I hope you may be able to help or put me in touch with someone who can. I look forward to your reply. This letter was received as an enquiry in our Patients Forum . Please contact the editor The Future of Dentistry Sir, Public health dentistry is woefully lacking in the use of progressive modern techniques and procedures. Surely the main responsibility dentists have to their patients is to render treatment where the very highest standards of care, techniques and materials are used to conservatively maintain tooth structure at as close to its natural form, function and aesthetics as modern technology allows.
Money has nothing to do with our duties to our patients.
Not separating these entities or concentrating on only the money issue I believe has held dentistry, as a profession, in the dark ages and will eventually lead to a further erosion of the public trust. There have been wonderful advances in restorative and implant dentistry in the last 5 years alone but precious few dentists have a comittment to improving their skills to give their patients the advantages of these advances. My firm belief is just the opposite- as a dental professional charged with care of your patients dental health and wellbeing you have no choice but to advance with the modern techniques and knowledge. Another pet pieve is the total lack of peer review, quality control and outcome based treatment results and measures in private care dentistry. Sir, I would like to know name and address of insurance companies that cover dental implant treatments.