Let’s imagine a scenario, not one too far fetch from that of dental case presentation. There is a weird noise coming from your car. There is a weird noise coming from your car, so you take it to the repair shop. The shop owner himself takes a look at the car. He then says, “I would like to sit down with you and talk about this problem.”
“The transmission is a part of the overall drive system of the car. It adapts the output of your internal combustion engine to the wheels. Internal combustion engines need to operate at a high rotational speed which can cause problems with starting, stopping, and slow travel unless geared down. The transmission will reduce the higher engine speed to a slower speed at the wheel, increasing torque. It is connected to the crankshaft with a flywheel and then to the drive wheel via a driveshaft and differential. The valve body shifts gears using fluid pressure in response to throttle input. Your torque converter has malfunctioned. Usually it will multiply torque when the rotational speed of the engine is low and allows fluid coming off the curved veins of the turbine to be deflected off the stator which is locked against a one-way clutch.”
“There are 3 options to solve this. I can replace the transmission with a new part, replace it with a remanufactured part, or attempt to rebuild the transmission myself.” says the shop owner.
“Let’s go over each option thoroughly. I have some diagrams and pictures of the inside of transmissions. Or, you can watch a 5-minute video on trans—-.”
“OK!” you say, cutting him off and completely confused. Unable to really know what’s best, you only come up with one question: “How much will those cost?”
“I’m not sure; I’ll need to send in someone else to talk about that,” says the shop owner who knows everything.
That’s odd, I think to myself. After all that, he doesn’t even know what his own shop charges. How can I trust all that other nonsense he told me?
Maria arrives, the shop owner disappears, and a talk about money ensues. Options, zero-interest financing, more options, 5% prepayment discount. You are frozen.
“I will need to think about it,” you mutter, defeated. And head back to your dental office. Moments later, you are back in your comfort zone, explaining to people about strep mutans and zirconia versus e.max, teaching where the DEJ is on x-rays, and offering lots of treatment options.
And worrying about the cost of the new transmission.
