I did once get a bad toothache while working in LA for a summer during grad school. My boss highly recommended his dentist, but the guy was on vacation that week. I went to one out of the Yellow Pages who could see me that day. Soon as the xrays were done he announced I needed not just one but TWO root canals, one urgently for the hurting tooth, plus another one. Needed them right then, that afternoon. Anesthetic all ready, I wouldn't even have to get out of the chair, did I need to call my office to tell them I'd be out? And by the way we take Visa, MC, AMEX, or have our own finance option, we can worry about the paperwork afterwards. So, shall I start now, ok?
I left in a hurry and suffered through until my boss' dentist was back, pain already subsiding and that guy wasn't sure he saw anything noteworthy in that tooth. 10 years later that tooth is still sensitive to cold/heat but I have yet to have a single root canal nor has any other dentist ever suggested any.
Yes, I realize this is the very argument for consumer-driven plans. Even with 100% insurance coverage I would have said no (who wants 2 surprise root canals from a sleazy dentist), but it would certainly have made it more thinkable.
There are some health care practioners out there looking to make a buck even if it means recommending procedures patients don't need. In my experience that's uncommon, though; I don't have any other docs or dentists I'd complain about.
Current Events » in reply to You've never seen a for-profit, physician-owned hosptal in action!
Dentist
The whole thread (49 posts)
- Solutions for healthcare
- You gotta ration care to somebody
- Healthcare and unintended consequences
- Which one of those health care ideas are endorsed by the GOP leadership?
- Admmittedly the GOP does have a plan: Those who can pay get treated.
- Btw, more on costs (diabetes)
- Works for whole foods