How to make sure you are visiting the “Right” Dentist, and getting value for your money?

Like every other profession, good and bad Dentists; honest and dishonest Dentists are found everywhere. Therefore it is very important that you do your homework properly before you entrust your teeth and your “pocket” to your Dentist.

Choosing your dentist purely on the claim's made on his/ her website and the in-house brochures that are given to you is foolish. You have got to check the ground reality.

In order to ensure that you are visiting the “right Dentist”, I suggest that you seriously consider the following seven “Golden Rules”.

Although I cannot assure you that the same will lead you to the “right” Dentists, but for sure, you'll be able to avoid the “pain” of landing at a wrong Dental Surgery.

Many people have told me that these rules are a real “eye opener” and an excellent “guide” to patients. I hope you find them useful too!

SEVEN “GOLDEN RULES” -That Can Help You To Choose The “Right Dentist" :-

(1) Rule One: THE WORD OF MOUTH :
There is nothing like going to a particular dentist who has been recommended to you by your friends / relatives who had been to him earlier. Obviously, nobody will recommend you a dentist unless his / her earlier experience with the said dentist has been really good. 

If you are internet savvy, it is advisable that you do not take the claims of the so called "satisfied patients Testimonials" mentioned in the Dentist’s website seriously. Make sure you know those “Testimonial patients” personally, or through somebody who knows them well. 

Word of mouth from a ‘known person’ is certainly the best way of being guided to the ‘right’ dentist.


(2) Rule Two: THE ESTABLISHED CLINIC FACTOR :
It is very important that you know for how long your dentist had been practicing at his clinic ( Surgery). In my opinion, you should ideally go to a Dentist whose clinic is about Five years old. Five years is a fairly good time to have a rough idea of the reputation and credibility of your dentist.

For minor dental treatment procedures like restorative ‘fillings’, scaling and polishing, simple extractions and dentures and teeth whitening (bleaching), you can go to any dentist. “Experience” is not really an important factor in these case.

But for more extensive cases like root canal treatment, Dental implants and ceramic veneers, crowns and bridges, you should go to an experienced dentist. When you are paying a lot of money for the said “technique sensitive” treatments, the least you have to do, is to be sure of the “reputation” of your dentist. 


(3) Rule Three: THE STAND-BY-YOU FACTOR :
No Dentist is GOD, and therefore cannot guarantee the long term success of his/her work. For many technical reasons, a few failures are beyond his control.

Failures in root canal treatment, "Fillings" coming out, Dental Implants problems, fractures of ceramic crown/bridge, post extraction/ surgery complications, etc are very common.

Should any of these unfortunate problems happen to you, "your dentist" should compulsorily stand by you. Your Dentist should not use the said situations to “extract” more money you.

The least, "your dentist" should do for you, is to repeat the work at cost price. If he is “greedy”, you should “dump him” and look for a better human being, as your next Dentist.


(4) Rule Four: CHECK THE CLINIC INFRASTRUCTURE :
Irrespective of the claims made on the website/Brochure, it is advisable to check if "your dentist" really has the latest equipment he boasts off.

Use of disposable syringes, gloves, glasses and proper sterilization of instruments by Autoclaving or scientific cold sterilization (for certain items) is a must in today's era of increased viral and blood borne cross infections.

A dental clinic which is equipped with the latest equipment certainly enables your dentist to provide you a better quality of treatment. Modern Dental technology, certainly simplifies treatment procedures .


(5) Rule Five: TEAM OF DOCTORS AND ASSISTANTS :
Today Dentistry is a highly super- specialized profession. No Dentists on earth can claim that he is a “master of everything”. In that case he will be a “jack of all trades” and master-of-none.

Today, there are specialists to treat your gum diseases (Periodontist), children Dentistry (Pedodontist), Root canal treatment (Endodontist), Fixing artificial teeth into the bone (Implantologist).

Specialists also undertake difficult surgeries in the mouth (Oral Surgeon), replace missing teeth with dentures (Prosthdontist) and correct protruding and overlapping teeth by using wire-braces (Orthodontist)

It is advisable to get yourself “treated” at a clinic which has a team of either visiting or in house Specialists for the above sub-specialties of Dentistry.

Many a times a ‘nice guy’ type of a Dentist who dares to undertakes dental work in your mouth beyond his professional qualification/expertise, can end-up in a disaster for your teeth. At times the damage that is done by such over adventures Dentists is irreversible.


(6) Rule Six: AN “IN-HOUSE” DENTAL LABORATORY :
Today many of the leading dentists who do a lot of ceramic crown & bridge work (Fixed Dentures) for their patients have their own in-house Dental laboratory.

An in-house Lab certainly enables your Dentist to check the various features of “fixed dentures”, like - the exact fit of crown / bridge, the shape and size of artificial teeth and the colour of your Veneers/crowns/bridges. 
Matching “artificial teeth” with patients existing “natural teeth”, is a lot easier if you have a “handy” Lab to back you up.

Double checking of the above details “directly” in your patient’s mouth, certainly goes a long way in giving a near “perfect smile” to your patient. It also ensures that the patient gets a perfect “bite” to masticate his/her food better.

Although it is very expensive to have and to maintain an “in-house” dental lab, it certainly gives an advantage to your dentist to meet the above needs more effectively. It also enables them to provide ceramic crowns and bridges (fixed dentures) at a much cheaper price than the other dentists.

Dentists with their own “in-house” Dental Lab, certainly have the advantage of offering their patients, a better “value for money” for their ceramic crowns, bridges, veneers and implant prosthesis.


(7) Rule Seven: THE REASSURING TEST OF CREDIBILITY :
In a highly competitive profession that is serving a limited number of local residents, "your Dentist" cannot be a leading Dentist in that particular locality, unless he/she passes the "Test of credibility" of his/her own community.
For a local resident with “minimum commonsense”, it should not be a problem to find the “right Dentist” in his/her locality.

But If you are a traveller in a foreign land, it is best and advisable to ask the local people of that area- "who are the leading dentists in that particular place?". This is extremely important in today “marketing world”, wherein you can sell a refrigerator to an Eskimo, purely with good marketing strategies. 

They'll surely suggest you a few names. You should give a serious thought to their suggestions. Make further enquiries if you “feel like”, but in 90% of the cases, their recommendation will be “right”.


Important Caution:
It is advisable that you cross check the information provided by Taxi Drivers, Hotel employees and Tour guides for the above strategic decision. It is a known fact that, in most of the famous “tourist destinations” some of them MISLEAD you to dentists who pay them “commissions”, for their recommendations.

It is a sad fact, that many Dentists employ/pay “middle men” to get patients to their clinic. They pay them a lot of money by way of “commission”. And this money is ultimately recovered from you through an “inflated dental treatment Bill”. Reputed dentists with an established local client base, do not need “tourist patients” to sustain their dental practice. Therefore, most of the “genuinely famous” Dentists, will not indulge in the game of “commissions”.

It is not my intention to criticise any dentist, but as the topic of this article demands, I am duty-bound to warn the “traveller patients” that the above mentioned "marketing strategies" also exist, especially in tourist destinations where dentistry is promoted. It is mostly common in places where foreigners go to get a “cheaper” dental treatment done.

There have been enough complaints about this issue on the internet. But if you are wise and well informed, and take some help from the above "Seven Golden Rules", you will not end up in making foolish decisions. A “stupid decision” will cost you a lot more in the long run.

In my opinion, it is better to get your dental treatment done in your own country by paying a little more to the “right dentist” you know, rather than a “wrong dentist” in cheaper countries, whom you do not know. For sure, it is best to get it done with a “known dentist”, who is known to provide ‘value for money’ quality dental treatment.

One of my teachers had once told me... “To make good decisions in life, you’ve got to have only 50% knowledge of the subject and 50% common sense”. I am convinced, that through this article I have provided you ‘sufficient’ knowledge of dentistry. Now it is for you to use your “common sense” and make the best of it, to find your way to the “right” Dentist.

I wish you all the best!



Medical tourism in India:-
In the first week of June 2007, an article on “Medical tourism in India”, was forwarded to me by one of my overseas patients. I have reproduced the condensed version of this interesting article (in purple color), together with my “personal comments” at the bottom of the write-up:-

India, with its long history of colonial rule, has long established itself as one of the famous holiday destinations for low budget tourists. It is now emerging as the new address for “low budget” medical and dental treatment, which some refer to as Medical Tourism. An increasing number of overseas patients visit India for their treatment.

India certainly boasts of many good clinics and private Hospitals. Some of them can be compared to the best in the world. Many of the Indian doctors and dentists are also highly respected for their skills and knowledge by their international colleagues. But, the biggest mistake which many overseas patients make is to presume, that every doctor and dentist in India is sincere and good at his/her professional work.

The emerging boom in medical tourism, has improved the quality of treatment facilities in India. Many doctors and dentists have upgraded their Clinics and Hospitals, to meet the new demands of their overseas patients. This new development in the health care, is a blessing not only for the local doctors and patients, but also for the overseas patients and the economy of India.

Unfortunately taking advantage of this booming medical tourism in India are some “black sheep” in the profession, who are exploiting the situation to meet their short term needs. Many of them have resorted to falsehood to attract patients to their hospitals and clinics. As a result, many patients have become “victims” of their shabby treatment and unlimited greed.

Treatment facilities by some of these “fly by the night” con-doctors are being heavily advertised, both in India and abroad. Websites and broachers of these “unscrupulous doctors”, paint such a rosy picture, that, many overseas patients who do not know the real truth of medical and dental scenario in India, are lured and mislead by it.

As a fall-out, many of them have ended up paying almost 200% extra compared to the fees of well established and reputed doctors and dentists in India. Some of these con-doctors, are already black-listed by the UK Government, and frequent travelers in the UK, are warned by their Health Ministry, to avoid them in India.

Surprisingly, most of the educated local Indians do not visit such unscrupulous, con doctors and dentists. And that is either because of the personal bad experiences they have had with them in the past, or on account of the “horror stories” they have heard from others. Although they charge the locals almost ‘half’ of what they bill the overseas patients, literate local residents do not avail their services.

Although you find these con-doctors in all parts of India, a classic example of this ugly face of medical tourism in India, is that of young inexperienced doctors and dentists opening clinics at tourist frequented places. The eagerness of these doctors to make a fast buck at the cost of “unsuspecting” overseas patients, has become the sole new mantra in some tourist visited places of India.

The collective effect of this new “make hay while the sun shines” attitude has become so contagious, that, many greedy real estate developers, businessmen and hoteliers, have also jumped into the “medical tourism bandwagon”, and, have already opened medical/dental clinics and hospitals in some of the famous tourist destinations of India. Compared to the prevailing medical/dental fees in India, foreigner patients are charged almost 200% extra by these ‘medical entrepreneurs’.

In the good old days, beside doctors and dentists you would also find road-side “quacks” practicing their own kind of medicine and dentistry. Today, you can find many greedy “non-dentists/non-doctors” Tom, Dick and Harries managing dental and medical clinics in India. Sadly, both the Government and the medical/dental Councils/Associations, have not been able to deal with this issue.

In some of the famous tourist frequented places like Goa and Kerala, medical tourism scenario has become a real “suspense thriller”. Total “strangers” have opened their “part time” seasonal dental Clinics and health centers, and have become famous for providing poor quality, “expensive” ayurvedic treatment and “super-fast” dentistry. Most of these “temporary clinics” are functional only for five months of the tourist season, and are visited exclusively by the foreigners.

No one really knows who some of these doctors and dentists are, and from where they have come. And perhaps even God may not be able to tell you when they will just disappear. These “strangers” are probably inspired by the fast money generating “Quick Fix” dentistry and “everything cured” Ayurveda provided by some of their young, and inexperienced professional colleagues in Goa and Kerala.

It was initially the adventurous local dentists and ayurvedic doctors who had started the new “fashion” of having “temporary dental and medical clinics” along the tourist frequented places of Goa and Kerala. The medical tourism in India has certainly produced a new breed of “temporary” doctors and dentists, who have become notoriously famous for their own version of “Indian Masala” Dentistry and Ayurveda.

In order to protect the interests of overseas tourists, many concerned members of the medical Fraternity feel the government needs to regulate medical tourism in India. They feel an awareness need to be created on this issue. They do not want the good name of the profession to be tarnished by the greed of the few.

And until that happens, it is important that, every overseas patient takes his/her own precautions, before undertaking medical/dental treatment in India. For those who do not know the real truth of medical tourism, perhaps a few “commonsense questions” could be of some help, to identify reliable and reputed doctors and dentists in India:-

(1) Why do most of these “tourist doctors/dentists” charge almost 50 to 200% EXTRA to their foreigner patients compared to the well known, reputed City doctors/dentists who charge much less to their local patients?

(2) Why do some of these tourist doctors/dentists “seasonally” re-locate their Clinics to places and hotel premises which are PRIMARILY visited by the foreigners? Is it because they want to make a ‘fast buck’ or is it because they were “rejected” by their local patients whom they had treated earlier?

(3) If the above mentioned “temporary” doctors/dentists are really good at their work as they claim to be in their professional websites, broachers and advertisements in the tourist magazines, why are the “local patients” hesitant in availing their services?

(4) Why do most of these “tourist doctors/dentists” treat mostly “tourist patients”, when there are hundreds of local patients in India who can also afford their regular professional fees?

(5) Why are the “real” famous and reputed doctors/dentists in India “very busy” in their practice throughout the twelve months of the year, and do not depend on the “five month seasonal tourist practice”?
Please note that these questions are not intended to criticize the honorable medical and dental communities in India. These are “sensible and relevant” questions posed to “isolate” the greedy “black sheep ”, who are giving a bad name for the medical tourism in India.

MY PERSONAL COMMENTS:-
I do not wish to pass a judgement on what is right and wrong. There is already an ancient “warning” from a very famous and wise King of Israel, in the Book of Proverbs 10:9, for all of us...

“Anyone whose ways are honorable, walks secure. But whoever follows crooked ways, is soon unmasked”.

I do not know about other parts of India, but in Goa, most of the local people already know the answers to the above questions. It is the “Tourist patients” who need to be educated on this issue. You will be surprised to know, that, when it comes to doctors and dentists, even the poor, illiterate Goans prefer to go to doctors/dentists who are known for their good work.

The rich and the middle class people in Goa are also very careful. They do not spend their money foolishly. They certainly do not allow any doctor/dentist to “over charge” them. They mostly visit only those doctors/dentists, who do a good work and provide a “real value” for their money.

Most foreigners make the “biggest” mistake of comparing the dentist’s Fees in Europe and US to the rates of dentists in India. Instead, they should compare the fees of the dentists in India, with the fees of other dentists in India only.

Undertaking medical treatment in India only because it is cheaper to Euorpe, is not the best way to get “best value” for your money. It is also not the correct way to get the best treatment available in India.

In my opinion. the oversees patients should do the homework of finding out the cost of dental/medical treatment from various “reputed” dentists and medical hospitals in India, before undertaking their dental/medical treatment in this country.

Perhaps the overseas (foreigner) patients, should learn from our local people on... how to identify and choose the “right” dentist/doctor in India. They will probably teach you a lot more than my tips on How to make sure you are visiting the “Right” Dentist, and getting value for your money?



How to avoid Dental Diseases? 

To begin with, is it possible to avoid dental diseases in today’s fast-paced world?

Fortunately, the answer is a big YES. It is possible to avoid dental diseases in most of the cases. 

I have a very simple ‘advice’ and if you follow it diligently, you can surely control dental problems, and, to a great extent avoid dental diseases. Many of my patients have already benefited from this ‘advice’ and I’m confident, that it can help you too ! 

And this is what you have to do... 

1. Brush your teeth after every meal: 

Brushing after your breakfast is most important; ‘cos most of the things that we eat/drink during breakfast, have a tendency to stick to our teeth. If these “teeth stuck remnants” are not removed by brushing, it get converted into a disease forming substance called “dental plaque”.

Brushing after dinner is also very important. Food remnants in the mouth, get converted into “ dental plaque ”. And left overnight, it makes your oral cavity, a perfect breeding ground for dental diseases. 


2. Eat and drink only a few times a day:

This makes it a lot easier for us to brush immediately after everything we eat 
and drink. Brushing is a “must do” after all our eats and drinks, to keep our
teeth healthy and strong. 


3. Have plenty of fruits and water in between your meals:

Water and fresh fruits are the best “self- cleansing” agents for our teeth, and therefore the best “snacks” to have in between our meals. 

For our gums and our teeth, “fruits” are a far superior alternative to ‘Junk Foods’ and sweet drinks. “Fast Food” habits are neither good for our teeth, nor for health 

It is best to avoid tea, coffee, colas and snacks in between meals. But if you can’t, you may have them soon after your “main meals”. Following it up with immediate, ‘proper’ brushing, is a “must do” to prevent dental diseases. 


4. Use fluoride containing toothpaste and “soft” toothbrush:

Despite the infamous fluoride controversy, it is a proven fact that, “fluorides” play a very significant role in preventing/controlling tooth decay. 
What brand of paste you use is not really important. You can use any toothpaste which has fluoride in it 

As “variety” is known to add spice to life, perhaps you’ll enjoy your brushing better, if you keep changing your toothpaste brands. Don’t get married to any of them. 

However, it is good and advisable to use either a “soft bristled” regular toothbrush or a battery operated, mechanised tooth brush. Both are known to cause ‘least’ damage to your tooth structure. Improper brushing with “hard bristled” brushes, can cause ‘wearing-out’ of your good teeth and result into hyper sensitivity. 

In India, many of us use “tongue cleaners” to clean our tongues. I’m not sure if it helps to prevent tooth decay, but it certainly reduces your “bad breath”. Unclean tongue is one of the known causes of bad breath.


5. Visit your Dentist regularly: 

Yes, you have to visit your Dentist regularly. He can help you in detecting problems at an early stage. A stitch in time, not only ‘saves nine’, but when it comes to dentists, it also saves you a LOT of money.

It is best to visit your dentist at-least once in every year. But let him “start” the work in your mouth, only after you know what he is doing and why?

The good old days of “blind faith in doctor”, are long over my friend. Make sure you are not taken for a ride.


6. Remember you are the BEST “Preventive Dentist” on Earth:

That’s right. I have always believed that YOU are the best “Preventive dentist”. If you don’t take proper care of your teeth, your Dentist’s role will become very limited.

At best your dentist can only guide you, and “fix” your dental problems. He plays only a “passive role” in the prevention of dental diseases. 

Prevention of dental diseases is primarily in your hands. It is the “home dental care” and the personal interest you take of your teeth, that matters the most.


CONCLUSION:

With great confidence and “visible results” I have seen in my own patients, during the last 25 years, I can confidently conclude the following:-

If you follow the above 6-points “formula”, most of the dental diseases can be prevented or “controlled” to a great extent.

So all that you have to do to prevent dental diseases is to “start” doing it NOW and do it the “right way”, everyday. 



Let your near and dear ones benefit from it:
If you have benefited from the above tips, please introduce this website to your friends, relatives and colleagues. If you want to know more about Dr Hubert Gomes, you can visit his website by clicking... www.drhubertgomes.com