Dentists in Murrieta and Temecula Practicing Deception?

(Healthy Times Newspaper) In recent years, I have noticed a shift in our ethics as a society and a change in what people believe they can get away with.  I have noticed the actions of companies such as Enron, home loans corporations, as well as fluctuations in insurance costs lead to a sense that profit at any cost is more important than the consequences to consumers, employees, or patients.
This profiteering mentality has trickled down to our everyday lives and I feel it is responsible for our current economic woes.  As a dentist, I have seen this quest for profits arise in the field of dentistry, too, and with little regard for the needs of the patient.

In dentistry, we take an oath that we will follow a certain standard when treating patients.  Dentists are sworn to uphold a very high standard of care.  This is something that we spend countless hours learning to understand and practice before receiving a California license to practice dentistry.

More recently, there has been a change in dentistry, even with dentists in Murrieta and Temecula, in which profits come before patients. High pressure sales tactics and even deception have come into play.  Perhaps it is due to changes in healthcare, the rise of managed care, or the entrance of large corporate ownership of dental practices.  It may be hard to believe, but in these saturated markets, dentists are being paid less and less for the dental work they do and at the same time, the price of doing business increases.
Many a mom and pop store has succumbed to larger corporations.  The same is happening with dentists in Murrieta, Temecula and all over Southern California.  As a result, a conflict of interest has arisen where companies must answer to the bottom line–shareholders and CEOs.  I have noticed many of these offices stray from the standard of care that is taught in dental schools, or rather modify the standard toward selling the procedure that costs the most. Many smaller dental offices, feeling the need to follow suit, have caught on to these policies.


Dental patient “A” comes into my office in tears.  She says they were going to charge $700 for a cleaning that included a deep cleaning and irrigation.  They were rude and used pressure.  She claims to floss everyday and has had regular checkups.  She is worried her teeth will fall out because that is what they told her would happen if she did not do the work they prescribed.  Upon my examination, her gum tissue is healthy and there is little to no tartar.  Following a standard of care, I explain to her that she needs a regular cleaning or prophylaxis.  She is relieved and says she thought it was odd that her son received the same exact $700 diagnosis.
Dental patient “B” comes into my office from a large group. She says she paid $20,000 in dental treatment including crowns and veneers on the front teeth.  Many of the crowns/veneers are mismatched yellow shades, like heirloom corn.  One of the veneers has come off.  Upon my examination, the preparation looks nothing like any veneer preparation I have ever seen.  The dentist clearly had no training in veneers.  She said they keep falling off and then she was charged again to have them redone, each time with a different dentist in the same office.
I wouldn’t be surprised if many of you reading this have encountered or know someone who has encountered these kinds of offices.  It has become too common these days at all levels of dentistry.  I’m not suggesting that all dentists act this way, but that these kinds of practices have become more common.
The diagnosis made by your dentist must be appropriate to your needs as a patient. This is a standard of care that all dentist must follow.