Why are dental fees so high?
When compared to other medical fees, dental fees are actually low. In fact, unlike most medical costs, dental fees have not kept pace with inflation. As with all other businesses, dental offices are faced with increasing costs of utilities, rent, maintenance, insurance, taxes and, of course, payroll. But unlike many other business owners, dentists must also pay the high costs of owning and maintaining an elaborate array of dental equipment. A physician’s examining room may contain a table, stool, scale and basic instruments for examining the ears and throat. By contrast, each dental operatory (and a practice may have several of these) may be filled with an electronically controlled chair, computer, examining lights, air abrasion unit, digital x-ray system, curing systems, instruments, supplies, sterilization systems, patient education systems and more. And dentists and their staff continuously educate themselves on advances in dental techniques and materials.
