Survey: Dentists Don’t Bad-Mouth Colleagues
Dental Ethics Suggest Professional Loyalty Runs High
In our most recent survey, we asked: What do you do when you see a patient who’s had terrible work done by another dentist?
Our survey results suggest professional courtesy overrides other concerns - but unfortunately, it’s not clear if that’s based on doctors’ ethical standards or if it’s actually based on fear of lawyers and possible legal repercussions.
Less than one-third of our respondents said, “Your primary obligation is to your patient. If their previous dental work was bad, they deserve to know, and it’s your job to tell them.” The majority said, “You keep your mouth shut out of respect to your dental colleagues. You don’t know the whole story, and it’s not ethical to bash another doctor’s work.”
The more urban the dentist, the more likely they were to keep quiet. Presumably, urban dentists (and, to a lesser extent, suburban dentists) are more sensitive to the possible legal issues that could arise from criticizing another doctor’s work.
The comments we received highlight doctors’ various concerns. Read more comments
It’s not the dentist’s place to bad-mouth other dentists
- “Often if you bad mouth another and come up with an expensive plan, the patient may think ill of you.” (suburban Pennsylvania)
- “You can get your point across diplomatically. ‘He who slings mud loses ground. ‘” (Rural Maine)
- “My best today is better than my best was yesterday… I give my colleagues the benefit of the doubt.” (suburban Indiana)
What about their previous dentist?
- “I have redone work by another dentist at no charge to the patient.” (suburban Kansas)
- “I quite often offer to send the other dentist a letter with my findings.” (suburban California)
- “I advise patients to see their previous dentist to have them ‘check’ the treatment and allow them the opportunity to rectify the situation.” (rural Arkansas)
The patient does have a right to know what’s in his or her mouth
- “I don’t like to say bad things about other people’s dentistry, but if it is failing and I don’t say anything, I’m as much on the hook for it as the original provider.” (rural Colorado)
- “If the patient asks (which they never do), then you have to tell the truth.” (urban California)
- “The patient has a right to be informed of the conditions found in his mouth.” (rural Kentucky)
Unless you were there, you don’t know the whole story
- “Another option would be to say, ‘I wasn’t there, but it appears that I would have done things differently.’ I suggest people in glass houses not throw stones!” (urban Texas)
- “Walk a mile in the other dentist’s shoes before you judge their work.” (suburban North Carolina)
- “I have seen a dentist criticize another’s work… only to have his look exactly the same on the x-ray.” (suburban North Carolina)
Lawyers are now part of the equation
- “Lots of lawyers! You can no longer be truthful or you will pay.” (suburban New Jersey)
See complete results for this survey
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June 9th, 2007 at 4:49 pm
I would like to post some of your comments on my web site. I think the survey shows the moral attitude of most dentist… me me me me … is more important than their patient. I have had BAD dental work done and didn’t know it. It takes a very special dentist to find a way to tell you… so he isn’t in trouble with the law. But bad dental work does affect YOU. I hate 99.9% of dentist…. for reasons my last dentist could totally understand. On my web site even talks about a particular crook… dentist. He is EVIL. This hurts every dentist. So when you support your fellow bad dentist…that makes you just as guilty. and you can post my web and email
June 27th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
I recently discoverd that most Dentist are indeed a member of the Good Old Boys Club. Most refuse to say that the work of another dentist wasn’t done properly, and few will give real solutions to correct the bad dental work. Instead, they mouse around and want you to spend more money (thousands of dollars) to grind down your permanent teeth with veneers. It is frustrating to know that you put your confidence in a “Professional” who turned out to be a “CON.” I dont advise anyone to have Orthodontic work (braces) or cosmetic work unless it is absolutely necessary. In my case; I was promised that I would have the best smile, etc., etc. None of it happened. I spent thousands for nothing. My teeth were broken and damaged during the process. I now have wires in my mouth for the rest of my life to hold together bad dental work.
Please seek out as many dentists as you can to find the right fit for you. If they are not listening to your concerns before the procedure begin, they will not listen later. Move on to someone who listens and who you feel comfortable with. Also look at their office staff to make sure they are qualified. Title’s behind a name doesnt mean you that will receive quality work. Sadly, dentistry is about the almighty dollar$. It is not about quality care and the patient’s needs anymore.
April 16th, 2008 at 9:54 am
I have to say it is appalling that good dentist should be made to keep quite about shoddy work of those less honorable in the dental profession. I good dentist will give bottom line answers and not give patients something they did not ask for or something that is not functional. A good dentist wants to see his/her patients mouth become healthier so the only thing left is maintenance. Yet my experience was with a lying deceptive practice all about money and still about money even though they knew they gave me something they should not have and the kicker, charged me before service began or before it was complete. Bad Bad Bad and dishonorable.