In this survey, we asked dentists what questions dental implant patients do ask — and which questions they should ask!

Overall, patients’ top questions were: "How much do dental implants cost?" and "Will dental implant surgery be painful?"

Dentists have a somewhat different perspective. According to dental implant dentists, the most important question to ask is, "Am I a good candidate for dental implants?"

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Australia is considering a proposal to fluoridate bottled water, and the Australian Dental Association supports it, noting that people are drinking less tap water. The proposal would not require manufacturers to add fluoride to bottled water, but would allow them to do so, something that was previously prohibited.

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When we asked dentists if political disagreements or other differences of opinion had caused them to quit the ADA or their local dental association, one quarter (26%) reported that they have quit the ADA or another dental organization. There are any number of reasons why dentists are disappointed in organized dentistry.

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There is a saying in the US Military: “We salute the rank, not the man.” Unlike the media (for example, the CNN pundit who called President Bush a “highly functional moron“), I still feel the office deserves a high level of respect… regardless of the man or woman who holds the position. So, if you’re looking for a series of Obama-bashing editorials, you aren’t going to find them here.

Truth be told, we just don’t know what our new president-elect is really all about. Plus, he is a politician. As a class, campaign promises and party positions are rarely translated verbatim into real legislation by politicians.

As dentists, you need to watch two areas: taxes and health care reform. Of the two, taxes will probably have a more direct impact on your life in the next four to eight years than national health care legislation.

It will take two to three years for health care legislation to be hashed out and a new government bureaucracy built to implement it. The lack of financial resources will initially limit it to physicians and medicine. Once again, be thankful you chose dentistry! You now make more than the average physician, and you will be free to continue to do so for the immediate future.

Taxes are another thing entirely. If president-elect Obama is true to his word and does not increase income taxes on those of us earning $250,000 or less, then all is well and fine. However, Obama will most likely allow the Bush tax cuts of 2001 and 2003 to lapse in 2010. Allowing the rates to return to higher levels is not technically a "tax increase." It's just the lapsing of a tax cut.

For the next tax issue, I would like to quote Ned Barnett of The American Thinker.

“The next loophole involves the payroll tax that you pay to support the Social Security system. Currently, there is an inflation-adjusted cap, and according to the non-profit Tax Foundation, in 2006 — the most recent year for which tax data is available — only the first $94,700 of an unmarried individual's earnings were subject to the 12.4 percent payroll tax. However, Senator Obama has proposed lifting that cap, adding an additional 12.4 percent tax on every dollar earned above that cap — and in spite of his promise, impacting all those who earn between $94,700 and $249,999.“

Please note that the current FICA cap is $102,000 (versus $94,700 in 2006). The individual only pays half of this tax; the employer pays the other half.

This extension of the payroll tax could turn out to be the biggest bite you see coming out of your income in the coming years! However, remember that reality will most likely moderate this new graduated payroll tax system along the lines of the income tax tables.

Until next week…

Jim Du Molin

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The Wealthy Dentist asked dentists if denture patients have realistic expectations of dentures.

Fully five out of six dentists (87%) said that patients expect dentures to be easier than they actually are. Only 13% felt patients have realistic expectations.

“No matter how much you tell them how difficult it’s going to be, they still don’t get it," sighed one dentist.

General dentists are more likely to feel that patients don’t know what to expect from dentures. Specialists were more likely to feel their denture patients knew what they were getting into. Of course, doctors such as prosthodontists are specialized denture dentists.

Here are some more comments from dentists…

• “I generally find that patients know that dentures are dentures. The exceptions tend to be doozies! ” (Illinois dentist)
• “For every procedure that I do, except dentures, I have a single-page consent form. For dentures my consent form is 4 pages long!” (California dental implantologist)
• “Good example: Had a patient with tons of retention (even suction on lower!) but he thought they didn't fit because they ’squished’ slightly (soft tissue compression) when he chewed! ” (West Virginia dentist)
• “Many immediate denture patients have expectations of better-than-natural teeth function and stability.” (Washington dentist)
• “Patients can pay $5-10K for a very well-fitting and functioning denture, but 99% are looking for the very cheapest option.” (California dentist)
• “Many patients think that dentures will solve all of their problems and will never need to be replaced.” (Tennessee dentist)

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Dentists are commonly perceived as wealthy. In this survey, we asked dentists if they consider themselves wealthy. Two out of three dentists said no, they are not in fact wealthy. “While my income may be in the top 10% of wage earners, my debt is high, and it is a struggle to fund my retirement goals,” said one dentist.

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The restrictions placed on dental marketing and advertising are far stricter than most consumers realize. Dentists often feel that they're not able to reach new patients because of dental boards and advertising councils.

Just a few decades ago, American dentists would be called before their state dental boards if they sent out a new patient mailer. But direct mail marketing is even tougher elsewhere… In Ireland, dentists are finally permitted to do some marketing, but they're not to use their address. "The dentist should ensure that his or her name, profession and practice address are not published simultaneously," even when conducting interviews or writing letter to the editor.

In the UK, a private dental surgery was ordered by the Advertising Standards Authority to stop referring to dentist John Stowall as "doctor."Dr. Jonathan Fielden of the British Medical Association opposes dentists using the title of doctor. “Certain titles can sometimes mislead patients into thinking people are medically qualified when they are not,” he said, to the offense of dentists everywhere.

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Dental CE is an essential part of every dentist’s career. While conventional classes and seminars are still popular, more and more doctors are going online for Internet dental continuing education.

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New York cosmetic dentist Dr. Larry Ashkinazy called himself the "Dentist to the Stars," apparently serving a celebrity clientele. In 2002, he was riding his moped through Manhattan when he hit a manhole cover near Consolidated Edison service equipment. Though Con Ed claims the lid was barricaded, Dr. Ashkinazy sued.

The doctor was just awarded $15M for the hand tremors he suffered as a result of his injuries. Not surprisingly, Con Ed plans to appeal the ruling.

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