• About
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Exploring Ways to Support Dental Patients’ Health and Financial Needs

By Corazon Gritar

Whether you’re a dental professional or a patient, you can’t argue the fact that proper dental care is a necessity.

Unfortunately, dental services aren’t always affordable for those with lower incomes. Medical Group Management Association data has found that 60% of the amount owed by patients is never collected, and if your dental office works with patients with lower incomes, there are many steps you can take to provide them with the services they need while accommodating their financial needs as well.

Here are just a few ways to work with your dental patients and help them afford the services they need:

Be Upfront About Costs

This may seem basic, but a shocking number of medical offices don’t do this, which can lead to latent or unpaid balances. It’s also an issue of trust; if you’re not straightforward about the costs associated with certain procedures, your patients may never return. And don’t think that discussing finances during a simple cleaning is sufficient — have a designated room or area where you can discuss financing options with your patients without distractions.

Offer Multiple Treatment Options

When discussing treatment options with your patients, give them all of their options and be realistic about their costs and implications. Options make people feel like they have some level of financial and emotional control of their health. Instead of having big decisions made for them, they can take the time they need to make an informed decision based on the urgency of their needs and their current financial situation.

Evaluate Readiness

Many dental professionals are quick to push procedures on their patients to restore oral health, and while it’s usually well-intentioned, it’s not always necessary to complete all of the work right away. In fact, the average time people wait for another dental appointment is three years, and this is often due to financial constraints. Be realistic about the timeline when it comes to treating a patient’s dental health issues.

“Most patients are not ready to hear about how poor their oral health is, let alone how much restoring their smile is going to cost. They need to be prepared for such a major decision, and that takes gradually gaining their trust and loyalty as you work to educate them. By letting patients know that while their mouths need considerable work, you are willing to wait until they are ready, you become a true partner in helping create a vision for their optimal oral health,” write Naomi Cooper and Dan Marut in Dental Economics.

According to an AACD survey, virtually all adults (99.7%) surveyed believe a healthy smile is socially important, but it’s medically important as well. Ultimately, being aware of the many ways your dental office can work with patients to accommodate their dental and financial needs is the key to running an efficient practice that truly has patients’ best interests in mind.

Photo Credits: stock photo

January 4, 2022

Comments

  1. 1

    Ellis says

    Dentists in my area charge $280 for one simple filling, $95 for an evaluation, and $140 for a cleaning (done by the hygienist). X-rays are an additional $100 to $200.

    This is for ordinary oral care. Imagine the costs of root canals, caps, implants, etc. No wonder people wait three years to make their next appointment.

    • 2

      Len Penzo says

      Those prices are pretty similar in my neck of the woods too, Ellis.

      Skipping out on the twice-per-year hygienist visit is not a very good idea in my opinion as it can help avoid larger expenses down the road.

      If adults are short on cash, perhaps they can consider cutting back on the frequency of x-rays. Of course, I am not a dentist, but I’ve always believed the time period between each new set of x-rays was shorter than it needs to be.

The Question of the Week:

Will you be taking a summer vacation in 2022 that's more than 500 miles from home?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • Money-Saving Strategies for Leasing a Property
  • 6 Ways to Create a Stylish Home Office on a Budget
  • 9 Indispensable Financial Tips for Teens & Twentysomethings
  • Black Coffee: Back to the Borscht Belt
  • Buying Your First Home? Here Are Some Financial Assistance Options
  • Yes, You Can Afford It!
  • 100 Words On: Why It’s Not Poor Etiquette to Put Ketchup on a Hot Dog
  • 6 Responsible Ways to Use Your Emergency Funds
  • 5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade an Outdated Bathroom
  • The 6 Most Valuable Grocery Store Products

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. In fact, making investment decisions based on information published here, or any other website for that matter, is more than unwise; it is folly. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Sometimes, an article may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Sign up for the weekly Len Penzo dot Com newsletter
Len Penzo dot Com Delivered Weekly
Join more than 40,000 readers and fans who enjoy personal finance and macroeconomics with an offbeat twist!
Invalid email address
Thanks for subscribing!

Popular Now:

  1. 1. The Great Paper Towel Test: Which Brand Is Your Best Value?
  2. 2. How a Broken Washing Machine Fixed My Finances
  3. 3. Tip Inflation: We’ve Got Nobody to Blame But Ourselves
  4. 4. Lottery Fraud: Don’t Get Caught Paying “The Stupid Tax”
  5. 5. What’s the Fastest Way to Pay Down Your Mortgage Early?
  6. 6. The Marriage Conundrum: Joint or Separate Accounts?
  7. 7. Why Time Is More Valuable Than Money
  8. 8. 25 Examples of Shrinkflation That No Longer Fool Consumers
  9. 9. Historical Gold & Silver Benchmarks for Wages and Commodity Prices
  10. 10. 4 Good Reasons Why Some Quarters Are Painted Red

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2022 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

© Len Penzo dot Com 2008–2022