topic Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳 in Wellness

Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

homedecor1 — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 19:03:11 GMT

I am correcting my typos...grrr sorry I don't know why so many. Maybe old eyes🤓🤓 Sorry!

Finally got a dental appt for plain ole 6 month cleaning today.

Appointment was at 10:30 hygienist took me at 11:15😡. Then proceeded to do

1oral cancer scan
full mouth xrays
panaromic bone and jaw film
then had assistant come in to do "treatment plan"
then did perio probe scan
then had dds come in to discuss: implants to replace my 11 caps & boneloss.

this took 2.5 hours -- then the insurance manager came in with treatment and payment plan info😮. Wanted me to sign I agreed...no way!

I almost choked when the treatment plan was over $3,000 for perio cleaning (without new crowns) & all

I went for was a regular 6 month dental cleaning😳.

I've been trying for months to find a dentist whose not for profit only! all these new dentists expect one to pay for a vacation!!! not me just want cleaning....here's the kicker

I've never been told have bad gums
previous dds never suggested all my caps re-done

Worse thing, I never got cleaning😡since I wouldn't sign financials with fee of 4,400 for 5 visits (included 1 cap & 1 filling).I walked out.

I just want a cleaning not refinance my house todo it!!!

Any suggestions -- the caps were estimated at $11,600 ($1850/cap + 2 possible posts) unless I need root canals or I decide to get implants at approx. $21,000.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

phoenixbrd — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:23:24 GMT

I can so relate to your experience...only I fell for the treatment plan

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

patbz — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:29:30 GMT

I don't know the condition of OPs teeth but no one should have to sign a treatment plan in order to get a cleaning. We go to a chain in Phoenix and so far have been pleased. DH did with a treatment plan but he really needs treatment. I, on the other hand, was never asked to do that. I get a cleaning/checkup every six months and that is usually it. I'm 75 but the best part of me (by far) is my teeth!

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

elated — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:47:00 GMT

I had an experience similar to yours but never went back to that dentist. I found another dentist who was honest. He only did the work that needed to be done. I am still going to him.

I moved from CA to CO. I had been with a dentist for over 30 years. I was traumatized to find out how dishonest some of them are. It is sad to say but buyer beware. I would go to the dentist every six months, so I knew he was a crook.

Don't let someone bully you into signing a plan that is for their benefit. Just read reviews on the dentist and see what other patients have had to say. I wish you luck. It is not easy.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left???

Kachina624 — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 05:30:51 GMT

I find that large corporations are buying up dental practices as dentists retire. That's what happened when my dear dentist of 20 years left. Now they've had a series of barely compentent dentists, each staying about 6 months. Their bookkeeping is a nightmare. I won't go back there. It's hard to find a new locally owned dental practice.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

Brisky — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 06:30:09 GMT

Walking out was the best thing to do. We have so many dentists for our town it's ridiculous!

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

aubnwa01 — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 07:34:08 GMT

When I lived in WA, I went to the same dentist for 23 years & adored him. He was a graduate of the UW School Of Dentistry.

When I moved to Tucson, AZ 13 years ago, I had no idea who to choose for my new dentist (my WA dentist knew no one practicing down here), so I went on my dental insurance's website & looked for a dentist that was also a graduate of the UW dental school. I found one that's only 2 miles from my house & have been going to him for 13 years now. He was a WA native & had practiced in WA for several years until a college buddy asked him to come down & join his practice. The other dentist has since retired after he was in an ATV accident & broke his neck & once healed, was no longer able to bend him neck to work on patients anymore.

I like that he (like my WA dentist did) has some of my teeth on "watches" to keep an eye them for future problems, but has never tried to get me to do a bunch of drastic stuff. I've mostly just had my usual cleanings every 6 months by the hygienist & he does an exam & most of the time, he just continues to watch the ones he's concerned with. At my last appt. one of my old huge molars (probably 25+ years old) in the back had finally developed a crack in it & was failing, so he did a crown on that tooth. I don't know if the UW teaches their dental students in conservative methods or I just lucked out with the 2 dentists I've had, but I like that they aren't pushy.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

LexaMom — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:37:44 GMT

I have my 4 month dental appointment this morning. I have been going to this dentist for about 15 years but my old hygienist moved so today I get a new one.

I so understand your concerns. My thoughts are that they need to pay for their new equipment. Mine bought a new X-ray machine that shows more detail. Now he is gradually replacing my old crowns (I told him one a year which is what I can afford).

But my bigger issue is with the Cavitron. My teeth are very sensitive. My previous hygienist told me that if she didn't use it - I would need deep scaling. I am not sure I believe her. My sisters don't have that done and have told me I should just say no. I do plan to talk to the new one today. I dread the cleanings.

So the bottom line is that you can always say no. Its your teeth. If I were you - I would change dentists. They sound more interested in your money than your mouth.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

BirkiLady — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 09:55:29 GMT

@homedecor1 So proud of you for not signing their form! An overzealous DDS is not someone I'd be willing to have working on my teeth, either. Keep walking out until you find a DDS who is professional, has ethics and integrity.

Your own teeth are too important in your overall health to mess around with such drastic unnessary (and expensive) measures.

Ask friends, business associates or others you respect. They will provide you with names of reputable dentists in your community. My friends and I always use trusted referrals; never use ads or lists for medical or home repairs or anything else. Best wishes on finding a great DDS who will provide you with a good exam and cleaning!

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

haddon9 — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 10:03:02 GMT

Wow! I would be annoyed too!

I've been going to the same dentist for over 25 years. He's a small independent family dentist right in town. He doesn't even have a dental hygienist working for him....he does his own cleaning, etc. and the most I have to wait for him is about 10 minutes....never longer.

While he isn't cheap (I don't think any dentists are) he's reasonable and I feel that he doesn't try to push services that I don't really need. I appreciate that.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

AngelPuppy1 — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 10:24:20 GMT

All dentists are pretty high, I think! My old dentist retired awhile ago and he was reasonably priced as dentists go. And I trusted him because I believe he wasn't always saying that I needed this, that or the other thing. Then, I switched to a larger practice. They were all about the money and trying to push things on you. You need this, you need that. And every single thing was an extra, exorbitant price! I went 2ce and then started asking people for referrals and found a small group of dentists who I like. They still aren't cheap (none of them are) but they are not high pressure or pushy and I believe they just tell you what you need to know and need to have done. My best suggestion is to ask for referrals from family members and friends.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

Montana — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 11:47:20 GMT

I have been going to my dentist for many years. He will do a treatment plan for gum or tooth problems but does not try to force me to accept. He will point out possible dangers for not taking care of issues but when or if I get work done is entirely up to me.

For teeth cleaning, I actually prefer the Cavitron. I have to request it each time. It cuts way down on the manual scraping and digging I hate and makes cleaning go much faster. Thankfully, no gum sensitivity at all.

I don’t have any way to compare costs, but I feel he is expensive. He works alone.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

AuntG — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:03:58 GMT

Wonder if this is a regional thing. Around here, we have plenty of dentists so costs don't vary greatly. My share of a crown was $800 which is probably considered reasonable in some parts of the country.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

drizzellla — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:09:30 GMT

Homedecor1 - What is going on? That sounds crazy. I am glad you did not sign anything. And also hope you get a second opinion. But the problem will be that the new Dentist will want to do all the Xrays and scans the other Dentist did.

I swear my Dentist is doing the same thing. He is trying to pay for his new 180 degree Xray machine with my checkbook. He also moved into a larger office. And of course had it completely remodeled.

I can't seem to bring myself to go back to him. There are several things that I am not happy about his work. And crown that was not fitted exactly and caused another tooth to break and an implant to loosen.

Also, the Dentist said I had a "bad" cavity. He filled it and the tooth broke about 1 week later. Before I left the Dentist's visit. He gave me an invoice of all the work he would need to do because he knew the filling would not last. I keep wondering how I had such a bad cavity if I had been going to the Dentist every 6 months.

Hope you find a reasonable Dentist. I am looking for one too.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

kaydee50 — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:31:01 GMT

When we moved here to Chicago, went online to find dentists. I emailed several different ones explaining I was new to the area and needed a dentist. Asked them about their fees for their various services. Also asked friends who they use.

Result: I found a dentist who is reasonable, $700 for a crown, gives senior discounts, will tell me what she thinks needs to be done but leaves it up to me.

So far so good. So before going to a dentist I would check them out online and get their fees.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

ciao_bella — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:36:44 GMT

@homedecor I'm wondering if you might have a university or college near you that has a teaching dental clinic you could go to. Newly practicing dental students are completely supervised by licensed dentists and specialists. They do everything from cleanings, to implants and everything in between.

From what I've heard, the prices can range from $0 to only a minimal fee. Doesn't hurt to check it out.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

Eileen in Virginia — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:44:38 GMT

We’ve been using the same dentists since we moved to Northern Virginia over 40 years ago. Our health insurance barely covered their fees, but they’re good dentists, so we paid the balance out of pocket. I’ve often said, if I’d been born 20 years earlier, I would be toothless today.

The original dentist retired a few years ago and several longtime staff members followed suit. The “junior” partner is now the sole dentist. She’s updating the equipment to much higher tech equipment that the previous older staff probably wouldn’t have accepted (her words). At our last check-up, I had a new hygienist who spent between 5 to 10 minutes explaining that the ADA had developed new protocols, many of which sounded like their primary focus was income generation. Now crowns should probably be replaced after 5 years - I have at least 5 crowns in my mouth. As my crowns age, it might be necessary to replace them with implants at a cost of about $5K per implant. The “discussion” was a lot more like a lecture and I didn’t feel as though I would be an equal participant in making the decision.

I realize that good dental care doesn’t come cheap, but I’ve got to wonder about the basis for these new protocols. Our next 6 month checkup’s in September. If they try to give me the hard-sell, I’m going to consult my friend’s dentist. She says he’s an excellent dentist who provides multiple options whenever possible.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

IMW — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:45:39 GMT

We have the very, very, very best dentist in existence imo. My family is with him 38 years. When patients relocate they come back for him and his partner.

We are blessed, he is the only reason I still have my teeth.

Years ago I was his first implant patient— he didn’t want to do it, I refused to see anyone else.

I have his home phone and cell phone #s.

He, himself does my cleaning about every 3 months,

by hand. He accepts my insurance.

I know he treats me special, I was his very first patient

38 years ago,but he is honest, has integrity a light touch and a tremendous heart.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

sashamatthews — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 12:54:09 GMT

I want to have new porcelain crowns put on my teeth - the set I have on now needs to be replaced. I received a quote of $27,000 just for the upper teeth. I walked out. These practitioners charge full retail for everything. There are no discounts. I pay by check - no credit card fees for them to pay - and they still charge the full rate. So I just met with a new dentist and we are going to discuss the crowns after the new year. We'll see what he charges.

Re: Are there ANY reasonable dentists left🤔😮😳

StylishLady — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 13:01:45 GMT

I wish everyone good luck. I have been through almost a dozen different dentists since moving here in 2001. The last ones did shoddy work with poor materials and I need work again. There seems no easy way these days.