The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
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Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#2This article got me thinking about a trip to the dentist I had a few years ago. From when I was 5-18 years old I had the same dentist and between ages 13-18 I had a really impeccable record when it came to not having cavities.
Then, when I came back from my first semester of college I had to switch from my old dentist (who specialized in children/teenagers) to a new one.
On my first visit, he identified something like 3 cavities, which was pretty shocking to me. Before I just assumed that the x-rays were easy to interpret so the dentist is 'always right' ... but after hearing about this 50% figure it makes me wonder.
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#3Areas like this (essentially, a complex combination of psychology combined with differing motivations along with a little information disparity for good measure) could be an interesting opening for a startup.
If you could get over the admittedly uncomfortable social dynamic of implying a lack of competence in your dentist, you could ask them to send your Xrays over to "2ndopinion.com" where trained and certified dentists would give a second opinion. You might pay $80 for the privilege, and for that price maybe 2 dentists would review it.
Anyways, you get the idea. I love disruption around information disparities.
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#4This article got me thinking about a trip to the dentist I had a few years ago. From when I was 5-18 years old I had the same dentist and between ages 13-18 I had a really impeccable record when it came to not having cavities. Then, when I came back from my first semester of college I had to switch from my old dentist (who specialized in children/teenagers) to a new one. On my first visit, he identified something lik…
When I changed dentist after University the new dentist made an official complaint about the standard of work of the previous one (who I had been with since an early age).
For a while my mouth was effectively "Exhibit A" in some kind of professional complaints process.
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#5Reading this while sitting in a chair waiting for four cavities to be filled might not have been the smartest move.
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#6I have no problem shopping around dentists, and have even checked my new dentist's professional opinion with my old dentist who I trust completely (I moved overseas). I studied how dentists work with their computers for my PhD using participatory design so learnt the basics of dentist practice, and from my studies at a dental school, got to learn what good and bad dentistry are, so I'm definitely not the norm.
It is interesting how devoted most people are to their dentists. I was referred to a dentist who was TERRIBLE. Really really bad. And the person who referred me had referred a whole bunch of people who all went there (which is why I trusted the referral). I never went back, and started asking other people what they thought - everyone had doubts about his skills, but still went. This article is an interesting way of explaining why they kept going regardless of the terrible experience and lack of competence.
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#7This stockholm syndrome is annoyingly hard to avoid. I've known about it, but I can recall many similar occasions after reading this article.
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#8I have no problem shopping around dentists, and have even checked my new dentist's professional opinion with my old dentist who I trust completely (I moved overseas). I studied how dentists work with their computers for my PhD using participatory design so learnt the basics of dentist practice, and from my studies at a dental school, got to learn what good and bad dentistry are, so I'm definitely not the norm. It is…
Where do you live and who is your dentist!
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#9I have no problem shopping around dentists, and have even checked my new dentist's professional opinion with my old dentist who I trust completely (I moved overseas). I studied how dentists work with their computers for my PhD using participatory design so learnt the basics of dentist practice, and from my studies at a dental school, got to learn what good and bad dentistry are, so I'm definitely not the norm. It is…
Do you have any pointers on what to avoid?
Re: The 'Irrational' Way Humans Interact With Dentists
#10I would have thought the main reason for changing dentist is when moving to another area.
Cognitive dissonance? Cognitive cacophony.