Excerpts From "The American Way of Dentistry" by June Thomas

June Thomas from slate.com has been writing a multi-part article titled "The American Way of Dentistry".

Here is an excerpt:

Part II: The Disappearing Dentist (9/28/09)

• As the US population is increasing, less people are becoming dentist.
  • Dental schools are closing because of the extremely high cost of training dentist.
  • More and more dentists are becoming specialist
  • More dentist are working less (which helps control overhead)
• Because of supply and demand, the cost of dentistry is going up.

I'm not so sure about this and would like to know where she got her facts.

Here is another excerpt:

Part IV: How Dentists Think (9/30/09)

• 80%-85% of American dentists practice as owner-operators, as compared with only about 20 percent of physicians.
• Unlike medicine, dentist must bear the full cost of the patient care such as:
  • Equipment, supplies, utilities, x-ray machines, several kinds of insurance, rent, equipment loans, and the biggest expense…salaries of a large staff (appointment maker, billing person, dental assistants, hygienist, office manager,…).
• Most dental offices are only open 4 days a week.
  • This helps control staffing costs.
• Many people are afraid of the dentist.
  • Approximately 45 million people in the US are nervous or terrified of the dentist.
  • 23 million people avoid dental care because of fear.
  • Improvements in dental technology has taken a lot of the pain out of dentistry.
• Dentists are a trusted profession.
  • 2003 poll showed that 61% of people rated honesty and ethical standards of dentists as “high” or “very high”.
    • Only nurses, physicians, vets, and pharmacist ranked higher.
• Dental health in America has improved, but Americans’ satisfaction with their teeth has declined.
  • This has helped bring on the increase in cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers.

Look at item 5 above, don't suspect all those numbers are quickly on the rise?

Note item 6 above. They need to take that poll again!! With all the children who have grown up in the age of dental mills I bet that rate has dropped. If it hasn't dropped it certainly will in the near future.

FORBA ads on Craig's list

FORBA has ads for Dentists flooding Craig's list and looking for recruits in just about every state and are will to pay your 'relocation' fees. Most of the ads want canidates to contact Jacob (Jake) Kochenberg. I believe daddy DeRose's (Eddie) daughter is married to Jake's brother. Keeping it "All In The Family" ya know.. I really need to put a little time into the 'family tree'.

Here is an ad for Dentists:


I see the phone number to call in interested is at the Pueblo Office.

Funny how New FORBA, who is suing Old FORBA, is allowing the Colorado office (Old FORBA) continue run the show, do the hiring etc. Maybe New FORBA is just the venue for capital after all.

You would think if there was this horrible breach of contract between New FORBA and Old FORBA as is alleged in the complaint, New FORBA would still allowing Old FORBA to control things. New FORBA says they own all the clinics, and Old FORBA just provided the management of the practice. In fact the idea that New FORBA is still allowing Old FORBA to run things tells me that New FORBA must like the way Old FORBA is doing things. Oh, wait! Maybe, just maybe it's not Old FORBA still running things. Maybe it's EEHC, LLC, who amazingly has the exact same employees as Old FORBA.

Here is another ad and I see their starting pay has dropped $20k.

A New New York Reader

I get visitors to this blog from all over the world. Some are regulars and some are one time visitors. But I've seen a visitor from Ithaca, New York here a whole heck of a lot lately, and they are spending quite a bit of time. Anyone know who is in Ithaca, New York

Corporate Dentistry Pitfall number 101–Floating dentist filling in where needed.

Hi,

I was working with a chain practice for a year right after I graduated.  In this type of practice, the management asks of their employee to cover another office in another location, if the dentist at this location has a day off. I was asked to cover one such office. That means, I would be seeing new patients to determined treatment.

I saw this patient in May07. I inserted a PFM on #3 ( the tooth was endodontically treated. The crown prep was not done by me. I inserted the crown after I took  a BW x-ray and checking for occlusion and contacts. (Unfortunately, I forgot to document in her chart)

Now I no longer work  for the company. I received a letter from the board stating that this patient has a complaint against me. In march 08, this patient complained that #3 has been hurting. The treating dentist examined her and determined that nothing was wrong and adjusted the occlusion.

She still complained of pain.

She was told that it was her wisdom teeth that were the reason of her pain, so she got her wisdom teeth extracted. #3 was asymptomatic each time it was been examined, patient stating that pain was a "5 out of 10".  

In the meantime, she saw another dentist who said that the crown was big. Again the dentist got #3 out of occlusion totally,. Patient still complained of pain..............

Now the case is with the board.

I have no clue what would happen. How  should I proceed. I am very very scared as they could take any action.

There were different providers involved here.

The one who did the prep quit (management told me he was on vacation....but had actually quit).

Also the patient saw a different provider next time she came in to the center (after 10 months) who checked her crown and found nothing wrong). Then after she had her wisdom teeth out with an OS, she saw a different provider the next visit (this provider saw her at all her subsequent visits)

This provider recommended other options (re treat endo etc) but he told her nothing wrong with the crown.

She went to another local dentist, who told her that crown was not good. This is when she complained to board.

I got a letter last year and they asked me what had happened. I wrote the letter myself ...did not contact malpractice. I told them hat had happened during that brief half an hour appt. I did not hear from them until nearly after a year and now they tell me that case is with the board. I do not know what to expect.

Any advice would be helpful

Please help,

Scared out of mind new grad dentist

 

update:

How it ended -

After being advised to contact his malpractice insurance carrier and gathering all the information and documentation he could, which was NOT easy!  His attorney fees in this were astronomical just trying to obtain the patients treatment documentation.

He ended up getting nailed by the dental board.  A black mark on his record remains.

Missouri Hit With Disgraced Dental Chain; Small Smiles?

Is it possible Small Smiles has moved to Missouri?  No, not  according to Jeslyn Schillinger, who says the West Edgewood Small Smiles dental center in Jefferson City is not affiliated with FORBA/Small Smiles in any way.  That's good to hear.  She says it's a great place and Dr. Marchack is great with children.  I'll let her tell you:


Here is her email:

I was absolutely shocked and mortified to read the Feb. 16th article on your site. I have been taking my children to this clinic since about that time and have always had great experiences. The staff is friendly and comforting with all of the children I've seen on each of our five visits to date.
I was appalled to see our dentist's name and practice dragged through the mud with no apparent investigation. After my own investigation, I have found that Small Smiles at West Edgewood Dental has absolutely NO affiliation with the Small Smiles/FORBA in other states. Small Smiles in Jefferson City, MO, is a private practice where Dr. Marchack treats each child and parent with the utmost respect. On each visit, we have been welcomed to accompany our children in the exam rooms and have been with them through the entire visit.
During a routine sealant visit, one of my children began telling the Doctor about his toothache, Dr. Marchack looked at it and scheduled him to come back at the end of the day to have the tooth filled and another capped. (We had already been through the antibiotic regiment as a precaution prior to the visit.) I was moved to tears that there our children's dentist would volunteer to stay late on a Friday afternoon just so my child wouldn't have a toothache for another three weeks, until his next scheduled appointment.
I have recommended this clinic to every parent I know, as I am sure you would if you ever went there with your children.   I appreciate the magnitude of the allegations regarding the other Small Smiles/FORBA clinics, but some true investigation should be made before you publicly slander another clinic and doctors for merely having a similar name.

 I would suggest whoever owns this clinic change its name ASAP.  The name Small Smiles and Dental is only going to get worse.

One thing for sure, FORBA is registered to do business in Missouri.  The actual name of the clinic is West Edgewood Dental Small Smiles.  It used to be named West Edgewood Dental Group.  

Over at the Missouri Department for Health and Senior Services showing Cole County it clearly refers to this clinic as 'Small Smiles".  Checking the SOS site, it appears the dentist may have been there for a while, so its highly likely this Small Smiles is NOT affiliated with FORBA.

Here is an ad:

http://www.merchantcircle.com/business/West.Edgewood.Dental.Small.Smiles.573-638-3897

West Edgewood Dental Small Smiles

www.smallsmilesjeffcity.com

3306 Emerald Lane
Jefferson City, MO 65109-6877
(573) 638-3897
Get directions
.

I searched for all dentists in Cole County and 5 popped up. I looked at their names and immediately they appear just like so many of FORBA Small Smiles dentists. 

Here they are:

SIVARAMAN, SUJATHA S., DDS

MARCHACK, CORBIN M., DDS

GANZ, JOSEPH R., DDS

Over at dexknows.com it give another address for West Edgewood Dental Small Smiles, but the phone numbers are the same.

West Edgewood Dental Small Smiles

(573)638-3897

Jefferson City, MO 65109

Here is even another phone number (660) 638-3897 I found here. Both area codes are Missouri codes.

Park West Dental; Padula ring any bells?!

Will this never end. Is this horrible family and their offspring going to spread their deceit, fraud and mistreatment of children for ever more. We are now into the 3rd generation with no end in sight. Dr. Ed DeRose and his wife, Neta's neice, Juliann and her husband are now dipping her hand in the medicaid pan.

There's a new DeRose related dental office opening in Pueblo, and yes, they take Medicaid. Awe, hell you follow the links and check it out, I've got a headache! Don't forget the Secretary of State site to search for the corporation papers, and check out the property and who owns it. And note in all your looking around, you'll see N. Grand Street, Pueblo, Colorado! Let me save you a bit of trouble. Click here, and as we are so accustom to finding, Dan DeRose's name it's associated with 409 N. Grand Pueblo, Colorado!! No big surprise there! Oh, there is another company on the horizon...I'll talk about it later. I have come to loath these people, every last one of them.

Park West Dental

John Millea D.D.S, Juliann Padula Millea D.D.S.

parkwestdentaloffice.com

3470 parker Blvd
Pueblo, CO 81003
(719) 543-4022

Here, they will introduce themselves.

Just how damn many generations of DeRose and Padula's are citizens going to have to suffer through. Will one of you PLEASE get fixed and stop procreating!!!

Have any of you thought about a new line of work, honestly you're wearing this dentist thing out! Have you ever thought about Park Ranger or something???

Ear, Nose and Throat; But Not Your Eyes or Teeth

I'm looking for an answer as to why a person's mouth, specifically their teeth and a person's eyes are treated more like your car than part of your body. So much so, that separate insurance is needed to cover the needed treatment.

I understand the need for specialist in those areas of the body, but I consider the care and treatment delivered to the teeth and the eyes to be no more or less important than to a person's finger, knee or ear.

Speaking of ear, many times it is difficult to determine an earache from a toothache. I'm sure this has happened to many here. At what point in medical history did this separation take place, and why?

Find Dentists Who Accept Medicaid In Your State At Insure Kids Now Website

Finally there is a .gov website that I personally find useful. I'm sure many parents can as well.

It's called Insure Kids Now (insurkidsnow.gov). Wonderfully designed to find SCHIP health or dental providers for children. You can find providers, again, be it health or dental, in all states. It's searchable by your address, by your plan, provider and more.

It's super easy to navigate and extremely user friendly.

If you happen to be searching for a dental provider for instance NOT associated with FORBA's Small Smiles Clinics, then search for a provider and check the name of the dentist against the address of any of these places in your area; Small Smiles, Children's Medicaid Dental, Oklahoma Smiles, Indian Springs Dental, or Wild Smiles

You can also check the address of Kool Smiles, Ocean Dental or Adventure Dental and Vision.

I think parents will find there are several dental providers in their area who will accept Medicaid without resorting to taking your child to a so called 'dental mill'.

Heartland Dental Invades Nevada and Kansas

Heartland Dental invades Kansas and Nevada. Kansas isn't paying attention to who it lets practice dentistry I see. Corporate dentistry is spread like the swine flu these days. The places do NOT deliver the care and treatment you are used to receiving from you local family dentist. Please stay away from them and do your homework before making that appointment. A simple google search for complaints will do the trick.

Here is the latest breaking news Heartland has put out. Take it as a warning.

From HealthNewsDigest.com
Dental
Heartland Dental Care, Inc. Continued Its Growth in 2009 Adding 32 Dental Practices
By
Jan 14, 2010 - 5:59:38 PM

(HealthNewsDigest.com) - EFFINGHAM, Ill., -- Heartland Dental Care, Inc. brought its total number of practices to 253 in 2009 with the acquisition of 27 established practices and the creation of five de novos.

Several of these practices expanded Heartland's presence into two new states -- Nevada and Kansas - increasing the Company's footprint to 14 states.

"We are glad to welcome these practices and team members into the Heartland Dental Care family," said Rick Workman, DMD, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Heartland Dental Care, Inc. "These acquisitions and new practices strengthen our commitment to provide quality dental care in hometowns all across the United States."

"At the beginning of 2009 we set out to add 25 practices, and that's just what we've done," Workman said. "Plus these practices have brought substantial value to our company especially through the innovative ideas of their team members."

Besides a healthy and managed growth in 2009, the Company also experienced several other major accomplishments:

-- Increase in Same Store Sales over 2008
-- Addition of 96 dentists and an overall reduction in team turnover
-- Expansion of education and clinical training programs into regional
settings
-- Integration of digital x-ray technology and other cutting edge tools
and techniques
-- Substantial cost savings on supplies and laboratory fees
-- Implementation of Patient Satisfaction Surveys

"Everything we do works toward our goal to be a world class company and the leader in dentistry," said Patrick C. Bauer, President and Chief Operations Officer of Heartland Dental Care, Inc. "We will continue to work toward this goal in 2010. We will further this vision by helping our doctors and practices be the best they can be. Whether it's through advanced clinical education or simple communication skills - it's all about giving our patients personal attention and professional excellence."

About Heartland Dental Care

Heartland Dental Care, Inc. is one of the leading dental practice management groups in the United States with more than 250 dental practices located within 14 states. Based in Effingham, Ill., Heartland provides its dentists and team members with continuing professional education and leadership training along with a variety of management services which include staffing, human relations, purchasing, administration, financial, marketing and information technology support. For more information, visit www.HeartlandDentalCare.com.

From Hartford, CT to Sante Fe, NM-FORBA looking for dentists to work in their Small Smiles clinics

Appears Jenna Kochenberger is on the prowl for dentists as well. Here is an ad from Indeed.com
Jenna and Jacob Kochenberger from Pueblo, CO are hubby and wife. Wonder if they get paid by the 'head'? Wonder what kind of Dentist's their looking for, 'lead' dentists, 'associate' dentists, or dentists who will lend them their licenses and so FORBA can call them 'owner' dentists. Like Dr. Jodi Kuhn. I think her name is on the individual clinic LLC state filings in Ohio and Kentucky. Problem is Kentucky statues say a dentist can only 'own' three clinics and I do believe they have to actually practice in those clinics. Wonder how Jodi does that?

Here's the current ad:

SEEKING DENTISTS in our rewarding work environment nationwide.

Positions currently available in:

Hartford, CT
Syracuse, NY
Worcester, MA
Manchester, NH
Cincinnati, OH
Youngstown, OH
Florence, SC
Dothan, AL
Montgomery, AL
Beaumont, TX
Oklahoma City, OK
Omaha, NE
Greeley, CO
Santa Fe, NM

Offering an excellent guaranteed base salary, promotion opportunities and benefits (including monthly bonus potential, 401(k) retirement with company match, paid vacation & holidays and 100% coverage for health insurance, malpractice insurance, disability insurance, continuing education, dues and fees). Relocation reimbursement offered and licensing assistance provided.

Join our team of professionals providing quality dental care. General Dentists, Pediatric Dentists and new grads are encouraged to apply.

Please call Jenna direct at 719-562-4462 or fax 719-584-7696
or email jlkochenberger@forba.com
or visit www.forba.com

DDS or DMD

EOE

jlkochenberger@forba.com