Comprehensive Dental Practice Suggestions (SAT)

[toddnjoyce]

We are looking to change dentists. No kids, so we don’t need pediatric/family dentistry. What we want is a practice with experienced staff, low turnover, and in-house periodontal and orthodontic specialists.

I realize that’s a tough thing to find since it seems dentistry has followed the generalist refers to specialist business model but I hope we can find a comprehensive practice in the area.

Short of that, a highly experienced dentist with very low staff turnover and very strong and stable referral partners in the above specialties would be a close second.

@TX OMFS; sorry no wisdom teeth left for you.

 

[single stack]

We enjoyed the services of Dr. Porter.
His office is at N 1604 at Stone Oak.
More than competent.
We weren’t upsold and got excellent referrals and service for my Dad.
i had a problem and was sent to Dr.Schwartz, also in Stone Oak for an involved repair job.
Good luck.

 

[majormadmax]

Dr. Brent Wall, Braun and 1604.

Dentist in San Antonio, TX | Brent Wall DDS

Call today to get the small-town, personalized service you deserve as our dentist and team provide gentle, high-quality dental care in San Antonio, TX.

www.drbrentwall.com

 

[innominate]

I got caught up in that crap last year. Molar too badly cracked for a crown. Had to go to another -ist to get a root canal. He said it was too badly cracked and needed to go to another -ist for an extraction and implant. Now I have to go back to my dentist for the crown

 

[TX OMFS]

No one ever says they want a PCP that will also replace their knee and put in heart stents. But everyone wants a dentist who dabbles in everything.

Just sayin'.

 

[toddnjoyce]

No one ever says they want a PCP that will also replace their knee and put in heart stents. But everyone wants a dentist who dabbles in everything.

Just sayin'.

I don’t want a dentist that dabbles in everything. I want a practice that has in-house specialty providers.

Our current practice advertised ‘long-standing referral relationships”. I don’t know what they consider long standing, but they’ve changed specialty provided referrals annually for four straight years.

 

[studenygreg]

Staff turnover is a tough one. Most dental assistants and admin are paid pretty low. They tend to go from office to office looking for an extra buck or places closer to home. Also, there are a lot of dentist and office managers that are unbearable, especially if they are a couple. This also runs people off. Some offices had to let their staffs go due to covid lock downs and had to restaff.

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[innominate]

No one ever says they want a PCP that will also replace their knee and put in heart stents. But everyone wants a dentist who dabbles in everything.

Just sayin'.

I get that but it would be nice if those services were in one building. Actually, in my situation it would have been nice if my dentist would have just sent me to the third doctor that did the extraction since he wasn't sure the severity of my cracked tooth. And it would be nice if dental insurance wasn't capped at 2k benefit. I know none of this is in your control. Just venting.

 

[studenygreg]

I don’t want a dentist that dabbles in everything. I want a practice that has in-house specialty providers.

Our current practice advertised ‘long-standing referral relationships”. I don’t know what they consider long standing, but they’ve changed specialty provided referrals annually for four straight years.

If you want an office that separate in house specialists, I would look at some of the dental franchise chains. They will have staff turnover including dentists. These franchises hire dentists out of school and often help them pay their student loans in exchange for a few years of service. You also may not get the same quality of care or the warm friendly vibes as with a private practice .

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[studenygreg]

Personally I would find a good general dentist in a private practice that takes his time with his work and treats you well. Then have them refer you to a specialists for those special needs . Thats just me though

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[toddnjoyce]

Personally I would find a good general dentist in a private practice that takes his time with his work and treats you well. Then have them refer you to a specialists for those special needs . Thats just me though

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That’s #1 on my list so I’ll listen. I’d just like to think there’s at least one practice in this area that does it all in-house.

I guess that ain’t a workable model though.

 

[studenygreg]

That’s #1 on my list so I’ll listen. I’d just like to think there’s at least one practice in this area that does it all in-house.

I guess that ain’t a workable model though.

Let me see what I can find. What side of town you looking for?

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[toddnjoyce]

Let me see what I can find. What side of town you looking for?

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We’re in the Boerne/FOR area, but don’t have a problem going most anywhere.

 

[TX OMFS]

That’s #1 on my list so I’ll listen. I’d just like to think there’s at least one practice in this area that does it all in-house.

I guess that ain’t a workable model though.

Exactly. It's not workable bc no one cares about the pt in that scenario. Travelling specialists want to get in & get out. Then come back next month. If you have a problem in between, well, a lot of times you're SOL & referred to a specialty practice. Also, those specialists will change frequently bc by nature being a travelling specialist is not very stable.

The general dentist running the show in that scenario is incentivized to feed as many cases to the specialist as possible in one day. They, or the GP they hire to run that location, don't know what to do with the complications. They plan the work & hand the case to the specialist. Think about it - a GP plans the procedure and the specialist is just a tech doing the work. That's a formula for unnecessary or unwise procedures.

It would be a very unique practice that could bring in specialists, be stable for years, be priced fairly, and really care about the patients. Quality, cost, or speed/convenience...

Medicine & dentistry feel very different. Generally, when I talk to MDs we are collaborating. We work together. When I talk to other dentists, particularly GPs, they always say "my patient" like they own the patient. There's often a subtle adversarial relationship. I think some of it is because consultants tell GP dentists that everything they refer out is lost revenue & they need to keep the revenue for themselves by doing stuff they aren't comfortable doing or by hiring specialists to work in their office.

And I still didn't help you find what you're looking for.

 

[studenygreg]

Exactly. It's not workable bc no one cares about the pt in that scenario. Travelling specialists want to get in & get out. Then come back next month. If you have a problem in between, well, a lot of times you're SOL & referred to a specialty practice. Also, those specialists will change frequently bc by nature being a travelling specialist is not very stable.

The general dentist running the show in that scenario is incentivized to feed as many cases to the specialist as possible in one day. They, or the GP they hire to run that location, don't know what to do with the complications. They plan the work & hand the case to the specialist. Think about it - a GP plans the procedure and the specialist is just a tech doing the work. That's a formula for unnecessary or unwise procedures.

It would be a very unique practice that could bring in specialists, be stable for years, be priced fairly, and really care about the patients. Quality, cost, or speed/convenience...

Medicine & dentistry feel very different. Generally, when I talk to MDs we are collaborating. We work together. When I talk to other dentists, particularly GPs, they always say "my patient" like they own the patient. There's often a subtle adversarial relationship. I think some of it is because consultants tell GP dentists that everything they refer out is lost revenue & they need to keep the revenue for themselves by doing stuff they aren't comfortable doing or by hiring specialists to work in their office.

And I still didn't help you find what you're looking for.

# facts.

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[Vaquero]

Darn.
That's near too honest.
My mistrust seems justified,

 

[candcallen]

Exactly. It's not workable bc no one cares about the pt in that scenario. Travelling specialists want to get in & get out. Then come back next month. If you have a problem in between, well, a lot of times you're SOL & referred to a specialty practice. Also, those specialists will change frequently bc by nature being a travelling specialist is not very stable.

The general dentist running the show in that scenario is incentivized to feed as many cases to the specialist as possible in one day. They, or the GP they hire to run that location, don't know what to do with the complications. They plan the work & hand the case to the specialist. Think about it - a GP plans the procedure and the specialist is just a tech doing the work. That's a formula for unnecessary or unwise procedures.

It would be a very unique practice that could bring in specialists, be stable for years, be priced fairly, and really care about the patients. Quality, cost, or speed/convenience...

Medicine & dentistry feel very different. Generally, when I talk to MDs we are collaborating. We work together. When I talk to other dentists, particularly GPs, they always say "my patient" like they own the patient. There's often a subtle adversarial relationship. I think some of it is because consultants tell GP dentists that everything they refer out is lost revenue & they need to keep the revenue for themselves by doing stuff they aren't comfortable doing or by hiring specialists to work in their office.

And I still didn't help you find what you're looking for.

But you may have helped steer him away from a rabbit hole, possibly.

 

[TX OMFS]

Yeah, may have just ruined all my business relationships with that post.

Actually, the folks I work with tend to think like me. I'll be fine.

 

[studenygreg]

Another thing I would add is be careful when reading online reviews. Most people don't know what good dental work is or when the dentist is ripping them off. Some will try to maximize your insurance and do unnecessary treatment. The only thing I would take from. Online reviews are things like staff friendliness, office cleanliness, wait times, etc.

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[candcallen]

Yeah, may have just ruined all my business relationships with that post.

Actually, the folks I work with tend to think like me. I'll be fine.

Too bad you're not in DFW. I have 2 Adult daughters, 19 and 21, who I keep telling to get their wisdom teeth out but they ignore me. Well not my problem anymore. It would be nice to refer them somewhere when the inevitable pain begins.