In episodes One and Two, I discussed the history and the current trends in the business of dental insurance. I referred to these as the “dark side of the force.” Here, I would like to discuss the alternative, or the “light side of the force.” This is a membership plan. Patients pay a monthly fee…
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In you missed Episode One, you can get caught up here. In the 1960’s a group of dentists here in California formed a dental insurance company named California Dental Service, otherwise known as the CDS. The dollar amount of payments was $1,000.00 per year. I remember the price of gasoline at that time being 28…
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A long, long time ago, in ancient times (3770 years ago) on the far side of the planet, the first forms of insurance were recorded by the Babylonian and Chinese traders. One of the first written loss limitation methods can be found in the Code of Hammurabi— The ancient world evolved with maritime loans with…
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Based on my decades of experience, let me take a guess at why you do not visit the Dentist.
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There is much confusion on what a dental crown does. When a tooth has decayed and/or broken down beyond the ability to be preserved and protected with the use regular filling material, partial to full coverage is often recommended – i.e. THE CROWN. Metal crowns can be of stainless steel, gold or Titanium. Tooth-colored (most…
Read MoreIn the 1960’s a group of California dentists formed a dental insurance company called the California Dental Service, which later became Delta Dental. Later came the PPO’s the HMO’s to which I call them the OhOhOhs’s (uhoh OO’s). The CEO’s of these OhOhOh’s get paid many millions of dollars each year. The dentist doesn’t get…
Read MoreWhat did you say? Why didn’t you say something earlier? Human communication is a surreal experience. We have foreign languages that separate us, non-verbal communication that is not observed, music that the performer has not experienced, written word not understood etc. But what confounds me more as a Doctor is how much miscommunication or lack…
Read MoreIn the realm of reoccurring pain scenarios, Migraine Headaches ranks among the most despised. My own Mother suffered with these and would be buried in the dark bedroom for days at a time. Pills after pills, bio feedback, and psychiatric counseling did little to help her. Today, as a dentist, I can reduce headaches in…
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“When the student is ready, the teacher appears.” Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni This season has me thinking of the all the things that I am thankful for and there seem to be far too many. I think of all my experiences and the things that I have learned, I am in awe. This season has…
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While standing in the grocery store line, the clerk asked me, “How is your day going?” I responded “wonderful!” But I was still taken aback as she had asked it with real sincerity. In today’s modern world, expediency has over taken personal service. Smart phones have replaced personal connection. Busyness has replaced serenity and fulfillment.…
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