The Art of Dentistry: Why Your Health is not a Commodity

Dental art dates back as far as general medicine to the times of the ancient Egyptians. One of the first medical representatives was Hippocrates, and to this day, he is known as the “father of medicine.” Heck, even now, all doctors take the Hippocratic Oath, which starts with “first do no harm.”

As medical practitioners, it is our job to look out for and take care of the patients who come to us. A dentist can make a difference in more than just your mouth. The mouth is a gateway to the body, and your overall health should be the goal whether you are dentally healthy and need wellness advice or have a whole mess going on and need a complete reset. It is our job to improve your oral health and, as a result, your general health and well being.

Our responsibility is to YOU, the patient, not your insurance company, or to other industries who may affect your health and even profit from your failure.

A commodity is a raw good such as wheat. The market dictates what it costs with supply and demand. You can price shop as the quality should be similar when comparing apples to apples or organic apples to organic apples.

I do not recommend this approach for your health. Though all dentists go to school, there is only so much that they learn there. There are thousands of hours of continuing education and training as well as ever-changing technique, technology, and evidence. The learning never ends and thus not all doctors or dentists are created equal.

Any dentist or doctor can do a one-minute exam, do some diagnostic tests (x-rays etc.), tell you what they quickly saw, and then bill your insurance and run to the next patient. However, if you are reading this, I assume you are looking for something else.

Health and wellness is a long-term investment and a team project. Dentists must sit down, spend time, and listen to the patient; only then will they be able to guide them through their goals. We, in turn, need your communication, participation, and contribution. But, most importantly, we need your commitment. It is a journey together, and your needs are the priority.