Dentist Career Guide and Counseling

Question: Dentist and the malpractice insurance they are required to carry. What is lawsuit protocol? I am in medical malpractice settlement negotiations with a dentist. Her insurance company was handling the negotiations, then the dentist license expired and the insurance company dropped the dentist. The dentist obtained a new policy from a new insurance company. Now the original insurance company has dropped out of negotiations. Is it possible that the original insurance company wants me to file suit against the dentist, and then the new insurance company will have to defend the dentist? Or, because the first insurance company received the initial settlement letter with notice of intent to sue, they will have to carry on and defend the dentist even though they no longer have the dentist as a client. Please clarify the typical procedure in this type of situation. Thanks a million! N. Thanks for the info. I do have an attorney. But I do not want to sue and want to settle. The original insurance Co. made an offer, then we countered..then the Ins Co. dropped the dentist, and did not responded to the counter offer. SO, of course the attorney wants to sue cause he will make the big bucks. I want to settle because we were on track to settle. I just can't figure why the original insurance company would want to go to court unless they really don't care one way or another because the dentist is no longer a concern to them in the long run??? Tks. for you input.

Answer: You definitely need an attorney to work through this now. The dentist and the insurance company have dealt with you in bad faith. The insurance company probably did hope that you'd just go away. You aren't going to be able to fight this on your own, unfortunately. It's hard to say, without specialized knowledge of the laws in your area, to know who is responsible--the dentist, the old insurance company, or the new insurance company. Find a malpractice attorney who will work on contingency--don't pay an attorney anything up front.

Question: How do you trust dentist when you get different opinions by different dentists? Does this happen to you? When we went to a dentist, he said you have cavity and also need to go for gum treatment. For second opinion we went to another dentist and says everything is fine. Then after six month this second dentist says you have to go for gum treatment to periodentist, but we didn't and changed dentist again. The new dentist says you have no problem and everything looks good to me. So how we know that you is telling truth? We feel like when you have insurance then the dentist would definitely try to send you to oral surgeon or periodentist like he is getting commision sending patients to them. Also these oral surgeon and periodentist are in the same office as general dentist most of the time.

Answer: Diagnosis of oral disease is not always as exact or as consistent as you may expect. Gum health for example runs the spectrum between perfect and dire and the point at which you would classify it as needing treatment varies between dentists. Maybe you could ask your friends if they have a dentist with a good track record of looking after their teeth and get an opinion from that one.

Question: How should you go about choosing a dentist? I'm operating under the assumption that all dentists are not equal - that some are more skilled and more ethical. How do I go about choosing the best dentist? What I mean by skill should be obvious. What I mean by ethical is someone who will not tell the patient that he or she needs an unnecessary service / someone who will not overcharge for their services / etc. Do those dentists who charge less for their services possess less skill? If a practice has multiple dentists, are you able to request a specific one?

Answer: Ask your friends who there Dentist is and would they recommend them

Question: How do I find a dentist who is patient with claustrophobic patients? I've begun getting extreme closed-in feelings when my current dentist is working on me, and he gets snippy with me and doesn't have any patience for my problem. I need to find a patient dentist and one that is also on my ERS list of dentists. I have claustrophobia.

Answer: most dentist are very aware of this problem,and will work you through every step of the way ,i have had a major problem with anxiety,and dentist visits just inform the doctor they will help you.

Question: How many visits to the dentist should it take for a single tooth removal? I recently had a tooth removed and while healing I noticed a piece of tooth still in my gum. I quickly returned to my dentist and had it removed free of charge. I yet again have to go back to the dentist office for yet another piece of the same tooth to be removed. Is this normal and how could this be avoided in the future? And should i get another dentist?

Answer: to see a fragments of a removed tooth means that the tooth have been broken since the extraction so you dentist have to look for all the fragments to remove him if he didn't that not sever but its a mistake also he have to remove the granulation tissue don't worry but it a mistake

Question: Can a dentist work without establishing a office first? My dentist works in a office but he was not the person who established the office. There was another dentist who established the office and he worked his job, THEN my dentist works there. Is it possible for a dentist who just graduated do that?

Answer: FYI, THIS IS WHAT MANY DENTISTS DO NOT HAVING THEIR OWN OFFICE BUT WORK QUITE WELL AND THERE ARE MANY DENTISTS THAT JUST GOT STARTED WHO DO THIS.

Question: How often should we visit the dentist? I visit the dentist every 6 months. Reason being, I currently wear braces and it can be difficult to clean my teeth properly as plaque always seems to find it's way under my gums. Every time I go to the dentist I am in need of a deep cleaning. Should I visit the dentist every 3 months instead?

Answer: 3 months would make sense...you can't keep your teeth to clean or take to good a care of them!!! enjoy having nice straight pretty teeth..the braces are well worth it! Tell your mom and dad thanks for loving you enough to get your teeth straightened! ♥

Question: What is the difference between general dentist and dentist? Or are they same? Plus, what is the starting salary and salary of being a dentist (or a general dentist)? Plus, what is the salary of a pediatric dentist?

Answer: a general dentist is the same as a "dentist" they both practice general dentistry, from there dentist can specify in a field therefore changing their tittle, a periodontist specifies in kids and so on a pediatric dentist makes $200000+++ mainly because all the kids that go in there are kids that wouldnt of been accepted in general dentist chairs so they have to put them to sleep, and that cost alot

Question: Can a dental hygienist tell a dentist to put on clean gloves? If a dental hygienist notices that a dentist forgot to put on a fresh pair of gloves between patients, would it be okay for her to say something to the dentist (in front of the patient)? What would be the best way to solve this problem? The dentist has done this on occasion before.

Answer: I have experienced this in my hygiene career and sometimes it is a careless dentist (or other staff member) and sometimes it is an honest mistake. A couple of ways I have handled this are - 1. said nothing that would alert the patient and handed them a new pair of gloves prior to them getting into the mouth 2. asked them if I could speak to them for a minute outside the room and let them know 3. just made eye contact with the Dr. and pointed to the gloves on their hands to jog their memory 4. held out the box of gloves at them (I have attempted to do all of these behind the patients head or at least out of the line of site, because who wants to be shown their wrong in front of the patient or staff) If you think it is a ongoing problem and you feel that the dentist will get upset or be offended, you might opt to hold onto the mirror and explorer (so they can't do the exam) until you see they have changed their gloves and if they haven't, hand them gloves first and then the instruments.Or maybe leave a new set of gloves on top of the instruments on the tray so they can't get to the instruments without seeing them. If this is a constant obvious problem and their are copious amounts of other "dirty" offenses you might see if you can make some positive changes in the practice or find a different practice to work in. Honestly, I graduated 15 years ago and alot has changed, so if the Dr. you are working for is older they may just not know about the newer protocols. There is an awful lot of new information to take in all the time, but basic cleanliness is an issue that cannot be compromised since some medically compromised patients could be severly affected....Not only are you able, but you must address the issue for everyone's safety. After all, if dirty gloves are going into a patient's mouth, what else are they touching the bathroom doorknob? (that you are going to end up touching with your bare hands?) Good luck + hope that helps! JAMRDH -a dental hygienist

Question: Can a dentist file my front teeth to make them smaller and more rounded? My two front teeth are a bit big and the bottom eges are jagged. Can the dentist file them just to slightly round them up a bit (like Isabella Rosellini's for example) so they don't look so square? PS i've read a cosmetic dentist can use a sanding disk to reshape teeth. Does anyone know if this is expensive or what this generally costs for just the two front teeth?

Answer: Yes, this is easy to do and is way cheaper than lumineers or any kind of fillings. You're probably looking at around $70-$80 total . You might ask your doc if he/she would do it as it's a simple procedure [no numbing!!] that most any dentist can perform.

Question: How can I become a dentist on the armed forces? I've always wanted to be a dentist, but I also think I lack the discipline to make it through dental school. I think that an experience in the armed forces wll get me to the level of disciple I need to make it. My queston is what do I do to get any branch of the armed forces to train me as a dentist?

Answer: Sorry - they won't do it. You have to complete your schooling and earn your license before you enlist. But if you want to learn self-discipline, a tour of duty as Marine will teach ya that! Do that first and then go to dental college.

Question: How do you trust a dentist that says your kids need braces? Understanding that dentists run a business to generate profits, it seems most will recommend braces for kids. How do you know if they really need them? A couple of dentist have said they are necessary due to an overbite, but isn't a slight overbite normal. When do you know that it's more of a cosmetic procedure rather than a medically necessary one?

Answer: There are two big reasons for braces. The first is to improve function--like if there is trouble chewing, or if the patient keeps biting his cheeks, or if the teeth on the top and bottom are contacting in such a way that the forces between them are higher than normal, causing wear to the teeth, etc. Also, in super crowded teeth there are more areas that are harder to clean with the toothbrush, so straightening them out can help to maintain good oral hygiene and prevent tooth decay. The second reason is obviously cosmetics, and although there are "ideal" skeletal profiles that dentists learn about, this is largely up to the patient. Some people are terribly self-conscious, while others are just fine with the way they look and have no interest in changing. Most dentists recommend an ideal treatment plan with the goal of making your teeth as perfect as possible in both function (which is always the most important consideration) and cosmetics. Unfortunately, the more expensive treatments are often (but not always) the better ones because they take more time and higher quality materials are used. I like to think that for most of us, the money is secondary. A huge part of the treatment plan is also based on what YOU (and your child) ultimately want, and if you are unsure about the benefits to you then you should definitely discuss them with your dentist before you decide if you want to follow through. S/he should also tell you what could happen if you choose not to put braces on at this point. By getting a few different opinions and asking lots of questions, you should get a good feel for whether you and your child are ready to go through with braces at this point. The decision is completely yours, and all you can really do is just be as informed as you can when you make it.

Question: What is the difference between a dentist and a dentist technician? Do students taking these fields learn the same thing? What subjects are required in order to study in the specific field to be a dentist technician? Must the student attend dentistry school?

Answer: A dentist is a medical doctor./

Question: What will my dentist do if I have impacted wisdom teeth and no dental coverage till next year? I am in a lot of pain. One of my impacted wisdom teeth is trying to erupt. My dental insurance will not cover anything until May of next year. I am having a sharp, shooting pain in my head and ear- it has been going on for days and is hardly tolerable. Is there ANYTHING the dentist can do to help me? I am pretty much broke so I can't pay on my own- but I don't think I can wait until May for help with this issue.

Answer: It looks like you are pretty stuck. They can not do work and not be paid. They won't do work and bill later with a different date beucase that is considered insurance fraud. You might have to find out if they will let you do a pyamnet plan, or go an apply for credit thourgh their office for a dental credit card. Wisdom teeth are painful and can cause pressure and pain that hurts your mouth, your ears and your sinuses. Everything is close together and connected. I am sorry you hurt so much. Try some Tylenol and warm compresses for now and swich with some warm salt water when you think of it as well. I know how you feel, I have been in the same situation! I hope all goes well for you!

Question: How come a dentist is not considered to be a doctor? Most people tell me that a dentist is not considered a doctor. How come?

Answer: They are, in the sense that the DDS is a doctor of dental surgery, and they are called doctor too. Generally, you say 'dentist' because that's their job. You could also say a medical doctor is an internist or a cardiologist or a neurologist. I guess it would seem odd to say that a dentist was a 'doctor' as a generic term because that wouldn't imply that s/he was a dentist to most people. Some dentists also go to medical school for things like orofaciomaxillary surgery and they are definitely doctors and dentists both. *g*

Question: How much is spent yearly on dentist fluoride treatments? Insurance companies cover fluoride treatments at dentists' offices, usually without question. Fluoride treatments are only recommended for people at high risk of tooth decay. 80% of all tooth decay occurs in 20% of the population, mostly lower-income Americans who never actually see a dentist. So, I wonder how many unnecessary fluoride treatments are bought and paid for by insurance companies and individuals? My question: What is the total cost of all the fluoride treatments administered in the United States, paid by insurance, government programs and/or individuals?

Answer: fluoride treatments are not that costly, and very few individuals would not benefit from one. Especially lower income uninformed people. So if there is one treatment the insurance or state will provide it is a drop in a deep pit but its a step up for those who need it. Why do you think toothpaste has fluoride,it strengthens teeth it penetrates to protect from starting decay and also keeps the growth and spreading down. Fluoride is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to lessen decay and lesions in undeveloped populations. Fluoride is not a misused treatment its a beneficial one we can all use without question