If
there is one thing about dentistry, or the medical field in general,
that makes it financially appealing is the mere fact that people will
always need to take care of their teeth. However, the amount a
dentist earns depends on the number of patients he or she deals with
on a regular basis. Dental plans ensure that dentists always have a
set number of people to service every year, but patients nowadays are
clamoring for smaller fees and dental insurance companies are
starting to reimburse less.
To stay on the game,
dentists have no choice but to change their fee schedules. Aside from
dealing with the turbulence of dental insurance, dentists are
sometimes forced to learn new procedures and/or employ better dental
equipment in order to provide their patients with more services.
There is also the more mundane aspect of having to deal with
“drive-by patients” (those who come only when they need something
and never come back) which further strains the dentist's resources.
However, shoddy
financial management can also be blamed for when dental fees
increase. A dentist may be using outdated fee schedules since he or
she didn't regularly consult with the dental insurance company he or
she is working with. This often results in poorly-informed decisions
like increasing all fees wholesale (something that often alienates
patients) instead of fees for specific services only.
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