I hear so many dentists and specialists pushing elective procedures like used car salesmen. Look, dentists and dental specialists are like vets. We really aren't all that necessary. When the economy is bad and things are tight, you can shoot your dog and solve all their health problems. Same with teeth. You can ignore oral health and treat all problems with extractions. Dentures aren't even necessary. Perhaps this dose of reality would help many dentists.
It seems to me that many dentists push patients hard to do things that really aren't necessary. My wife fired our vet the other day for the same reason--he kept insisting that my three year old dog have a $100 pre-op lab panel before a dental cleaning. Dentist do have to market b/c they are selling largely elective procedures. Hell, oral surgeons sell many elective procedures, too. If we stop here all dentists would be dirty used car salesmen. The redeeming quality is talking honestly with patients. I see people all the time who have spoken to dentists, specialists, and even other oral surgeons who don't seem to tell the patient the whole truth about treatment options.
Tell your patients about the benefits of your services and the quality of life issues involved in loosing teeth, but also tell them that those veneers you just installed will condemn the underlying teeth to a lifetime of expensive restorations. Oral surgeons should tell patients the truth about the necessity of wisdom tooth extractions. Attention pedodontists: every kid doesn't need braces, and if they do perhaps an orthodontist should place them instead of you.
I get sick of the money and profit drive that is so pervasive in dentistry. Every dental rag I get in the mail is about making money, pushing patients to do things they don't need, and working your hygienist harder. Every CE meeting is 50% on practice management and making money. Hell, most media stories about dentists these days have to do with money and how much money we're making.
Damnit, we're doctors, aren't we? What happened to being honest with patients and caring about the patient as a human rather than a carrying agent for a check book?