NBDE: Extortion?

[Rob2005]

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The nbde part 1 costs in the neighborhood of $150 to take. If there are roughly 4500 students taking the test paying this amount, the ADA receives $675,000 every July. Divide this among 400 questions, and they're raking in $1687.50 a question. It goes without saying that the ADA collects a large profit for this. I know that all across the board that standardized tests cost this much or more, but why? My guess is simply because they can....

Rob

 

[Yah-E]

Robby:

How'sa going, my man? Are you having too much free time over there in Minny during your 3rd year? Great question, nonetheless, never really thought about it? Hope things are going well for ya, I'm off to a Halloween Party tonight! Our entire Health Profession Division booked a club and we do this every year! I'll be sure to share some pix with y'all this weekend!

Andy

 

[Rob2005]

Yeah, Andy, that last post testifies of my immense amount of free time that I have compared to last yr. This week I had 4/5 of my schedule free. Is it like this at all schools fer the third yr's?

Anyway, have fun at yer Halloween bash, I heard you were you going as a dirty, deranged dentist? Hasta la pasta.

Rob

 

[aphistis]

Hmm...a post from Andy.

Doesn't really address the question...

Exceedingly jovial...

He's headed out to a holiday party...

...can we say "blood alcohol level"? 😱 😀

 

[DrJeff]

Originally posted by Rob2005
The nbde part 1 costs in the neighborhood of $150 to take. If there are roughly 4500 students taking the test paying this amount, the ADA receives $675,000 every July. Divide this among 400 questions, and they're raking in $1687.50 a question. It goes without saying that the ADA collects a large profit for this. I know that all across the board that standardized tests cost this much or more, but why? My guess is simply because they can....

Rob

Yup, they make some profit off of the exam, but not as much as you think. They do actually "rent" the facilities, then they pay the examiners and also put them up in the hotel and pay for their airfare to get to your test site.

Also look at it this way, the $150ish that you pay will ultimately give you the right to make MILLIONS 😀 😱 😍 over your professional career. So it's not a bad return on investment afterall!

 

[openwyd22]

I would also think that it is good for the ADA. They need revenue somewhere to do research and the such.

 

[ItsGavinC]

I'm a staunch supporter of the ADA (what with my student membership and all 😀) and plan on supporting their organization for years to come.

Afterall, the trade off is that they support me.

I'm fine with the testing fees. I hate fees, but it's just another hoop.

 

[Rob2005]

I am also in favor of ADA being financially sound. Charge the actual dentists mo' $, not us, the po' pimply faced ramen eating dental students.

 

[DrJeff]

Just for your information, my annual ADA dues are approaching $1000 (national, state and local society is how its broken down), and frankly for how the ADA is very PROACTIVE for our profession against the "HMOing" of dentistry, and for fair play by the insurance company with respect to dentistry, its worth every penny. I can tell you that last year, my dues were directly repaid over 30 to 1 (compared to the previous year) as a direct result of ADA, and my state dental society actions against the insurance companies.

Plus, the ADA is also taking a very proactive stance on the amalgam issue(both as a restorative material and with water treatment issues), UNIFIED NATIONAL LICENSURE. As a whole, the ADA and the fess that they collect are worth evrey penny, and are an excellent return on your investment!

 

[Rob2005]

You all probably have a point. $150 is really a drop in the bucket compared to what the ADA returns. I just think they should keep their grubby paws off our wallets until we actually belong to their organization. (Excuse the blasphemy)

Dr. Jeff, the daredevil dentists who live on the edge and don't belong to ADA-are they shunned and looked down upon by the profession as a whole? Just curious, chief.

 

[c132]

Originally posted by DrJeff

Plus, the ADA is also taking a very proactive stance on the amalgam issue(both as a restorative material and with water treatment issues), UNIFIED NATIONAL LICENSURE. As a whole, the ADA and the fess that they collect are worth evrey penny, and are an excellent return on your investment!

GET RID OF MOST AMALGAM, its been proven many times that its bad, THE ADA just knows its the only decent cheap filling material that lasts, quit bitchin about amalgam safety and come up with a new alloy. Sure one filling releases the daily amount of mercury that is recommended, but heck what about these peps who have a whole mouth of amalgam with high blood mercury levels? AINT FROM THE FISH THEY BE EATIN!!!!

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by c132
But heck what about these peps who have a whole mouth of amalgam with high blood mercury levels? AINT FROM THE FISH THEY BE EATIN!!!!

And it isn't from their fillings either!

Chill out.

 

[larryt]

Originally posted by c132
Sure one filling releases the daily amount of mercury that is recommended, but heck what about these peps who have a whole mouth of amalgam with high blood mercury levels? AINT FROM THE FISH THEY BE EATIN!!!!

Or from the polluted air.

 

[3rdMolarRoller]

Amalgam fillings are very safe..this was my senior thesis: Effects of low level mercury exposure from dental amalgam.

There is not one piece of evidence (that is not biased) to prove it is harmful

Do a literature review and tell me what you find. And don't give me those articles that expose mice to huge amounts of mercury vapor. A lot of those articles say they found "clincial manifestation " in mice due to the exposure...but hell I would need over 100 fillings to get that exposure level. At last count I had 28 teeth!!!

 

[aphistis]

Sweet! We've got a primary source in our corner against the anti-amalgamites 😀

 

[c132]

NAW, i thought I would just see how much crud I could stir up!


CH