When news came through that there would be a comparison website for private dentistry launched I have to admit I was uncomfortable with the idea. Is this just because I know how I use a comparison site for my car insurance (unashamedly going for the cheapest option) and don’t think that dentistry can or should be considered in the same way. I don’t like the idea that a dental patient chooses where to get treatment purely based on price. But if we are getting idealistic then I don’t like the idea that some people don’t value or look after their oral health, just as I don’t like the fact
some dental work is beyond the financial means of many patients. Life isn’t ideal!
So is the opinion on the uniqueness of the dental market valid? Are patients still just patients or are they now customers? As dentistry has evolved to become more concerned with oral health management and prevention than invasive treatment or extraction perhaps the lines have become a little blurred. What about those who want tooth whitening? Do visitors to your practice see themselves as patients awaiting treatment or just customers paying for a service?
As with most interesting topics there are more questions than answers. For me the important issue is whether patient safety will be affected. Do we assume private patients will automatically go for the cheapest option, and can dentists be trusted to work professionally within their competency? I would be a little worried if the answer to either question is no. If the answer is yes to both then does a comparison site really do anything more than save time for someone who wants to shop around? It is an interesting subject and is discussed in this issue by the following two articles. Firstly we have Michael Sultan, a private endodontist, questioning the benefits of comparison sites to dentistry, and then Claire Hermolle
from CompareMySmile puts forward a defence. So what do you think? Are dental comparison sites welcome? Are they here to stay? What safeguards would you like to see in place? As always we welcome your opinion on the subject – email your views to emackenzie@georgewarman.co.uk