Putting A Spare on a Bad Axle?

If you haven't already given this idea some thought, wait no longer: I am a mechanic in some respects, and a doctor of the mouth in most. But Automovite specialists and I have something in common. We want to do the best job we can with any client, and minimize the liabilities for ourselves as well as the clients with any given job. We have challenges limping some clients along depending on  the severity or complexity of their problems.

One example of this occurred this morning. A patient called this morning complaining of continued pain with his severe periodontal disease after we began non-surgical treatment. He elected to retain a poor tooth instead of removing it, and now I'm guessing he is hurting because the continued infection has flared up. And he prefers to have me call his pharmacist to treat his pain and infection.  When I reviewed his case, I noted that the area where he was complaining has truly severe bone and tissue infection with little hope for medication to solve. In addition, he plans to transfer his care to another provider.

When your car has a problem, like a bad axle or suspension, it's tough to call the mechanic and have them send out a tow truck to put the spare tire on. Furthermore, your mechanic will have a tough time assessing the extent of the current damage without having your car up on the lift in the garage.

The same holds true for a change in conditions in the mouth. Even from week to week, periodontal disease and failing teeth are in flux. A prescription for pain control may be a poor choice for a number of reasons, both medical and dental. Some issues can't be resolved with prescriptions. Narcotic medication management is something we take seriously, and we do not provide narcotic medications without seeing patients directly. And from the medical-legal standpoint, making an assessment and treatment over the phone is risky for patients and providers.

Thanks for understanding we dentist types want the best for your your medical health, your teeth. And your cars.

Complicated Care Plans Require Flexibility in Treatment

Lately I have had several consultations regarding large-scale, complicated treatment plans to care for complex decay and periodontal disease. It's been pretty trying for me as I discuss the large costs of these treatments; my patients have developed these conditions over many, many years. To recommend the right kind of care for them, I have to walk a fine line between cost and care with them all. Most of the involved plans have a sticker price that is akin to a new car.

In order to make things affordable in dentistry, I have to find a way to create steps in care. I'm always using the simple (albeit sometimes oversimplified) analogy of building a house. At times I am proposing a remodel. Other times I am proposing a bulldozing and total rebuild. And when a house gets work done, it can happen in phases. No different in my line of work.

The reason it's important to share this?  Twofold. First, everything in dentistry is expensive. It's important for me to keep that in mind as I propose care plans, because it's a real world we live in with lots of expenses from all angles in our lives. If I can create a situation where patients can start a project, have stability in the interim, and finish it within a reasonable time frame while on a budget, then I feel good about that.

Secondly, dentistry done right is time-consuming. I actually feel steps HAVE to happen in many of these cases. "Teeth InAn Hour" is bandied about these days, and I don't think that fits the majority of patients; it's practically unfair to doctors and patients alike to push that same-day tooth replacement option.  Oral health doesn't blow up and fail in a day. So there's little chance that a quality result occurs in the same time frame.

Lastly, with financing, things can happen in steps with a flexible payment plan.

Give us a call to talk about your involved or complex care. I know we can find a way to make it happen in steps.