need help explaining something

[surgeon_hopeful]

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Hey,

I was recently explaining to someone that I intend to probably go into dentistry, but am still highly considering traditional medicine. He asked why, and I said that if the health industry changes, then doctors could still have poor hours without the compensation to match it. However, dentists would not be as affected by this, and since being a dentist would allow me to work with patients, perform hands on procedures, and give me the lifestyle I've always dreamed about (working relatively little compared to other lucrative professions, while making very good money), it really appealed to me. Also, I have a strong interest in business, and dentistry is more business-like than medicine, although medicine does have a good amount of it indirectly as well.

He tried to correct me, by saying that dentists too would be "screwed" (for lack of better word) should healthcare be universalized. I knew this was wrong, but I didn't know how to explain it, so can someone help me out with this?

thanks!

 

[jeezy]

Hey,

I was recently explaining to someone that I intend to probably go into dentistry, but am still highly considering traditional medicine. He asked why, and I said that if the health industry changes, then doctors could still have poor hours without the compensation to match it. However, dentists would not be as affected by this, and since being a dentist would allow me to work with patients, perform hands on procedures, and give me the lifestyle I've always dreamed about (working relatively little compared to other lucrative professions, while making very good money), it really appealed to me. Also, I have a strong interest in business, and dentistry is more business-like than medicine, although medicine does have a good amount of it indirectly as well.

He tried to correct me, by saying that dentists too would be "screwed" (for lack of better word) should healthcare be universalized. I knew this was wrong, but I didn't know how to explain it, so can someone help me out with this?

thanks!

👍 if dentistry is socialized it would hurt our bottom line. however if you work in an urban area where cosmetic dentistry is popular, you can make skrill

 

[letsgfuad]

Hey,

I was recently explaining to someone that I intend to probably go into dentistry, but am still highly considering traditional medicine. He asked why, and I said that if the health industry changes, then doctors could still have poor hours without the compensation to match it. However, dentists would not be as affected by this, and since being a dentist would allow me to work with patients, perform hands on procedures, and give me the lifestyle I've always dreamed about (working relatively little compared to other lucrative professions, while making very good money), it really appealed to me. Also, I have a strong interest in business, and dentistry is more business-like than medicine, although medicine does have a good amount of it indirectly as well.

He tried to correct me, by saying that dentists too would be "screwed" (for lack of better word) should healthcare be universalized. I knew this was wrong, but I didn't know how to explain it, so can someone help me out with this?

thanks!

im no politician, but insurance companies pay lots of money to lobbyists to ensure they ahve a future of ripping the rest of us off. Hilary Clinton was bought out (as you would say) and started to support insurance after her ranting and raving when Mr Bill was president. Im pretty sure she cant, or politically would not, flip flop if "lets hope shes not elected" (sorry personal preference). Barrack (spelling?) im not sure about his stance or situation. but even if he tried, again lobbyists would not let that happen.

There would be such chaos in the first 5 or so years that i dont think the govt. could make it last. Again personal feeling. I do think there needs to be something done about healthcare... maybe no profit insurance companies (i heard kaiser is one now). When they bank 4 billion profit in a year there is something very wrong with this. Also there are some other sketchy things insurance companies do to make more money and if the govt is going to step in the need to fix this with the insurance companies and NOT change our set up and go universal.

Example: A doctor will charge insurance 1000 for a procedure. Insurance company will say no ill pay you 500 and thats it, thats all the doctor gets. If i do not have insurance and go to the doctor and get the exact same procedure done, i have to pay 1000, NOT the 500 that the insurance would have paid if i had it. If the doctor charged me 500, he would then be charged with insurance fraud, because he is charging different amounts to paying customers than insurance companies. We however do not have the power to say NO im only giving you 500. The govt should step in here and say ok customers w/o insurance can pay the same amount insurance companies actually pay (not what they are billed). *** I got this info fa few pharmacist *** They deal with insurance quite often and see how it works and this was the major flaw the see that occurs.

Lstly, if universal did arise, dental would probably be the last thing covered. There are some other posts where guys have given numbers about how much medicare costs for 1/5 of the population. Dont know much about that though. Go into ortho, im sure you will always have your lucrative job =]


This is my four cents.

 

[Aceofspades]

Hey,

I was recently explaining to someone that I intend to probably go into dentistry, but am still highly considering traditional medicine. He asked why, and I said that if the health industry changes, then doctors could still have poor hours without the compensation to match it. However, dentists would not be as affected by this, and since being a dentist would allow me to work with patients, perform hands on procedures, and give me the lifestyle I've always dreamed about (working relatively little compared to other lucrative professions, while making very good money), it really appealed to me. Also, I have a strong interest in business, and dentistry is more business-like than medicine, although medicine does have a good amount of it indirectly as well.

He tried to correct me, by saying that dentists too would be "screwed" (for lack of better word) should healthcare be universalized. I knew this was wrong, but I didn't know how to explain it, so can someone help me out with this?

thanks!

Yes, it seems as if many if not all people involved with dentistry will say that. I believe medicine is at a much greater risk, but dentistry too has risks. As for universal healthcare, socialized medicine, and the like, many countries with those in place still have private dentistry.

I think people will give you "we're all screwed if that happens" line because they believe you are picking dentistry for the money or lifestyle. The truth is some will be more screwed than others and that blanket statement really doesn't hold water.

 

[Regmata]

Dentists will get screwed too...the meds will just take it a bit deeper

 

[marius]

I think a bigger risk might be the sorts of consolidation that has occurred in optometry. How many private optometry offices do you see anymore? If big firms continue to move into dentistry as they did in optometry you could see a marked decrease in the number of privately owned practices. Relate this to salary and you can see why the average yearly income of a optometrist in the US is $99k and a dentist is $130K (data from salary.com).

Consider the pressures on consolidation: decrease costs through economies of scale (negotiated rates on equipment, lower DDS salaries) and support of the major insurance carriers. This translates into a lower cost for the patient/insurance company and encourages further consolidation.

I think that our only protections are those that the ADA has pushed to into law. A good reason to become and remain an ADA member once you graduate!

 

[jdoc04]

I think a bigger risk might be the sorts of consolidation that has occurred in optometry. How many private optometry offices do you see anymore? If big firms continue to move into dentistry as they did in optometry you could see a marked decrease in the number of privately owned practices. Relate this to salary and you can see why the average yearly income of a optometrist in the US is $99k and a dentist is $130K (data from salary.com).

Consider the pressures on consolidation: decrease costs through economies of scale (negotiated rates on equipment, lower DDS salaries) and support of the major insurance carriers. This translates into a lower cost for the patient/insurance company and encourages further consolidation.

I think that our only protections are those that the ADA has pushed to into law. A good reason to become and remain an ADA member once you graduate!

I don't think the influx of corporate/franchise dentistry or consolidation as you say will have as big an impact on dentistry as optometry. All of the franchise chains I have seen are targeting specifically the Medicaid portion of the market.

As for the whole universal health care possibility. I think the thing that worries health care practitioners the most is not knowing what exactly might happen.

 

[surgeon_hopeful]

OK, I guess I'm extremely naive about this whole issue, but I'm just wondering, and I know it's impossible to predict, but if I were to decide between the two solely for money (I really hope it doesn't come down to that), then which one (med or dents) would be better in terms of lifestyle and pay? I'm hoping to specialize in neurology for med and perhaps perio or something for dent, so how badly would those be affected?

By the way, I saw someone say something about cosmetic dentistry. What are the cosmetic dentistry specialties because I've never heard of this?

 

[TheWiredNerv]

Cosmetic dentistry is anything to enhance appearance. It isn't a specialty per say. When you shadow your dentist you will most likely see procedures done for cosmetic reasons.