Dental Departures

Dental Departures

By Paul McTaggartMedicineHealth & Fitness
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Dental Departures episodes

  • Why is dental care so expensive in the United States?

    Why is dental care so expensive in the United States?

    • One reason, dental care is so expensive due to the HUGE amount of dental student debt 
    • The Educational Data Initiative conducted a detailed analysis of dental student debt
    • 83% of dental students had student debt
    • The average dental school graduate owes $292,169 in student loan debt.
    • 2004 to 2011, dental schools raised tuition and fees EVERY YEAR by 5% to 10%.
    • The average amount of dental school debt has risen by $207,922 since 1996.
    • Interest rates for dental school loans vary on average from 6% to 8% a year.
    • 18.7% of graduated respondents stated that their level of debt would influence their primary professional activity.
    • Dentists are great people but they are stuck with almost $300k in debt they need to pay off (after taxes) so roughly $380k before taxes..so they have to charge high prices
    • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
      • 1 min
    • How do lobbyists make sure Americans don’t get access to affordable dental care?

      How do lobbyists make sure Americans don’t get access to affordable dental care?

      • Fortune has done a great job reporting on this trend: I know how lobbyists make sure Americans don’t get dental care–I was one of them
      • Three powerful trade groups in Washington lobby against getting dental coverage for American dental patients –America’s Health Insurance Plans(AHIP),  the Better Medical Alliance, and the American Dental Association (ADA)
      • kill bills to expand medical coverage/access to include dental care
      • This is despite the fact that adding coverage for dental care to the new Build Back Better is the #1 request
      • The primary reason Medicare hasn’t covered dental care since its inception in 1965 (except when oral health problems become so severe they require hospitalization) is that organized dentistry staunchly opposed it.
      • main concern–as it was 56 years ago–is that Medicare would not reimburse dentists to their satisfaction. The ADA’s lobbyists, in essence, are placing the financial desires of dentists above the health needs of millions of Americans
      • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
        • 1 min
      • What’s the inconvenient truth about dental insurance?

        What’s the inconvenient truth about dental insurance?

        • Dental insurance does NOT cover catastrophic dental coverage (like medical) - dental insurance is capped
        • Industry terminology = plan maximum
        • Average Dental Plan Maximum = $1,000 - $2,000
        • Inconvenient truth = dental plans maximums have been these same levels for the past 30X years while the cost of dental care has risen on average 4.3% per year according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics
        • Of the $62B spent on dental care in 2019 in the United States an equal amount of people paid out-of-pocket as were covered under dental insurance
        • Just 50.2% of dentate adults aged 18–64 with private health
        • It may not even be worth buying dental insurance if you need extensive dental care according to Consumer Reports
        • When a dental crown costs $3950 or a dental implant costs $7,350 a dental insurance plan maximum of $2,00 doesn’t work
        • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
          • 1 min
        • Dental Tourism patient testimonial - in their own words

          Dental Tourism patient testimonial - in their own words

          • Let’s hear from a dental tourism patient in Cancun, Mexico at Dental Clinic Cancun
          • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
            • 1 min
          • You won’t believe this...17.5% of Americans skipped the dentist because they couldn’t afford it!

            You won’t believe this...17.5% of Americans skipped the dentist because they couldn’t afford it!

            • Let’s talk about the WallStreetJournal article on Americans being unable to afford dental care
            • 17.5% of Americans couldn’t afford dental care
            • That’s 58M people who don’t get regular dental care...so it will just get worse
            • 17.5% is a full 10% more Americans who cannot afford dental care than medical treatment
            • Dental insurance typically covers far less than traditional medical insurance. Many plans will pay for only $1,000 or $2,000 of dental work in a year.⁠⁠
            • The stats come from the American Dental Association Health policy Institute
            • Options = delay dental care, finance dental care, dental school, go without treatment and just remove the tooth
            • Millions of Americans, including many who have dental insurance, have to take out personal loans or dig into slim savings to pay for dental care. ⁠Lenders are betting that rising out-of-pocket costs for dental work will create a niche but lucrative financing market on buy now-pay later loans

            • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
              • 1 min
            • Thailand opens to 10 countries for dental tourism

              Thailand opens to 10 countries for dental tourism

              • Exciting news that (my adopted country) Thailand has opened
              • IMTJ reports that Thailand is now open to 10X countries
              • China, Germany, Singapore, the UK and the USA
              • The Thailand Ministry of Foreign affairs has provided these great infographics
              • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
                • 1 min
              • How much do dental implants cost in LA

                How much do dental implants cost in LA

                • If you’re in LA dental implant prices can vary wildly even with dentists just across the street
                • RealSelf sets the average price of a dental implant at $7,350
                • The crazy part is that 99% of dental implant prices aren’t online nor can you call a dentist in LA to get them...you have to come into a dental office before they will even give you prices
                • In LA a dental implant can cost you $3,200 plus you can get financing
                • At Smile Angels  - the dental implant cost starts at about $1500 and goes up to $7000
                • At West Angeles - the dental implants range from $1,500 to $60000
                • Pro Tip = watch out for come-on pricing that does NOT include the crown (which cost an extra $1-2k)
                • For comparison, a dental implant (implant, abutment, crown) in Tijuana, Mexico at Washington Dental is $1,200 to $1,400
                • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
                  • 1 min
                • Here’s how much All-on-4® treatment costs in London

                  Here’s how much All-on-4® treatment costs in London

                  • If you’re in London All-on-4® treatment concept prices can vary wildly even with dentists just across the street. It pays to shop around
                  • Bupa Dental sets the average prices of All on 4 at  £11,500 and ranges from  £8,000 and £21,000 per jaw
                  • Here’s the inconvenient truth for All-on-4® treatment  : 95% of London dentists do NOT list their prices..they force you to come into their clinic to get a quote first
                  • In London at NW1 Dental prices for All-on-4® treatment START at  £7,000
                  • Pro Tip = watch out for come-on monthly pricing!  When they start talking about low monthly financing you know it is expensive...
                  • For comparison, All-on-4® treatment concept in Istanbul Turkey is £2500 arch plus you get a 2 night free hotel stay
                  • All-on-4® treatment concept in Budapest, Hungary is £5000 arch plus you get a 4 night free hotel stay
                  • All-on-4® treatment concept in Valencia, Spain  is £5000 arch
                  • *disclaimer* this is not dental advice - this is meant for information purposes only and is not intended to be dental advice or instructions for dental diagnosis or treatment. Please consult with your dentist or a qualified dental professional before starting or changing dental treatment.
                    • 1 min

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