s clinic charges extra for
additional procedures such as fillings and capping after Root Canal Treatment
(RCT), or is it included in the deal. A dental surgeon should explain the
complete treatment plan to the patient in detail before starting any procedure,
along with the possible obstacles, so that there is no misunderstanding between
the dentist and the patient, and also to maximize the chances of a successful
treatment.
The
patient also needs to find out whether the dentist charges the same amount for
treating a number of teeth. Some clinics charge exactly the same, irrespective
of the number of teeth, while others tend to offer a loyalty discount and
reduce the fees for subsequent visits.
If patients
ask all these questions up front, they would have the answers they need, so
that there are no unpleasant surprises afterwards. Patients should also note
that clinics offer additional options such as money back packages or refund
programs, which tend to minimize some of their financial risks. Patients should
explore all these options.
What
a majority of dental surgeons have learnt over time is that most patients in
urban areas are not looking for the cheapest dental clinics, or the ones which
offer the lowest fees, because they do understand that treatment is expensive. What
patients are really looking for is value for money and the only way for
patients to get this is with their due attentiveness. The key is to compare different
clinics before opting for the one that suits one’s needs, to find out exactly
what all is included in the treatment and what is not, and then make a decision
as to what suits best.
