Why are dentists different from other specialists?

I don't particularly have a point of my own per se here, but it seems like an interesting topic of discussion. Dentists are simply specialists that concentrate on your teeth, similar to how podiatrists concentrate on your feet. So why is it that we hold them at pretty much the same level as GP's? Granted there are dental specialists as well, but still, we see dentist once to twice a year just like we do our GP's. Why aren't our GP's looking over our teeth and then saying, "Oh, you have a cavity developing there. I am going to send you to a dentist." My doctor suspected a hyatial (sp?) hernia, so he sent me to a gastroenterologist (I think I have the right type, but I'm sure you get the point even if not). So any insight as to why we treat a specialist as a general practitioner?

maquiscat said:

I don't particularly have a point of my own per se here, but it seems like an interesting topic of discussion. Dentists are simply specialists that concentrate on your teeth, similar to how podiatrists concentrate on your feet. So why is it that we hold them at pretty much the same level as GP's? Granted there are dental specialists as well, but still, we see dentist once to twice a year just like we do our GP's. Why aren't our GP's looking over our teeth and then saying, "Oh, you have a cavity developing there. I am going to send you to a dentist." My doctor suspected a hyatial (sp?) hernia, so he sent me to a gastroenterologist (I think I have the right type, but I'm sure you get the point even if not). So any insight as to why we treat a specialist as a general practitioner?

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An interesting question I've often asked myself.

I once had it explained that Dentists have a different regulatory board that oversees the profession. It seems it's a lot easier pass the dental boards than it is to pass the test required to practice medicine.

The result? There are dentists everywhere, and their standards for practice are as varied as their numbers. GP's are hesitant to refer under such circumstances. I guess that makes sense.

When one considers how critical to overall health teeth are, I wonder why Dental Insurance is so pathetic, and more emphasis is not placed on their care and maintenance in the main stream.

ocean515 said:

When one considers how critical to overall health teeth are, I wonder why Dental Insurance is so pathetic, and more emphasis is not placed on their care and maintenance in the main stream.

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I think that is true for all medical insurances. They never seem to understand that preventive measures save money in the long run. Medical insurances just don't want to pay anything, PERIOD.

I had a medical co-worker who once worked for a medical insurance group and her job was getting authorization request for procedures. She was instructed that they deny it three times no matter what evidence of support the client has.

I have seen working in the medical environment that a medication or procedure was denied and all I did was call the insurance company and after just basically giving the patient's ins account number, birthdate and address they would say, " Ok, it is approved. Here is your reference number", I had not offered any medical data to win approval, I just called them. It is called jumping the hoops.

So what happens is that a great number of patients and medical facilities don't jump the insurance companies hoops and guess what?. The insurance company doesn't have to pay for a med or procedure.

Working with the medical insurance companies is like dealing with used car dealers. If Trump thinks he is going to clear this mess up or if Clinton thinks she is going to improve Obama Care they are both naïve.

Crosscheck said:

I think that is true for all medical insurances. They never seem to understand that preventive measures save money in the long run. Medical insurances just don't want to pay anything, PERIOD.

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It's not what insurance is for.

Your house insurance doesn't cover routine maintenance.

Your car insurance doesn't cover routine maintenance.

It covers damage, and you carry it especially for catastrophic damage. The everyday and preventative stuff, you take care of yourself.

Health insurance should be no different. It shouldn't be a subscription service.

Harshaw said:

It's not what insurance is for.

Your house insurance doesn't cover routine maintenance.

Your car insurance doesn't cover routine maintenance.

It covers damage, and you carry it especially for catastrophic damage. The everyday and preventative stuff, you take care of yourself.

Health insurance should be no different. It shouldn't be a subscription service.

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You pay the whole cost for a colonoscopy? You pay the whole cost for vision test? You pay for the whole cost of a cardiac nuclear stress test to evaluate for potential coronary problems?

Many health insurances will give you a financial break if you quit smoking which is basically paying you to quit so you don't develop cancer and costs them way much more.

Crosscheck said:

You pay the whole cost for a colonoscopy? You pay the whole cost for vision test? You pay for the whole cost of a cardiac nuclear stress test to evaluate for potential coronary problems?

Many health insurances will give you a financial break if you quit smoking which is basically paying you to quit so you don't develop cancer and costs them way much more.

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You used to, before medical insurance stopped being actual insurance. And it was a lot cheaper then.

And would be again if everyone paid out-of-pocket for routine visits.