[TheLabGuy]

Travis-You don't want the insurance company paying the lab fees, that would be like our Imperial federal government telling us what we can and can't do (charge). Dentists' have a nightmare of a time getting their money from the insurance companies as it is, now just imagine all the labs on top of that. Their would be some postal laboratory owners out there in no time flat.

Mike-That's touchy ground that I deal with everyday. Fixed and some Removable has to deal with patients coming to the lab for custom shades (average about 3 a day), custom stains (average 1 a day), and to drop off partials/dentures. You gotta be real careful what you say to patients. For instance, I'll share a nightmare on elm street with you all. I got a Dentist sued by his patient because of what I said to the patient during a custom stain (I know, I know, not one of my smoothest moves). The patient came in to have some flourosis added to the incisal of her bridge (easy enough I said to myself). While chitter chatting with the patient, she was rambling on about how she couldn't understand why the Dentist cut her two good teeth down adjacent where she had a space (pontic from a previous extraction). Not paying attention to her or getting side tracked at what I was doing I non-chalantly said if it was my mouth I would of I got an implant. Then we checked the stained bridge and I didn't give it a second thought about what I had said and she didn't question me about it, she was happy with the color and out the door, enough said. Little did I know, she went home and jumped on the internet and looked up what a "implant" was and the next morning called her Lawyer, by afternoon the Dentist was getting a summons for court. I talk to patients like they're rats, will rat you out to the first trial lawyer around, it's sad I know, but after that nightmare, I don't take the chances. However, if one of them asks who is a good Dentist, I don't mind telling them who I go see to have work done, or my family for that matter.

P.S. The Dentist still sends all his work to me and patients. Doctor was surprised that I had the cohano's (integrity) to admit to him that I said that to a patient and after apologizing up and down for such a amateurish mistake, he forgave me as well.