Sunday Dental Thread: Basically good news...

[PCIntern]

Over the years I have posted and made allusions to the fact that "General Dentistry Gross Revenues" are a leading indicator of the economy. It was clear to me for 15 months prior to the collapse that trouble was coming and was called "Chicken Little" by many of my compatriots and some here as well.

Well, I have to tell you that business is up and improving dramatically over the past 18 months. Having done my little Quicken graph, gross revenues are up a fairly whopping percentage over this time four years ago and, I am pleased to say, we are treating more people who are somewhat financially compromised but quite able to make most-reasonable payment arrangements which, although my office manager is vaguely displeased with the length, are satisfactory for all concerned. This was not the case four years ago: most honest folk would say that they were so worried that they would be hard-pressed to say that they would even be employed three months hence, they didn't want to renege on arrangements. It is important to state at this point that no one ever leaves my office with infection or in pain despite their inability to pay at the time of treatment. It is inhuman to do so IMO.

So things are picking up and if the Democrats can somehow paint a good picture of what's going on, then we should be in good shape, or at least reasonable shape by November.

Weird/funny dental story of the week: A patient comes in to have her denture, recently placed by me, adjusted. She takes it out of her mouth and it's her old denture. I ask her,"Sorry you had to wear the old one, where's the new one?" She replied, "This IS the new one." it wasn't. Gently, I remind her of the cracks in the old one and...there they are. She says, "I'm so embarassed. I've been wearing this one since the second day I guess. I must have taken the wrong one out of the soak." I told her that she was great and to come see me next week and to bring both each time until she was comfortable. She was laughing the entire time. I think she's OK, but she's on my unofficial "watch-list".

[Bonhomme Richard]

1. LOL, I read your story to my wife and she said......

"You know what really grosses me out? And you know I don't get grossed out easily. It's when they take their denture out and lick it. Makes me want to gag. Some times I just go and put it in the sterilizer."
That is gross.

[TeeYiYi]

2. Ok, you made me cough until I gagged...

Your wife is right. I hate it when people lick ANYTHING! Like the lid on their yogurt or a spoon after stirring something, etc..

But you can tell her that she wins the graphic image prize. I've never seen someone lick dentures and I'm sure I'll expire the day I do. I'm still skeeved...

TYY

[PCIntern]

3. !

YES!

[notadmblnd]

4. Retired auto workers and their survivors just got some of their benefits back

it covers some preventative procedures such as cleaning- and emergencies. Nothing restorative.

Glad to hear thing are picking up for you.

[lunatica]

5. Thanks for your particular measuring formula

I know that if I had the money I'd go to the dentist and get my crown put in. I have a basic one now which took my quite a few monthly payments to pay off. There's no way I can save up over $700 for the deductible. I live with only a few dollars to a few cents in my checking account at the end of the month.

[PCIntern]

6. understood...

please note that I DIDN'T say that everything's OK...I was saying that things were improving for some...better than four years ago when 80% of my practice disappeared except for emergencies and routine stuff which has a very low net.

We have a long long way to go in this country and I would be the first to say that dental should be covered in the manner in which medical health should be covered.

[lunatica]

7. But things have improved for me

My union actually negotiated a contract with UC to give us raises every year for a five year contract. It's been a very long time since raises were even viable there.

It probably helped a lot that my little clerical union joining the Teamsters a few months back. The raises aren't much but they're raises! And we can look forward to one every year for a few years.

[PCIntern]

8. Pleased to hear that...

now you need good dental/medical increase-in-coverage...

[tibbiit]

9. Two things...

One: I'm in the lab business, (I now am a worker in the lab I started 25 yrs ago) and we had a slow down a few years back, but we stayed busy. Labs are lucky in that we just increase the number of dentists we work with in slow times. We stepped up marketing and have survived fine to the point of buying a new building and a new lab is on the way! It is a lab that actual architects and engineers are designing!!! Instead of how we did it so long ago lol. (what a difference that makes lol my partners son is now the owner... young and not worried about the economy enough to stop him from moving forward!) So yes, as goes the Dental world goes the economy!

Two: The other day I had to seat an old groodie partial to a quad!!! model. (impossible). The guy was Hep C and I had to grind stone out from under the partial on another model that the dental office had poured up without any separator which meant the partial was NOT disinfected where the stone touched the gross underside. YUCK YUCK YUCK While I was using a vacuum system to grind into, I still ended up with stone all over my face and hair.
I am still grossed out about this. I hate touching dentures and partials. I really hate that.
tib

[PCIntern]

12. Innaresting...

1. Dealing with dentists in your business is so fricking tricky...I give lab folks a lot of credit - it ain't easy.

2. Here's the good news: if it were that communicable we'd all be dead now. But I know what you mean...YUCK is right...and stinky!!!! Perio disease/old acrylic smell is putrid...makes me want to lose my lunch right now just thinking about it.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

10. Interesting. I've seen other indications of improvement as well -

a friend who's in real estate says his business is improving, too. We can only hope the trends continue.

About dentists: I put off having a chipped tooth fixed until after Jan. 1 when my dental insurance kicked in again (I'd used up all my previous year's coverage). But I had a heck of a time getting an appointment in January because everybody else was in the same boat - waited until their coverage renewed at the first of the year. Still, they've been booked solid ever since.

[Johnson20]

11. Very interesting theory PCIntern. I used to have something similar on cardboard production. n/t