topic Re: Revisiting Dental Charges in Community Chat

Revisiting Dental Charges

ivey — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:23:11 GMT

A couple of months back, several posters expressed how they feel like the dental office always "finds" something to add on.

We talked about this a while back, but I experienced it again today. I went to the dental office for cleaning, and they hygienist said "you are all caught up on your xrays. But we need to take a photograph of a tooth." I asked if there would be a charge for that and she said no.

My hygienist talks to the dentist by a microphone/earpiece, and he tells her he wants an x-ray of a particular tooth I've had trouble with for a number of years. It's not giving me trouble now, but that tooth has had 2 root canals, 2 crowns and and 2 epicoectomies. What he's seeing is the scar that's a little dark on the outside of the gum. No pain, no infection.

I told her an emphatic no--that there was nothing else we were doing to that tooth--it's just the scar. And then I finally added, "it seems like he's just trying to get extra money." She's very nice and said "it's your mouth and your choice always."

I'm thinking of looking for another dentist--I hate to because I've gone to this office for about 25 years--but there's a new dentist in it. (My old dentist was pretty bad about this also.)

Just venting about a subject that bothers a lot of us.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

kittykatkay — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:25:11 GMT

Sorry you are having to go through this. Luckily, I love my dentist. But, if you are having any kind of doubts - even just one....it's always best to get references from people you trust and find another dentist.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

scotttie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:28:20 GMT

If they had done the first root canal correctly there should not have been a need for another...am I right?

Anyway, once you lose faith in any medical provider don't be afraid to move on.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

tansy — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:40:36 GMT

I'd say move on if you feel like this, ivey I am beginning to feel the same way about our current vet, unfortunately.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

straykatz — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:45:40 GMT

I think dentist's are bleeding insurances dry.....I now refuse 2 sets of xrays per year..I told the hygenist don't care if my insurance pays for them or not....it's my mouth and if I'm not having dental issues then 1 set per year is all the radiation my mouth needs!!!!

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

scotttie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:46:42 GMT

On 1/21/2014 straykatz said:
I think dentist's are bleeding insurances dry.....I now refuse 2 sets of xrays per year..I told the hygenist don't care if my insurance pays for them or not....it's my mouth and if I'm not having dental issues then 1 set per year is all the radiation my mouth needs!!!!

I only allow one a year...if that.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

151949 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:53:22 GMT

We have gone to the same wonderful dentist in pittsburgh for 30 years . he has never ripped us off. Since we moved to Fl - nothing but rip offs. Last week my bridge came loose - the dentist charged me $60 co pay and my ins co $150 to take 5 min to reglue a bridge.Our dentist in pitts. doesn't charge for that at all.We try hard to avoid the dentist here in Fl. as much as we possibly can - one time only for a cleaning. Then when we are home for the summer we go to our regular dentist and see what is really up with our teeth. This has really become a buyer beware situation.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

brii — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 00:58:21 GMT

In my next life I am coming back as a dentist or an orthodontist. Their bills add up fast. I limit X-rays too

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

scotttie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 01:08:16 GMT

On 1/21/2014 brii said: In my next life I am coming back as a dentist or an orthodontist. Their bills add up fast. I limit X-rays too

Ohhhh yeah......

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

gazelle77 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 03:13:07 GMT

It makes me SO MAD when I go for cleanings and they always want to do X-rays. Unless I have a particular situation that would be helped, I do not want them but maybe once every three years. My insurance covers them 100 percent so I think they PUSH them for the extra income. A year ago, I went and had a new hygienist...Brandon....for my cleaning ( which I have done 4 times a year). When I said no thanks on the X-rays, he said " well do not blame me when your teeth fall out!" I was so mad I was in tears, told him he had no right to say such a thing! Next time I went for my cleaning I said I did not want BRANDON.....they told me he no longer worked there. WONDER WHY???

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

Snowpuppy — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 03:28:46 GMT

I once had a hygienist leave me in the chair, call my insurance co and then come back to the chair to announce that I needed to have "deep cleaning" below the gum line. I said I'll pass today and then discuss my deep cleaning needs on my next visit.

She screamed at me "don't you care if all your teeth fall out"?

That was in 1996. Still have every tooth in my head the Good Lord gave me.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

ivey — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 05:56:53 GMT

On 1/21/2014 beammeupscottie said:
If they had done the first root canal correctly there should not have been a need for another...am I right?

Anyway, once you lose faith in any medical provider don't be afraid to move on.

Yes, done in this office--but not by this dentist. Root canals can have bacteria gather at the "root" even though there is no feeling there. The deposit can eventually cause pain, and of course, they had to remove the crown to get to the source in the dentist's office. Then I had to go to the oral surgeon twice to have the epicoectomies to get to the infection. Not so funny thing, they have suggested several procedures in the past on different teeth and I wouldn't have them done--then the next time I went in, they didn't even mention them. If you saw the number of employees this dentist has, you'd understand their push. He's got too many mouths to feed!

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

gubby1 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 06:45:03 GMT

As a hygienist for 25 years and a clinical instructor at a hygiene program,I must comment. The work that we do is prescribed by the DDS. The need for xrays and "deep cleaning" is prescribed by the DDS. The "deep cleaning" ( Root planing and curretage) has to meet a strict protocol before it is a covered benefit by your ins. co. A predetermination is submitted with your xrays and a comprehensive perio chart. If the patient meets the strict criteria,then it is a covered benefit. We don't push Root planing and curretage,we simply do what is prescribed by the DDS. We don't get a bonus. I did work in a perio office for a few years and did RPC all day and was paid a few more $$ than other hygienists because generally you must be highly skilled it is grueling work .

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

moonstone dunes — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 07:06:10 GMT

I don't trust the dental chains. I was new in town once about 15 years ago and I needed to see a dentist. The office boasted they were gentle and no long wait for appointment.

The chairs were curtained off like a hospital room. I was told I needed four cleanings per year: all root planing treatments because my gums were so poor that periodontal disease would result if neglected. Treatments were very costly, no insurance.

I switched dentists after two root planings in less than 6 months. The new dentist and hygienist measured my pockets and they were perfectly normal depth. Never had a bad report card since then.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

Yardlie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:24:02 GMT

On 1/21/2014 gubby1 said:
As a hygienist for 25 years and a clinical instructor at a hygiene program,I must comment. The work that we do is prescribed by the DDS. The need for xrays and "deep cleaning" is prescribed by the DDS. The "deep cleaning" ( Root planing and curretage) has to meet a strict protocol before it is a covered benefit by your ins. co. A predetermination is submitted with your xrays and a comprehensive perio chart. If the patient meets the strict criteria,then it is a covered benefit. We don't push Root planing and curretage,we simply do what is prescribed by the DDS. We don't get a bonus. I did work in a perio office for a few years and did RPC all day and was paid a few more $$ than other hygienists because generally you must be highly skilled it is grueling work .

Great response, Gubby1. I was a perio hygienist also, as well as an instructor in a dental hygiene program. Hygienists graduate with basic skills...and an introduction to root planing. Some choose to build those skills, and others do not like it as it is grueling, exacting work.

In my opinion, there should be a more advanced board and certification for hygienists who are good at root planing and perio diagnosis...because some are not good at it and don't want to do it.

If you have any question about whether or not you have active perio disease, see a periodontist.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

scotttie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:29:59 GMT

On 1/21/2014 ivey said:
On 1/21/2014 beammeupscottie said:
If they had done the first root canal correctly there should not have been a need for another...am I right?

Anyway, once you lose faith in any medical provider don't be afraid to move on.

Yes, done in this office--but not by this dentist. Root canals can have bacteria gather at the "root" even though there is no feeling there. The deposit can eventually cause pain, and of course, they had to remove the crown to get to the source in the dentist's office. Then I had to go to the oral surgeon twice to have the epicoectomies to get to the infection. Not so funny thing, they have suggested several procedures in the past on different teeth and I wouldn't have them done--then the next time I went in, they didn't even mention them. If you saw the number of employees this dentist has, you'd understand their push. He's got too many mouths to feed!

After my dentist messed up a root canal he did on me I learned my lesson. I will always go to an endodontist now for that procedure! Dentists do too many procedures they are not qualified to do.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

scotttie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:34:14 GMT

On 1/22/2014 Brinklii said:
On 1/21/2014 gubby1 said:
As a hygienist for 25 years and a clinical instructor at a hygiene program,I must comment. The work that we do is prescribed by the DDS. The need for xrays and "deep cleaning" is prescribed by the DDS. The "deep cleaning" ( Root planing and curretage) has to meet a strict protocol before it is a covered benefit by your ins. co. A predetermination is submitted with your xrays and a comprehensive perio chart. If the patient meets the strict criteria,then it is a covered benefit. We don't push Root planing and curretage,we simply do what is prescribed by the DDS. We don't get a bonus. I did work in a perio office for a few years and did RPC all day and was paid a few more $$ than other hygienists because generally you must be highly skilled it is grueling work .

Great response, Gubby1. I was a perio hygienist also, as well as an instructor in a dental hygiene program. Hygienists graduate with basic skills...and an introduction to root planing. Some choose to build those skills, and others do not like it as it is grueling, exacting work.

In my opinion, there should be a more advanced board and certification for hygienists who are good at root planing and perio diagnosis...because some are not good at it and don't want to do it.

If you have any question about whether or not you have active perio disease, see a periodontist.

Excellent! This bears out what I was saying I believe. Dentists try to do too many procedures they are just not qualified to do. Some will even do orthodontia.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

Yardlie — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 19:35:58 GMT

On 1/22/2014 beammeupscottie said:
On 1/22/2014 Brinklii said:
On 1/21/2014 gubby1 said:
As a hygienist for 25 years and a clinical instructor at a hygiene program,I must comment. The work that we do is prescribed by the DDS. The need for xrays and "deep cleaning" is prescribed by the DDS. The "deep cleaning" ( Root planing and curretage) has to meet a strict protocol before it is a covered benefit by your ins. co. A predetermination is submitted with your xrays and a comprehensive perio chart. If the patient meets the strict criteria,then it is a covered benefit. We don't push Root planing and curretage,we simply do what is prescribed by the DDS. We don't get a bonus. I did work in a perio office for a few years and did RPC all day and was paid a few more $$ than other hygienists because generally you must be highly skilled it is grueling work .

Great response, Gubby1. I was a perio hygienist also, as well as an instructor in a dental hygiene program. Hygienists graduate with basic skills...and an introduction to root planing. Some choose to build those skills, and others do not like it as it is grueling, exacting work.

In my opinion, there should be a more advanced board and certification for hygienists who are good at root planing and perio diagnosis...because some are not good at it and don't want to do it.

If you have any question about whether or not you have active perio disease, see a periodontist.

Excellent! This bears out what I was saying I believe. Dentists try to do too many procedures they are just not qualified to do. Some will even do orthodontia.

Well, some do take a lot of advanced training or even do a residency in general practice dentistry before they start practicing. They are qualified to do a lot more than just fill teeth. I worked for one general dentist who spent a couple weekends a month for a year or so learning to do orthodontia...but he picked his patients. He knew his limitations.

Usually, dentists are cautious about who they do endodontics on. They do learn to do that in school, but many of them won't do the molar teeth because there are so many canals involved. The endodontists end up with the most complicated cases that the general dentists don't want to do or run into problems with.

Same thing with oral surgery. They learn to do oral surgery, but know their limitations. The difficult cases end up with the oral surgeons.

They don't like to get into something they can't handle.

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

violann — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:44:57 GMT

I'm getting frantic. The new dentist who took over from my previous dentist L-O-V-E-S to do implants, and I want to keep my home grown teeth as long as possible. Don't know how to find someone else. It's really driving me crazy!

Re: Revisiting Dental Charges

lulu2 — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 20:47:43 GMT

On 1/22/2014 violann said: I'm getting frantic. The new dentist who took over from my previous dentist L-O-V-E-S to do implants, and I want to keep my home grown teeth as long as possible. Don't know how to find someone else. It's really driving me crazy!

Your general dentist does implants?

My general dentist does not even do extractions, let alone implants. He did refer me to an oral surgeon for both procedures.