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The article is pretty poorly written and lacks focus, but the problem is real. Dental health is just health, it shouldn't be this separate part of our system.

by habosa 9y ago

The article is pretty poorly written and lacks focus, but the problem is real. Dental health is just health, it shouldn't be this separate part of our system. It's also one of the few parts of your health a stranger can judge from the outside. I can't see if you have arterial plaque but I can tell if you don't clean your teeth. I have two dentists in my family and when this topic comes up they focus on the Medicaid issues presented in the article. Medicaid reimbursement rates haven't budged in years and for whatever there's a much higher no-show rate among Medicaid patients. The end result is there's no incentive at all for dentists or orthodontists to help these people who need it most.

rhizome 9y ago
for whatever there's a much higher no-show rate among Medicaid patients A lot of people are afraid of the dentist, and I'll bet dollars to donuts that Medicaid isn't allowed to cover sedation dentistry and other enhancements that private insurance or cash patients have access to. Sure, "save your pennies," but think about the situation we're talking about here.
blablabla123 9y ago
> I can't see if you have arterial plaque but I can tell if you don't clean your teeth. Maybe if you are a dentist. Having not the best teeth myself, people sometimes think I don't clean my teeth. I think tooth health is actually similar to other parts of human health. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle from childhood on, do all recommended inspections, then everything is likely to be good. However most people don't know better or just don't do better. Politicians would do good in truly reforming a health system. I'm only aware of one example where efficiency got a 10x improvement, which is the Chinese one in the 50s. It's cool to complain about [insert politician] about cutting health cost but add the end of the day it's not how to solve the problem. Too sad Trump is intellectually too limited to make real cost savings.
- blablabla123 9y ago
  Not sure why that's downvoted but I see that health care is a highly complex topic. On the one hand everybody knows (at least I hope so) that all the care systems are going to be more and more expensive every year. On the other hand people still want to maintain highly unhealthy lifestyles because those are more fun. But I think nobody is ready for a paradigm shift yet, that would allow for cheaper health, higher coverage and better health.
Spooky23 9y ago
You really answered the whole question. Dentists saw what happened to doctors and want no part of it. Dentistry is a simpler business. My dentist has an outsourced biller and a secretary/clerk. My GP has 3 clerks, a shared IT guy and two people who argue with insurance companies. His practice had to hire 3 NPs to bring in more revenue.

by habosa 9y ago

rhizome 9y ago

for whatever there's a much higher no-show rate among Medicaid patients A lot of people are afraid of the dentist, and I'll bet dollars to donuts that Medicaid isn't allowed to cover sedation dentistry and other enhancements that private insurance or cash patients have access to. Sure, "save your pennies," but think about the situation we're talking about here.

blablabla123 9y ago

> I can't see if you have arterial plaque but I can tell if you don't clean your teeth. Maybe if you are a dentist. Having not the best teeth myself, people sometimes think I don't clean my teeth. I think tooth health is actually similar to other parts of human health. If you maintain a healthy lifestyle from childhood on, do all recommended inspections, then everything is likely to be good. However most people don't know better or just don't do better. Politicians would do good in truly reforming a health system. I'm only aware of one example where efficiency got a 10x improvement, which is the Chinese one in the 50s. It's cool to complain about [insert politician] about cutting health cost but add the end of the day it's not how to solve the problem. Too sad Trump is intellectually too limited to make real cost savings.

blablabla123 9y ago
Not sure why that's downvoted but I see that health care is a highly complex topic. On the one hand everybody knows (at least I hope so) that all the care systems are going to be more and more expensive every year. On the other hand people still want to maintain highly unhealthy lifestyles because those are more fun. But I think nobody is ready for a paradigm shift yet, that would allow for cheaper health, higher coverage and better health.

Spooky23 9y ago

You really answered the whole question. Dentists saw what happened to doctors and want no part of it. Dentistry is a simpler business. My dentist has an outsourced biller and a secretary/clerk. My GP has 3 clerks, a shared IT guy and two people who argue with insurance companies. His practice had to hire 3 NPs to bring in more revenue.