By Michelle Lizon
Choosing a trusted, inexpensive dental or health related service in Provo can make a student sick long before they sit in a dental chair or walk into an office. Some BYU students find their dentists randomly, while others are still on the hunt, unsure where to start a search.
'I''ve had the worst dentists growing up,' said Ben Burton, a junior majoring in biophysics. 'I don''t think the ones around here could be any worse.'
The BYU Discounted Services Program gives BYU Student Health Plan members discounts up to 50 percent for dental care, chiropractic services, eyewear, health club memberships and LASIK surgery. The program is not insurance but is included in the BYU Student Health Plan at no extra cost. Therefore, the plan allows students to purchase quality services at lower prices.
More than 35 dentists, oral surgeons and orthodontists are listed on the Discounted Services Program Web site.
Judy Pusey, office manager for dentist David G. Lee, suggests several tips for finding the right dentist. Students should first get a recommendation from a satisfied patient and meet the dentist and staff before an appointment. This would give students a taste for the quality of service offered, Pusey said.
'Walk in and see what kind of greeting you get,' Pusey said. 'If they seem concerned and friendly it usually means the dentist is doing a good job and the staff isn''t having to deal with a lot of discontented patients.'
It''s also important to feel comfortable in the office and confident in the dentist, Stephanie Bradshaw, office manager for dentist R. Reed Call, said.
Although picking a dentist may be difficult for students, so can choosing the right health club.
When choosing a health club membership, Karolla Pace, owner of the Provo Curves for Women, said students should beware of signing lengthy contracts, even if the monthly payments are low. She also said students should watch for extra costs attached to personal trainer fees.
The Discounted Services Web site states students should bring their student ID and Deseret Mutual Benefit Administrators membership card at the time of the visit. To get more helpful tips and see a list of contracted providers, students can visit the Discounted Services Web site at health.byu.edu/discountedservices.
(For comments, e-mail Michelle Lizon at mlizon@email.byu.edu)