I'm kinda a lurker, coming out of lurking for a bit. My parents live in a
TINY town (more cows than people) and about half the town sees the local
dentist, the other half thinks he's a quack. His dentistry may be
marginal, but I think it has more to do with his VERY controversial (and
sometimes offensive) political opinions, that he forces upon everyone in
his chair.

On Feb 8, 12:06 pm, JimSocal <jimso...@hottmail.com> wrote:
I use rating sites for many things, and I wish there was a ratings
site for dentists and doctors and chiropractors, etc.. I've even
thought of starting one for doctors and dentists, and HMO's, dental
plans, etc..

There are always negative reviews, because it's true that people with
problems are more motivated to write a review. However there are many
people who like to write, and will write positive reviews as well.

One can sort through it all and realize that everything is going to
have negative reviews; you just have to sort through and separate it
out, realizing that some people have bad experiences that does not
mean the service or product is bad, especially if it has some positive
reviews as well.

It's like software reviews: When reading reviews of software, you
ALWAYS find a percentage - maybe 10% or more - who say "This software
totally screwed up my computer!" But when you see that 80-90%
installed it without it screwing up their computer, you realize it's
probably safe to buy it, if it otherwise seems to have good reviews. I
have found reading software reviews to be very useful, regardless of
this dynamic of people bitching because they had a problem with
something.

I think a review site for dentists and doctors would be the same. You
would tend to get a lot of negatives because those are the people who
are most motivated to bitch about their bad experience. However, you
would ultimately get a balanced amount of reviews, as more people used
the site to search for a dentist or doctor in their new area, for
example. If the dentist or doctor put up a sign or gave out a card
that said "If you had a positive experience with me, please take a few
minutes to report it atwww.doctorreviews.info", for example, I think
once the site got a lot of reviews, they would balance out to really
indicate whether or not the doctor was good or not.

As one who reads a lot of reviews on products, I think it would
balance out, and only the bad dentists would get slammed. The fact is,
there ARE a lot of bad dentists and doctors. Probably no more than
other professions, it's just that these bad service providers have
more of a negative impact on your life.

I wish I could have had reviews on some of the dentists I've gone to,
who've totally screwed up and caused my wife and I problems. It turns
out, for example, I talked to 2 other people after the fact, who had
bad experiences with one of these same dentists.

I agree. Percentage is most likely to disclose thing. Patients give
bad reviews because they are irritated and want to warn others the bad
services. I think it may be useful for others to find a safe office
to have teeth fixed, if not a best one.

I never expect my dentist is among the top ones in the area. I just
need a dentist who will not give my life a negative impact.

I'm kinda a lurker, coming out of lurking for a bit. My parents live in a
TINY town (more cows than people) and about half the town sees the local
dentist, the other half thinks he's a quack. His dentistry may be
marginal, but I think it has more to do with his VERY controversial (and
sometimes offensive) political opinions, that he forces upon everyone in
his chair.


Unless the patient asks and really presses you, there are two things you
should not discuss as a dentist: politics and religion. Not everyone could
possibly agree with your opinion, so you'll just make some people upset.
Why would you want someone to leave your office upset? Makes no sense to
me. Just my opinion.

J Suljak DDS

John & Ninetta wrote:
I'm kinda a lurker, coming out of lurking for a bit. My parents live in a
TINY town (more cows than people) and about half the town sees the local
dentist, the other half thinks he's a quack. His dentistry may be
marginal, but I think it has more to do with his VERY controversial (and
sometimes offensive) political opinions, that he forces upon everyone in
his chair.


Unless the patient asks and really presses you, there are two things you
should not discuss as a dentist: politics and religion. Not everyone could
possibly agree with your opinion, so you'll just make some people upset.
Why would you want someone to leave your office upset? Makes no sense to
me. Just my opinion.

J Suljak DDS



Just so you know it goes both ways--I have this old guy in his 80's--a
radical LaRouchie--always plying me with libertarian screeds. I
tolerate it, though (besides my distaste for his politics) it really
takes up time. And yes, I've tried to shut him up...


Steve

Just so you know it goes both ways--I have this old guy in his
80's--a radical LaRouchie--always plying me with libertarian screeds. I
tolerate it, though (besides my distaste for his politics) it really
takes up time. And yes, I've tried to shut him up...


Steve

Assistants need to be trained on placing a rubber dam...maybe even
for a prophy.

Steve

Just so you know it goes both ways--I have this old guy in his
80's--a radical LaRouchie--always plying me with libertarian screeds.
I tolerate it, though (besides my distaste for his politics) it really
takes up time. And yes, I've tried to shut him up...


Steve

Steven Fawks wrote:
Assistants need to be trained on placing a rubber dam...maybe even
for a prophy.


This might call for more drastic measures:

http://www.himonkey.net/costumes/jellyfish.jpg

Steve


;-)
Steve

Just so you know it goes both ways--I have this old guy in his
80's--a radical LaRouchie--always plying me with libertarian screeds.
I tolerate it, though (besides my distaste for his politics) it really
takes up time. And yes, I've tried to shut him up...


Steve

That is the ugliest Vermont Teddy Bear I have ever seen ! ;0)

Where do you find this stuff.

On Fri, 09 Feb 2007 16:54:57 GMT, Steven Bornfeld <dentaltwinmung@earthlink.net> wrote:

Steven Fawks wrote:
Assistants need to be trained on placing a rubber dam...maybe even
for a prophy.

This might call for more drastic measures:

http://www.himonkey.net/costumes/jellyfish.jpg

Steve

;-)
Steve

Just so you know it goes both ways--I have this old guy in his
80's--a radical LaRouchie--always plying me with libertarian screeds.
I tolerate it, though (besides my distaste for his politics) it really
takes up time. And yes, I've tried to shut him up...


Steve

kingdowde...@yahoo.com wrote:
On Feb 8, 12:06 pm, JimSocal <jimso...@hottmail.com> wrote:
I use rating sites for many things, and I wish there was a ratings
site for dentists and doctors and chiropractors, etc.. I've even
thought of starting one for doctors and dentists, and HMO's, dental
plans, etc..

There are always negative reviews, because it's true that people with
problems are more motivated to write a review. However there are many
people who like to write, and will write positive reviews as well.

One can sort through it all and realize that everything is going to
have negative reviews; you just have to sort through and separate it
out, realizing that some people have bad experiences that does not
mean the service or product is bad, especially if it has some positive
reviews as well.

It's like software reviews: When reading reviews of software, you
ALWAYS find a percentage - maybe 10% or more - who say "This software
totally screwed up my computer!" But when you see that 80-90%
installed it without it screwing up their computer, you realize it's
probably safe to buy it, if it otherwise seems to have good reviews. I
have found reading software reviews to be very useful, regardless of
this dynamic of people bitching because they had a problem with
something.

I think a review site for dentists and doctors would be the same. You
would tend to get a lot of negatives because those are the people who
are most motivated to bitch about their bad experience. However, you
would ultimately get a balanced amount of reviews, as more people used
the site to search for a dentist or doctor in their new area, for
example. If the dentist or doctor put up a sign or gave out a card
that said "If you had a positive experience with me, please take a few
minutes to report it atwww.doctorreviews.info", for example, I think
once the site got a lot of reviews, they would balance out to really
indicate whether or not the doctor was good or not.

As one who reads a lot of reviews on products, I think it would
balance out, and only the bad dentists would get slammed. The fact is,
there ARE a lot of bad dentists and doctors. Probably no more than
other professions, it's just that these bad service providers have
more of a negative impact on your life.

I wish I could have had reviews on some of the dentists I've gone to,
who've totally screwed up and caused my wife and I problems. It turns
out, for example, I talked to 2 other people after the fact, who had
bad experiences with one of these same dentists.

I agree. Percentage is most likely to disclose thing. Patients give
bad reviews because they are irritated and want to warn others the bad
services. I think it may be useful for others to find a safe office
to have teeth fixed, if not a best one.

I never expect my dentist is among the top ones in the area. I just
need a dentist who will not give my life a negative impact.

I hope your expectations can be at least a little bit better than that! ;-)

Steve

Are you guys all from NY? Can anyone recommend a dentist in Los
Angeles area?

Are you guys all from NY? Can anyone recommend a dentist in Los
Angeles area?