Blog

My dentist told me I need a crown…
Should I call around and see if I can find someone to do it for less?

This common scenario is all too often on a patient’s mind when they are told they need dental treatment. Does it pay to shop around and try to find a lower cost office? Can one find the same level of quality dentistry at a lower price? What are the risks to the patient when they search out the lower cost office and doctors? Aren’t all doctors the same? If a doctor has a license and a dental degree does that make them competent? How can one tell if a doctor will do a good job? What choices does a patient have when they can’t afford the necessary dental treatment that their dentist recommended?

This article will try to answer these questions, and shed some light on this type of situation that many people find themselves in with this difficult economy that we are in.

It is understandable in this economy that people want to save money; however, most people do want to get low quality dental care. In most cases, it is just not possible to get the same results for less cost. High quality dental staff do not work for low wages, high quality dentists do not work for low salaries, and high quality labs do not work for low fees. In order to use the best materials, techniques and equipment a dental office must charge reasonable fees. It is just not likely that one can get more quality dentistry for a lower cost.

In most cases, it may be dangerous to your dental health to search out lower cost dental care. Any office that would be willing to deliver dental care at less costly fees could only be doing so by cutting many corners. There is likely a less qualified dentist doing the work along with lower trained staff and labs. Was the dentist trained in a respected University? Were they trained in America? Most foreign dental schools are inferior, in our opinion. Many office that cut prices and corners are sending your lab work out of the country. Foreign labs do not have to use the same high quality materials we do.

You are always better off pursuing high quality dental health care. We do an excellent job at San Pablo Dental Care at making high quality dental care affordable. We can not make high quality care cheap but we do offer many different payment plans that allow you get high quality care at an affordable price. We bring excellent service and care, by very highly trained doctors, to you without breaking your budget. We never compromise the quality of care, but we do work very hard to make the treatment plan and costs of dental care match your budget.

Dr. Schwarcz was recently attending the annual meeting of the prestigious American Academy of Implant Dentistry. He was interviewed for the media in attendance and here is a copy of the interview.

Q: Dr. Schwarcz, what should consumers look for when selecting a dentist to place implants?

A: A typical consumer might be concerned about a dentist’s location, or if their insurance is
accepted at that office, or what the dentist might charge them; however, all of these concerns are misplaced. A dental consumer should be concerned, first and foremost, about quality of care and whether the dentist has adequate advanced training in the field of implant dentistry. A patient could ask the dental office what school the dentist attended and if they have a specialty degree in a field such as Oral surgery or Implant dentistry. That might give you more information about the dentist, but that does not mean that they have advance training in implant dentistry. A dentist who is highly qualified to do implant and restorative surgery would have significant advanced training beyond dental school. A competent implant dentist should also be credentialed from a respected dental implant organization such as the AAID, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. When I took my examinations for AAID credentials I had to pass a rigorous and comprehensive written and oral examination. Being credentialed by the AAID means a patient can be assured they will receive state of the art competent implant care. So in answer to your question the safest way to ensure your dentist is qualified, ask him or her if they are credentialed by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.

Q: How should consumers evaluate the credentials and qualifications of implant dentists?

A: It is very difficult, if not nearly impossible, for a consumer to know the difference between a bona fide credentialing process, such as that offered by the AAID, and other organizations that basically “sell” credentials to anyone who can take a weekend course and write a large check. I tell my patients or other persons, in my opinion; there is only one organization that offers a credentialing process that really means something to the consumer. That is the AAID and that is why I chose to get my credentials with the AAID. Any dentist with credentials given by the AAID has demonstrated a superior knowledge and experience in the implant field. A consumer can count on the AAID credentials to really mean something when it comes to advanced training and quality of care. A consumer can check the AAID website at www..AAID.com for a list of credentialed implant surgeons.

Q: In general, is there a difference in the type of training required to place implants?

A: There are many different avenues for training in dental implants; however, attending programs that are conducted by reputable organizations such as the AAID helps to ensure that the quality of the education is high. More importantly it is the amount of advance training a dentist receives or pursues that can impact the quality of the care that they deliver. Most AAID credentialed dentists, such as me, have had many years of advance
training and continuing education in implant dentistry. A highly trained implant dentist will have had many hands on courses and opportunities to bring his or her skills to the highest level. I have been pursuing my implant dentistry training since 1984 and I have been credentialed with the AAID since 1993.

Q: Is it better to have one practitioner perform the surgery and the tooth placement instead of having multiple different practitioners?

A: I believe that both methods can be successful. In my opinion, and in my office, we do both the surgeries and the tooth placement. The advantages of doing both are that I have maximum control over all aspects of the case. Often, treatment complications are the result of communication breakdowns. That is minimized when there are fewer doctors involved in the treatment. In cases where multiple doctors do need to be involved, it is important to have a good communicator and team leader to direct the treatment. Usually that is the general dentist. In my office I perform both the implant surgery and I place the replacement teeth. That allows us to achieve optimum results for our patients with a minimum of complications. It is far more convenient for our patients to have all of their treatment completed in one office.

Does my dentist need to be “Implant Certified?”
Are Dental Implant Credentials important?

Many patients ask if it is necessary for the doctor to have special credentials before performing implant surgery. In order for a doctor to be licensed to performed general dentistry he or she must have a dental degree from an accredited university or graduate school. That allows the dentist to perform routine general dentistry. Implant surgery is a specialized area of dental care and requires a substantial amount of extra training above and beyond that of a general dentist. A quality, highly trained implant surgeon needs to have specific credentials from a reputable implant organization. It is very important that the organization that confers that certification is a legitimate implant group. There are a number of “Mail Order” organizations that will “sell” a credentialing status to a dentist. These are generally bogus credentials and do not mean the dentist is a properly trained or credentialed. The only legitimate implant organization that credentials trained doctors in implant surgery and treatment is the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). A doctor needs to pass both written tests, as well as oral examinations, in order to be given implant credentials from the AAID. These are rigorous and legitimate examinations that test the knowledge and skills of the implant surgeon. In addition to having to pass these difficult tests a credentialed doctor must prove his or her competency by submitting a number of finished implant cases to the AAID. The AAID review board will decide, based on the examinations and submitted cases, if the doctor’s skills and knowledge are at a level that allows credentials to be conferred. These credentials are referred to as “fellowships.” There are many organizations that are created with the intention of conferring bogus credentials. Many of these organizations have no testing processes at all and do not require a doctor to submit any prior cases. They have only one requirement.. the doctor must submit a check. Money can buy a credential but can not buy competency, skills or quality care.

Dr. Stephen Schwarcz is credentialed by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and has passed the rigorous examination process that was required of him. Dr. Schwarcz has been credentialed since 1993 and has been in the implant field doing both implant surgery and tooth replacement treatments since 1981.

Be sure to look for, and ask, about the credentials that the implant surgeon has that you select to treat you or your loved ones. It may make the difference between success and failure.

August 7, 2011

My dentist told me I need a crown…
Should I call around and see if I can find someone to do it for less?

This common scenario is all too often on a patient’s mind when they are told they need dental treatment. Does it pay to shop around and try to find a lower cost office? Can one find the same level of quality dentistry at a lower price? What are the risks to the patient when they search out the lower cost office and doctors? Aren’t all doctors the same? If a doctor has a license and a dental degree does that make them competent? How can one tell if a doctor will do a good job? What choices does a patient have when they can’t afford the necessary dental treatment that their dentist recommended?

This article will try to answer these questions, and shed some light on this type of situation that many people find themselves in with this difficult economy that we are in.

It is understandable in this economy that people want to save money; however, most people do want to get low quality dental care. In most cases, it is just not possible to get the same results for less cost. High quality dental staff do not work for low wages, high quality dentists do not work for low salaries, and high quality labs do not work for low fees. In order to use the best materials, techniques and equipment a dental office must charge reasonable fees. It is just not likely that one can get more quality dentistry for a lower cost.

In most cases, it may be dangerous to your dental health to search out lower cost dental care. Any office that would be willing to deliver dental care at less costly fees could only be doing so by cutting many corners. There is likely a less qualified dentist doing the work along with lower trained staff and labs. Was the dentist trained in a respected University? Were they trained in America? Most foreign dental schools are inferior, in our opinion. Many office that cut prices and corners are sending your lab work out of the country. Foreign labs do not have to use the same high quality materials we do.

You are always better off pursuing high quality dental health care. We do an excellent job at San Pablo Dental Care at making high quality dental care affordable. We can not make high quality care cheap but we do offer many different payment plans that allow you get high quality care at an affordable price. We bring excellent service and care, by very highly trained doctors, to you without breaking your budget. We never compromise the quality of care, but we do work very hard to make the treatment plan and costs of dental care match your budget.

July 10, 2011

Dental Vacations…. Good idea?

It is becoming more popular to take “dental vacations” where one goes to foreign countries to receive dental care. Often this is when someone needs more expensive or complex treatment. Many times the fees in countries such as Romania, Mexico or the Philippines can be 50% to 75% less than in the U.S. Is it “worth it” to do this? We believe the answer is definitely NO. Not only is the training level of the doctor substantially less than the U.S. levels, but the risk of complications is dramatically higher. Complex dental treatment can have inherently higher levels of risk of complications. The ability of the doctor to successfully manage complications is directly tied to the level and quality of the Doctor’s training. The risk of a negative outcome is high when being treated
in a foreign country. That can result in disfigurement, chronic pain or inability to adequately chew. The saying “Penny wise and pound foolish” applies to many situations in life but never more so than foreign “Dental vacations.” At Lifesmiles Implant Center we have to do corrective surgeries or completely redo previous foreign dental implant treatments on a regular basis. We see first hand the damage that can occur when one prioritizes cost over quality of care.

What would a reasonable alternative be for someone who needs either a large amount dental care or has a complex case that is expensive? What can one do that does not reduce the quality of care but that can help make the dental care more affordable? Here are some ideas that one can consider that would not necessarily lower the quality of care or increase the risk of complications.

1. Get a second or third opinion from a quality and experienced dentist. How can one know if the dentist is well trained and delivers quality care? Ask your dentist for a referral. Do not be embarrassed to ask this question. If your dentist appears uneasy or unwilling to help you get a second opinion then you should find a new dentist.
Bona fide credentials are also a helpful way to determine if a dentist or surgeon is well trained. The best credentials in implant training are from the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID). In order to gain these prestigious credentials one must pass a series of rigorous written and oral exams. Be sure that any dentist from whom you intend to seek a second opinion has these credentials. Just because a dentist lists “implants” on his office door or yellow page ad, that does not make him or her a qualified implant specialist. Dr. Schwarcz holds these prestigious credentials from the AAID.

2. Another safe way to achieve high quality but affordable implant dental care is to explore monthly payment plans. There are a variety of plans available that can make dental care more affordable. Ask
us about the payment plans that we offer at Lifesmiles Implant and Sedation Center.

3. Lastly, many times complex dental treatment can be done in phases. We can frequently stage or time the delivery of dental care over 2 or more years. This can also be helpful at maximizing your dental insurance. We are always happy to review your individual circumstances and guide you towards a successful plan that will in most cases make complex dental implant care affordable for you.

If you have been holding off on your dental care due to budget reasons give us a call and let us help you find a way to make your dental care affordable.