Why Dentists Say We Shouldn’t Nationalize Dental Care

When I recently ran a survey asking dentists for their thoughts on universal dental care, I wasn't surprised to learn that most dentists think it's a disastrous idea — even though one-third of them think it will happen by 2012. (Or at least, that the US will attempt it.)

But I was deluged with replies! It turns out dentists have a lot to say about the idea of a national dental plan. So let's review some of the points that were raised most often…

It could ruin what is currently an amazing dental care system

"It would probably bump modern dentistry back into the 1950s, said a Pennsylvania dentist. “National Dental Care along with provider requirements, restrictions and limitations would destroy what now is the best care in the world,” declared a Maryland dentist.

Dentists' hands are already tied by insurance

“We already have nationalized dental care. It is called dental insurance fee schedules,” deadpanned a Michigan dentist. “How about raising the maximum on existing dental plans? They have not gone up in over 20-25 years!” agreed a Massachusetts dentist.

More bureaucracy is not an improvement

“I would prefer they wait until hell freezes over to institute nationalized health care or nationalized dental care. There are few problems in this country that could not be solved by eliminating the role of the government and attorneys in the solution,” declared a California dentist. “Centralized bureaucratic control of anything is always dehumanizing at best," agreed a New York dentist. “When the government gets involved, everything gets worse! It's just the nature of the beast,” added a general dentist.

Past government efforts have been problematic

"We have already had a government-run dental system for years — it's called Medicaid — and it doesn't work," said a California dentist. “Where is the government going to get the money to fund Universal Healthcare?" asked an Ohio prosthodontist. "How about being able to properly fund Social Security first? Since the government is failing on that, I doubt they can properly handle funding Universal Healthcare!"

Look at the British

"If Americans nationalized dental care, our teeth would look like those of the British,” predicted a Virginia dentist. "Do Americans want to have teeth like the English?" asked a New York dentist. "Even in England, more and more dentists are opting out of the National Dental Services. Same in Japan." Added an Illinois dentist, "It forces the evolution of a two-tier system, with the fee-for-service (read: high-quality) sector being extremely expensive."

"The British experiment with government-run dental care resulted in extreme rationing of treatment," said a California dentist. "Educated Americans, who are used to dental implants and lifelong periodontal care, will not put up with mandated extractions and dentures from the government."

Look at Eastern Europe

“Whoever had a chance to treat newcomers from the Eastern Europe was able to see and to deal with the results of socialized rationed dentistry. Everyone was given the stamped SS crown and the set of complete dentures. Are Americans ready for the same 'standard of care'?” asked an Illinois dentist. “I have seen the amalgam crowns done in Europe which passed for acceptable dentistry there, but hey it was free! The old adage rings true: you get what you pay for," agreed a Texas dentist.

So now what?

Well, now we wait and see if Obama tries to introduce universal dental care. Dentists should be paying attention to the debate about national health care, because dentistry just might be next…

Stuart Geddes

Where do you guys get your ideas about UK dentistry?
“The British experiment with government-run dental care resulted in extreme rationing of treatment,” said a California dentist. “Educated Americans, who are used to dental implants and lifelong periodontal care, will not put up with mandated extractions and dentures from the government.”
‘Extreme Rationing’ – This is not true! the current system does result in some limitation in the provision of care but generally dental services are available across the UK – it may not be entirely NHS provided as we now have three differing admin systems.

Yes, we do have problems as the recently published Steel review and the Welsh Assembly Government report have emphasised but they are no insurmoutable.

And, we do have very highly qualified, excellent dentists in the UK and yes, we go know what periodontology is too!

Stuart Geddes
Director of the British Dental Association – Wales
Antonio Ragadio

US Dentists are unwilling to give up anything to fix the economy. The majority want to preserve the status quo; similar to each state having its own board of examiners artificially to protect their turf. The health care industry is run under the capitalist system and it screws up the reason most doctors and other health care professionals go into helping people. It’s time to sacrifice as much as everyone else is having to do to rescue this country. It’s time for a single payer universal health care system and take the for profit insurance companies out of the equation.
http://indysdrjule.com Julian E. Gray DDS

To the dentists of the world: I have been 7 times to Europe, visited Australia, China, Brazil, Mexico, Canada,and some of the Islands . I have been to several dental offices in other countries. The Chinese begged me to come back and establish and office to treat private patients. It is really very simple—no one values what they do not have to pay for personally. The private practice on Harley Street in London, in Stuttgart, In Valencia, etc. make a good living doing quality work. The rest of the population walking down the streets of these cities—-easily viewed dentistry , by the professional eye, is often substandard—but it’s “free” . I have seen many changes over the years—hyg in 1966, dental degree in 1986, much that I approve of—but like medicine, we are been tempted by dental dealers to buy and equip our offices for the most high tech and yet, most of the final result of the product is not necessarily improved! Witness the gold restorations—-not esthetic—but very economical when they are placed well and last 30 years!! American dentists have the best of the training, but must stay reasonable when calculating the outcomes of our work. For the record, I use a Diagnodent, Cavitrons, computers in the ops, digital camera, implants, perio non and surgical.
http://www.drmwcollins.com Mark Collins,D.D.S.

How will the young graduates of U.S. dental programs be able to pay back their educational loans if they we are under a socialized health care state? Will the dental education become free under Obama’s plan ?
http://www.KimHenryDental.com Kim Henry, D.M.D.

“Where do we get our idea of British dentistry?”

I got mine by attending a national convention in Birmingham England a few years ago with my staff.

Quite a difference on the convention floor! Labs display mostly removable prosthetesis, and very few fixed implant cases. An ethics class my employees took for curiosity focussed on what to do if your dentist-boss came in drunk to the office and tried to treat patients!

The standard of dental care in England is abysmal- although there are some completely private clinics that do top-notch dentistry.

No where in the world does government act to increase the quality of health care. EVERYWHERE it acts to cut costs, and inevetiably decrease quality.
http://www.degreesinhealthcare.org Degrees in Healthcare

Very interesting point of view. I have not read anything about nationalizing healthcare on any other dental blogs.
denver doc

What in the world happened to our country? Where are private property, libery, pursuit of happiness in this “Atlas Shrugged” world the leftists are trying to create and succeeding? Why does the growing entitlement class created by democrats think they are entitled to my life’s work and enery? I feel like Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes! Good God, what are they doing to our country!?
Pingback: Good Dental Care Habits for Alternative Health | Health & Fitness Tips
http://www.insightsfordentists.com Dental Marketing Options

Unfortunately, we’ve got no say, we’ve already done our part (in the elections), and we’ll just have to SEE where this will take us…
Pingback: Dental Management: Health Care Reform Is Your Problem Too | The Wealthy Dentist