Two dentists want to see the end of heavy student debt loads and dental insurance benefits.
Zan Beaver, DMD, and Michael Perpich, DDS, recently spoke with Becker's about the trends they would like to see end in the dental industry.
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for length and clarity.
Question: What is one trend you would like to see end in dentistry?
Zan Beaver, DMD. Beaver Dental Care (Jacksonville, Fla.): I would like to see an end to the toxic amount of debt new graduates carry from dental school. Well planned and executed career paths are nearly impossible to attain with this atrocious burden. I am 25 years into my career now and would not choose this path if I knew I would graduate without the freedom to choose how I would practice due to crushing amounts of debt.
Michael Perpich, DDS. Northland Smiles (Deerwood and Little Falls, Minn.): I wish we could change patients' perspectives on their dental benefits. They do not have dental insurance but a fixed amount that hasn't changed in 35 years. You go to the emergency room and the physician fixes what needs to be done. They do not have to pick out one thing to fix for $1,000.