Dentist Throws Down Gauntlet

I received a letter in the mail yesterday from Robert L. Martinich, a dentist whose practice is close to my house. I almost never throw a letter away—even if it's junk mail—without giving it a quick scan.

I started reading Dr. Martinich's letter and was thrilled with what he'd written. I quote it here for your benefit.

I am honest and fair to all of my patients and to all people I meet. This means I do not participate in any insurance schemes that deny you a choice in oral medicine. I do not participate in any HMOs, DMOs, or PPOs, nor am I part of any group dental management corporation. I am an independent general dentist who manages his own practice and provides the best quality of care possible to all patients at the same fee, regardless of what insurance program the patient has.

Most, if not all, dental practices that participate in an HMO, DMO, or PPO have different fees for different patients. In these practices the quality of care you receive can vary depending on your insurance; and if you have regular "endemnity" type of insurance, or no insurance, you are probably charged a higher fee to support or subsidize these other patients in the practice. I morally can not and will not do this.

Bravo Dr. Martinich! If we had more doctors and dentists like him, our health care system would be in far better shape. Read about Dr. Martinich.

Comments

[Dentist Fremont]

I couldn't agree more with you. It's good to know that there are dentists like him who are transparent and practices good dentistry.

[Dental Moreno Valley]

Wow, I admire this dentist. It's nice of him to be honest to all his patients. Now that's good ethics.

[Dental health]

Dentistry is widely considered necessary for complete overall health and really astonishing to see such type of dentists.Even a Highly skilled and specialized dentists are more money minded... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds8xyK-r65M Let he continue this professional ethics throu'out..Good Luck!

[Dentist Seattle]

Cheers to all dentist. :) Thumbs up for him.

[Kristen Marlin]

Kudos to Dr. Martinich! You've shown impeccable class and practice. Humility and care is a rarity nowadays, I'm glad to see that it isn't scarce in you and your practice. More power!

[Sally Johnson]

This sounds like a top notch dentist. If only all of general dentistry was like this. I wonder how many other dentists are like this?