What is a Prosthodontist?
A prosthodontist is a dentist who has specialized in treating dental and facial problems that involve restoring missing tooth and jaw structures. It is the only dental specialty dedicated to esthetic, reconstructive, as well as implant dentistry. After completing four years of dental school, prosthodontists receive an additional three years of specialized training. Prosthodontists are specialized in providing the highest level of care in cosmetics, dental implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and temporomandibular disorders.
Did you know that some dentists perform reconstructive dental work after just a weekend course on a procedure? That may be okay, but you should know prosthodontists receive an extra three years of intense, formal training beyond regular dental school
If you are seeking cosmetic or reconstructive dental work, you should do research before making a decision in order to ensure that you receive the highest level of care. As ADA recognized specialists, prosthodontists are qualified to offer care in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques, such as:
- Dental implants
- Cosmetic dentistry
- Complex care management involving multiple specialists
- Complete and removable partial dentures
- Replacing lost teeth
- Special needs of geriatric patients
- Children born with cleft palate or missing teeth
- Temporomandibular joint syndrome/disorder
- Traumatic injuries
- Snoring and sleep disorders
- Maxillofacial prosthetic procedures such as oral cancer reconstruction and continuing care
Do you take insurance?
This is a tricky question which i hear nearly every week. The short answer is that i do not “participate” with dental insurance, but my office will bill and submit all the paperwork to your insurance company and they will reimburse you depending on your plan, the procedure being done, and your yearly maximum. For an explanation, please read on. A dental office has the option of “participating”with a dental insurance company. If they choose to do so they sign a contract saying they will charge set fees for certain procedures. The insurance company then agrees to pay a certain portion of those fees based on the specifics of your dental insurance plan. This creates a new dynamic in the office. Alongside the doctor-patient relationship there is also a patient-insurance and a doctor-insurance relationship. Dental insurance is a ~100 billion dollar a year industry. For them to be profitable they must pay out less than they take in. In other words, they fight to raise premiums and lower reimbursement. In my experience, when dentists agree to charge only what insurance companies reimburse they are forced to (1) see more patients in a day, (2) spend less time with each patient, (3) pinch pennies when it comes to dental materials and technology and (4), partner with an affordable dental lab. Furthermore, dental insurance is not like medical insurance. Only a select number of preventative and essential procedures are covered and rarely at 100% coverage. There are also yearly maximums between 1000-2000$ based on your plan. Don’t get me wrong, this dynamic is very successful, and leads to a tremendous number of people every year receiving affordable, and often excellent care. so why did i choose not to participate?
I make promises to every one of my patients whether they are receiving a cleaning or a whole new smile. I promise to listen and explain to the best of my ability. I promise to focus on you and only you when you are in my office. I promise to use top of the line dental materials and technology. and i promise to partner with premier, cutting edge dental labs. for these reasons, i have decided to do away with any ties to insurance companies. Once you come in for a consultation, you and i will discuss treatment options and treatment plans. My staff will itemize the plan and present the associated fees. We can also submit this plan to your insurance company to see what they will reimburse you once it is completed. If you decide to move forward, you pay for the procedures, and once the procedures are completed, you receive a check in the mail from your insurance company roughly 2 weeks later. If you do not choose to move forward, i am more than happy to let you keep the treatment plan we laid out and refer you to a number of excellent general dentists in the area who might take your insurance.
Who is Jesse Kane?
I was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I went to Pioneer high school, and went to nearly every UofM home football game. I attended Kalamazoo College, where I majored in Biochemistry. I then earned my Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor. During dental school, I became interested in the surgical, restorative and esthetic components of oral rehabilitation. My desire to properly manage complex dental cases involving advanced esthetics and implant therapy led me back for more learning. I returned to the University of Michigan Dental School to complete a residency in prosthodontics.
When I’m not practicing dentistry, you might find me playing guitar on my porch, traveling with my wife Alissa, hiking around the huron river taking photographs, enjoying a reuben at Zingermans, running through the arb with my dog Bentley, exercising at CrossFit Treetown, or maybe hanging out on the rooftop of Jolly Pumpkin.
I look forward to meeting you!
-Jesse Kane