prices to public

[kcdt]

What about when the patient comes to you and you refer them to a doc you know? Who's patient is that? What about when you're doing work for a family member? What about when you're doing no prep veneers for your wife?

If I recommend my cardiologist to a friend, they are NOT my patient. I am NOT perfoming open heart surgery. Your analogy doesn't hold water.

 

[Gdentallab]

What about when the patient comes to you and you refer them to a doc you know? Who's patient is that? What about when you're doing work for a family member? What about when you're doing no prep veneers for your wife?

you REFER them to a dentist , they don't become your patients , nor your customers.
For a family member , they are still the dentist 's patients , with a better discount on the bill.

 

[AJEL]

Somehow we seem to try to take responsibility for others, I don't take impressions so why is it my responsibility the prosthetic that fits the model doesn't fit the patient. If I refer someone to a DDS why would I have any responsibility for the work that "professional" does, I don't get paid as a salesperson to recruit patients and I don't take impressions or work in the DDS office. We have enough challenges we need to keep our minds focused where our lives & goals are.
Now if Alistar in that strange state of MN is getting a kickback from the few DDS in his state then maybe he is responsible for making the referal, but with the DDS situation I have heard about in MN they don't need recuiters, just more DDS expecially in the boundry waters. As for doing something for a family member that is just plagued with problems.

 

[Tom Moore]

If you think the patient is your patient try this. Call that patient and talk with them about the treatment you and the dentist are doing but don't tell the dentist first. You will find out your place in the pecking order instantly.

 

[Alistar]

Knew i'd get this response. I'll just go read that stack of thank you's from patients, friends, and family for the restos I or my father has done(in partnership with the doc) for them.

We get no kick back, just the satisfaction of knowing I helped a friend out. And I've NEVER had a single issue with any of them.

What this industry needs is better relationships, communication, and standards. And all that other stuff Mark said.

 

[Tom Moore]

Partners??? one real partner can't fire the other and the one that pays me is not a partner. They are my customer.

This doesn't mean I don't want a great working relationship with my accounts just that my ego is strong enough that I don't need to flower up or feel the the need to try and reinvent who I am in the customer/vendor relationship.

In 41 plus years at this I have had my share of cards, home made cakes and cookies and tears of joy and hugs from my dentists patients but that does not mean I'm their partner.

What this industry needs is lab owners that run the lab like a business.

 

[rkm rdt]

What this industry needs is less people telling us what this industry needs.

in·dus·tryNoun/ˈindəstrē/1. Economic activity concerned with the processing of raw materials and manufacture of goods in factories.

 

[Tom Moore]

Then what are we doing here? Learning from our own mistakes is something almost anyone can do. Learning from the mistakes of others is a hard won ability with a long learning curve.

I'm not telling you its my way or it will not work. Just this is the way I do it and how I look at the industry. We both need to be able to use intellect to back our position on things and try hard to keep emotions to a minimum. Answers come from the friction of rubbing ideas together and anger comes form feeling the other guy is picking on you. I am not picking on you or anyone here. Well Mark maybe but that's how we have rolled for 20 plus years on lab forums.

I don't disagree with most of your outlook on this industry. I don't have all the answers...I don't even have all the questions.

Lets you and I start over. Hi my name is Tom and I have done well in the lab industry and I am not unhappy to be involved. I have never looked at myself as Tom the dental technician but Tom a guy who makes a living in the lab industry.

 

[Alistar]

Plenty of "business" type labs out there that don't give *blep*. I'm not one of them, and that's why I have 50+ hours of work a week in the worst economy in 30years. I'm sure there are some things we could do to "streamline" things here and there, but our product is better than 95% of what's being made and our service can't be touched.

I'm sure your a great business man Tom, but I'm just plain lab tech...so what do I know..

:edit: I'll tell you what I know, I know how to make a damn good dental resto, and do it to the best of my ability on every unit. It's what I'm passionate about, and love to do.

Nice to meet you Sir Tom, or should I call you grandpa? Just kidding, nice to meet you. And I appreciate your input.

 

[Tom Moore]

I don't mind being called Grandpa. I used to tell one of my employees that when I was in the lab business 25 years they where holding up three fingers and saying "I'm this many ", so learn it my way first and then you can show me better ways do this.

To every thing there is a season and when I was in my thirties I thought I could set the world on fire with one box of matches.

Be kind to yourself because there is a price to be paid for long hours and the stress of what we do.

Have a great weekend. I plan to turn out the office lights in a few and take advantage of some mid 80's and blue skies at the deer lease playing cards drinking a cold Shiner or two while eating venison fajitas.

 

[CatamountRob]

TOMS A DEER HUNTER, cool, post some pics in the hobbies and diversion section, there is a hunting pics thread or start your own. Now that I know you hunt, welcome!! Rob

 

[marvel]

When the patient goes for treatment and asks "I want the best teeth you can get" you'd expect the doc to inform the patient of the options available. ... In our industry it is the skills, service, backup support, knowledge, artistry etc that is the thing up for sale and not just the end-product. ... I do get miffed when I see poor or cheap labwork being sold off as Top-end stuff and the patient's ignorant to what's going on. Don't think there's a 'best' answer to this subject.

Imho you gave the best answer. I pay my Dr to plan my treatment and head the treatment team. I expect Dr to do GREAT crown preps and impressions for the lab, and to watch my back with everyone involved. What they wouldn't put in their own mouth I don't want em puttin' in mine.

 

[XxJamesAxX]

Come on let get over the fact that the patient is not our customer, they are our customers customer.

Wow, I can say this much the day I quit feeling like the patient is also my customer is the day I'll close my doors. I take more pride in my work then that, just making the dr. happy isn't enough for me. I guess my lab is still small enough I haven't lost sight of that yet.

I do understand both sides of this fence but ultimately the way I run my "business" is I try to work hand in hand with the dentist to make the best product for the patient. Thats just how I see it.

If you think the patient is your patient try this. Call that patient and talk with them about the treatment you and the dentist are doing but don't tell the dentist first. You will find out your place in the pecking order instantly.

Yea but how many times you go chairside and the dr. introduce you as the guy that sales dentures or crowns down on the corner? From my experience I've always been introduced as the lab tech. that works with the dr. to make the patient there appliance.

As I've already stated maybe I'm just foolish and stroking my ego but I hope I never lose sight that the patient is the ultimate customer and the product going in there mouth comes from ME.

 

[marvel]

Wow, I can say this much the day I quit feeling like the patient is also my customer is the day I'll close my doors....I've always been introduced as the lab tech. that works with the dr. to make the patient there appliance. ...

A+++++ answer. Makes sense the artist to fashion the teeth would meet the p/t in the flesh when possible, and what p/t wouldn't like it, too? P/t gives input on how they want their teeth, right?

Tell me, please, James, or anyone, if you would be so kind, how you might reassure a Dr who is afraid a p/t may be too outspoken to let you meet them...?

 

[marvel]

If you think the patient is your patient try this. Call that patient and talk with them about the treatment you and the dentist are doing but don't tell the dentist first. You will find out your place in the pecking order instantly.

Tom, it would throw the p/t for a loop only cuz they hired the Dr to head their treatment team, and the Dr hired the lab who to p/t is a stranger and p/t was not forewarned.

Personally this gal would be THRILLED to talk directly with the artist fashioning teeth which she will view every time she looks in the mirror and more important feel moment by moment with her sensitive tongue.

Now, Sir, I have a Q for you, please:

What might you say if a p/t phoned you without telling Dr and said they wanna work with you to find a way to make doc okay with you meeting them chairside, at least when it comes time for copings tryins? And ah pls dont tell Dr they called. :call:

 

[Tom Moore]

Tom, it would throw the p/t for a loop only CZ they hired the Dr to head their treatment team, and the Dr hired the lab who to p/t is a stranger and p/t was not forewarned.

Personally this gal would be THRILLED to talk directly with the artist fashioning teeth which she will view every time she looks in the mirror and more important feel moment by moment with her sensitive tongue.

Now, Sir, I have a Q for you, please:

What might you say if a p/t phoned you without telling Dr and said they wanna work with you to find a way to make doc okay with you meeting them chairside, at least when it comes time for copings tryins? And ah pls dont tell Dr they called. :call:

You answered the question in the first of your post. The patient hired the dentist to provide dental treatment and the dentist hired you to help them provide that treatment.

I have never said that we should lose site of the fact we are making a replacement part for another person. Like the fit, form and function of our products caring about the patient should go without saying or foster a need to sand on a stump and sing it to the world. This has nothing to do with the FACT the patient is the dentist customer and the dentist is ours.

I would tell the patient I do not have a license to practice dentistry and by law can't talk with you about your treatment without the dentists consent. You need to call the dentist and talk over your concerns because I know the doctor and he has your best interest at heart and we here at the lab feel the same.

I work in an industry not a profession but I can and should always act in a professional manner. There is nothing professional about inserting myself in the doctor patient relationship unless ask by the doctor.

 

[disturbed]

I would tell the patient I do not have a license to practice dentistry and by law can't talk with you about your treatment without the dentists consent. You need to call the dentist and talk over your concerns because I know the doctor and he has your best interest at heart and we here at the lab feel the same.

I work in an industry not a profession but I can and should always act in a professional manner. There is nothing professional about inserting myself in the doctor patient relationship unless ask by the doctor.

yea! and why should we blame Pfizer if we die from their viagra, we should sue the pharmacist right??........./facepalm

if the patient asks me a question I will ALWAYS give them an answer because I am the manufacturer and they have a right to know what's in their vigra! er body part...how it looks, functions, feels, smells,ect. but I probably would try to avoid the cost question....:bump2:

 

[kcdt]

A+++++ answer. Makes sense the artist to fashion the teeth would meet the p/t in the flesh when possible, and what p/t wouldn't like it, too? P/t gives input on how they want their teeth, right?

Tell me, please, James, or anyone, if you would be so kind, how you might reassure a Dr who is afraid a p/t may be too outspoken to let you meet them...?

Uhm..... as someone who's worked in house before, and still consults chairside, I can point to instances where the patient questioned TO MY FACE the Dr's abilities to perform the treatment BECAUSE I was there..... blanket generalizations are an easy way to step in the proverbial beartrap.

 

[kcdt]

yea! and why should we blame coca cola if we die from their soda, we should sue the owner of the coke machine right??........./facepalm

Ridiculous analogy. Methinks you're being argumentative for its own sake.

 

[disturbed]

Ridiculous analogy. Methinks you're being argumentative for its own sake.

yup,I don't give a s**t about the patient really, I'm jus' a simple slave merchant.