planned-dentistry

[planned-dentistry]

I have a confession.

When (usually teenage) patients pull out their phones in the chair to Snapchat or text or whatever, you know, while I am sitting right there waiting to work on them

I do read their texts and their Snapchats or whatever they’re doing. I can’t help it. It’s right there and my eyes are primed to read any text they land on

So remember that next time you pull out your phone while in the dentist chair

[planned-dentistry]

If you’re actually curious: dentists drill through metal frequently because older crowns (and some modern crowns) were generally made of metal, and as these crowns wear over time and start leaking bacteria under them, they need to be replaced. So the dentist drills through the metal to remove the crowns and then goes through the process of making a new crown

If you’re more curious: the process of making a new crown involves removing the parts of the tooth that have been turned into mush by bacteria and then recording the shape of the tooth with an impression so that a new crown that fits the margin exactly to the tooth (and therefore will not leak bacteria underneath it) can be made

Congratulations to you for not having ever needed a crown! I hope that trend continues for you

[planned-dentistry]

[planned-dentistry]

ALSO I will never stop complaining about how dental school and residency both failed me. Clinical instructors too overworked to teach the actual steps and instead just take over and do it themselves if you ran into trouble. Just telling you to try harder if you couldn’t.

And most of all, not understanding that modification to technique is required when teaching someone with small hands who literally cannot hold the instruments in the “standard” way.

“Ohhh it’s actually just technique you don’t need strength at all!” Fine, then teach the technique!

[planned-dentistry]

Thinking about the shift in what constitutes an atraumatic extraction in today’s world of implants vs the past. Intact tooth or minimally affected bone. But all the dental school lecturers went to school 50 years ago and still teach the old way 🤔

[planned-dentistry]

Extracted an infected baby tooth today which always gets me thinking about how little dental school taught about extractions on baby teeth. Sure I learned that the underlying permanent tooth can be damaged but like. What am I supposed to do about it

[planned-dentistry]

Booooored

But after the afternoon I had yesterday fighting the 3D scanner software, I’ll take it

[planned-dentistry]

people with tooth decay aren't bad people. they aren't lazy either. neither are they unclean or irresponsible. tooth decay doesn't make you a bad person. you don't deserve mockery, judgement, or tooth pain for having any. the only thing people with tooth decay deserve is healthcare.

[planned-dentistry]

making replies as my day job persona is so nerve-wracking. I'm so used to separating my tumblr self and my dentist self, it feels like I'm crossing wires that shouldn't be crossed LOL

[planned-dentistry]

We should hype up dental care routines more instead of skincare routines

[planned-dentistry]

I’m seeing a bunch of posts that make me think most USAmericans don’t know about The No Surprises Act.

It was passed in 2021 (thank you Biden) and essentially states that if you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover a service you need (or want) you are entitled to a Good Faith Estimate of the cost of care. (If your insurance does cover the service, you should be able to estimate the cost of care based on your deductible and co-pay.)

As a healthcare provider who does not accept any insurance, I am very careful to not violate The No Surprises Act. Why? Because for every penny more than $400 that the Good Faith Estimate was “off” (or if it wasn’t provided), you are entitled to a refund for that amount.

Y’all. Ask for a Good Faith Estimate. Get it in writing. Compare it to what you are paying. If you are not provided an estimate or if it’s wrong by more than $400, demand a refund.

[planned-dentistry]

I can’t believe this. I took a stroll through the #dentistry tag sorted by latest posts and there are actual literal dentists advertising their services on TUMBLR of all places?? The “no money” website????

—I say, posting my thoughts into the void under the #dentistry tag on the “no dentists” website

[planned-dentistry]

Unlike private practice where the end of December is the busiest as people remember they have insurance that expires Dec 31 and suddenly want all their work done that they knew they needed all year, public health has patients who see it’s close to Christmas and just decide not to come I guess

[planned-dentistry]

Although actually the dental insurance reimbursement rates are unsustainable with the rising costs of literally everything. Supplies and salaries are up and insurance companies are like “what if we paid you. 30 cents for your 4 years and $400,000 of schooling? 😊”

[planned-dentistry]

free healthcare should include teeth actually

[planned-dentistry]

Dentistry: the only place where it’s good to say you’re conservative

[planned-dentistry]

When you take over another dentist’s patient load and the patients show up for fillings and you’re like. Where??