re: dentists - the resurgence of wealthy

quote:

---

This. Not as bound to the pt's as we are. I've had pt's with terrible abscesses and no on will see then. The oral surgeon? Nope. Instead we have to medicate them until we can get that rotten arse tooth extracted. No compassionate care. At least not around here. And can't pull a tooth? Think again. How do you guys think those teeth get magically pulled? And for no charge most of the time.

---

Are you talking about dentists who won't see their patients in times of emergency, or dentists who won't blow their family time on the weekend to see someone who doesn't have a regular dentist and hasn't been to the dentist in 20 years, who will make you see them on the weekend, bring in your assistant with you since you open yourself up to liability if you see them alone, get a prescription for antibiotics and pain meds, then not show up for their appointment after the swelling goes down, yet call you day and night for weeks trying to refill the pain meds (after they've pretended they were your office and tried calling it in to the pharmacy themselves)? Because those are two different stories. I once saw an emergency patient after 10 pm on Christmas Eve. Her ancient crown came off and her relatives were making fun of her. Of course, it came off because there was nothing left underneath it, so I spent an hour building up her tooth and making a temporary (at no charge). Needless to say, she ended up being one of my best referral sources - and she worked at the bank so she came into contact with half of the parish. Just about every dentist I know will bend over backwards for their patients in times of true emergency. But the irresponsible people and meth-tooth druggies need look elsewhere. Though I've never refused antibiotics to anyone who called my office with swelling.