Dentistry considered commodity, not just service

Q. Why are some dentists more expensive than others?

A. This is a common question posed by people receiving dental treatment. Many people consider dental care to be a commodity when it should be considered in terms of the actual service that is provided.

For example, products like gasoline are usually considered to be commodities. No matter where you go, the product itself is essentially the same.

Services are very different from commodities. For example, your dining experience will vary tre-mendously depending on the type of restaurant you choose. While both McDonald's and Outback provide meals, their food, setting, and service are very different. You wouldn't expect to pay as much for dinner at McDonald's as you would at Outback. But you also wouldn't expect McDonald's to offer the same food selection and service as Out-back. Both are very successful, but for very different reasons.

The same can be said of dentistry or any other healthcare service. There are huge variations in terms of service, technology, and philosophy. Some offices are geared more toward a

McDonald's approach to dental care, while others are more like Outback. Either may be acceptable to you, depending upon your needs, desires, and expectations.

That makes comparing fees between different dental offices very difficult, if not impossible. Fees are

generally based upon the costs associated with providing a particular treatment. Some offices offer more personalized care and take the time to thoroughly evaluate all appropriate treatment options for every individual. Other offices may take a more generic approach and treat every one in a similar manner. For people with simple, straight-forward dental needs and expectations that may be fine.

Dental insurance can also have a lot to do with your dental treatment options, and even limit the specific dentist you can see. People in need of a lot of dental care will find that their insurance benefit has been completely used long before their treatment needs have been taken care of. In addition, all insurance companies place substantial restrictions on what types of treatment they will and will not pay for, as well as how much they will pay. If you let your dental insurance cover-age dictate your treatment, you will probably find your choices very limited.

Insurance companies try to promote dentistry as a commodity, rather than a service. For example, dental insurance companies use what is known as a "UCR" fee schedule ("UCR" stands for Usual, Customary, and Reasonable) to establish what they will pay for your dental treatment. The insurance companies imply that this is the normal charge for a certain procedure in the same geographic area. In

reality, different dental insurance companies have different UCR's for the same area; even better, the same dental insurance company often has different UCR's for the same geo-graphic area,

depending on the insurance premium that is being paid. The insurance companies imply that their UCR is the correct charge and that any higher charge is inappropriate.

Most importantly, you should feel that your dentist is interested in providing you with the best care possible and helping you maintain your long term dental health. Finding a dental

office that offers the treatment that you require and the level of service that you expect is critical to your long-term satisfaction with your dentist.

Do you prefer McDonald's or Outback for your dental care?

Dr. Steve Jackson is a dentist in private practice at 7740 Donegan Drive in Manassas. His focus is on sedation, as well as cosmetic and preventive dentistry. For more information, please call 703-369-6282 or visit ManassasDentist.com.