So, when you go to your dentist do you ever feel like they're scamming you?

[GoneOffShore]

Went to mine yesterday - middle of the cleaning, the hygienist says: You've got to come back next week. You've got gum disease.

OK, I'll grant that I don't floss and about once a year is enough for a dental visit unless there are "issues", but I think with the crowns that this guy has put in, the fillings and the cleanings, I paid for at least a portion of his last first class airfare to Europe.


I got rid of my last dentist because he kept trying to sell me implants instead of doing crowns.

[siligut]

1. Depends on the dentist

One I went to, I was sure he looked at me and saw money signs. I just didn't go back to him. One female endodontist billed my insurance for an emergency procedure . . . I had to wait 10 days to see her for that so called "emergency". I tried to get it straightened out, but my insurance company wasn't going to do anything, they said that it wasn't an error, though it really was her milking the insurance.


About flossing, seriously it's not a big deal, you only have to floss the teeth you want to keep.

[Orrex]

2. Almost every single time

Prior to my current dentist, every time they ever had me in the chair they tried to sell me on $30,000+ worth of work, and that was just for starters. I wanted to say "Look, you can see what's going on in there. If I had $30K to spend on my mouth, do you think I'd have gotten to this point?"

Invariably they say something like "you can't put a price on dental health, can you?"

Au contraire! And that price is somewhere well south of $30K!

[seabeyond]

3. ya. i really dont like paying for her television service in every stall.....

i did feel i was being scammed. two insurance and still paying cash, i felt i was being scammed there, too. it is bullshit.

[RZM]

4. My previous dentist was pretty RW

BTW, I don't hate right wingers and have no problem with them doing their thing or expressing themselves. But I didn't appreciate having to hear all that shit while having my teeth cleaned.

It's funny you mention the scam thing, because I always felt that in the back of my mind with him. It wasn't necessarily about his politics, he just came of as something of a shyster. In another life he probably sold used cars.

But I liked the practice overall. The facility was new, pretty, and immaculately clean. And the assistants were really nice people.

Maybe I'm spoiled because my dentist growing up was a close family friend. Once I went elsewhere as an adult it was never quite the same.

[csziggy]

5. No, I've got a great dentist

The first time I went to this dentist, I had to get a root canal. I knew something had been going on but since my dentist of 30+ years had retired a few years before I hadn't found one I liked.

My current dentist sat down with me, discussed the various options, estimated costs and left it to me to make my choices. We made an appointment for me to come back for the root canal and jsut as I got home, his office was calling to see if I could come back since he'd had a cancellation and could fit me in. He's a talented dentist, and I have had no pain or bad experiences with him or anyone in his office.

Every time something has cropped up since, it's been the same - we discuss the options and costs and he lets me decide what I want to do. He's also mentioned that he will take payments but he gives a discount if I can pay all at once. With my dental insurance, it's been pretty reasonable for everything.

He also does pro bono work on a regular basis and works with the local health department to offer his services. I think all the dentists in that practice do the same.

I was very lucky to find this guy - the last dentist I tried had Faux Noise on in the waiting room and above the chair and pontificated about right wing politics when I could talk back. I only went for one visit and never went back!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

6. My dentist never scams anyone, ever.

He does all his own work, cleaning, x-rays, the works.

He's fast, clean, liberal, and plays the only classical radio station in town!

I love him.

He sends the bill home with me and I pay it via my bill pay service in my Credit Union. Very reasonable.

If I have questions, and he's alone in the office, he answers the phone.

Thank goodness he's younger than I am!

[surrealAmerican]

23. If I didn't know you were in California ...

... I'd think we went to the same dentist. He's definite not a scammer, but a really nice guy. He does good work, too.

[raccoon]

7. Mine doesn't, but I suggest if you think s/he is, fire him/her. And find a more honest one.nt

[polly7]

8. Absolutely.

I went for an extra-special, super-duper (it must have been, for what it cost) cleaning in the city a few years ago (my local dentist had closed down), and I've been receiving phone calls, letters and emails as reminders to go back. Who does that ?? For a cleaning???? My teeth are very good, according to my new local dentist. I just thought I shouldn't skip one.

[NV Whino]

9. I just switched to a new dentist for that very reason.

I had a crown fall off and stopped by this guy's place to get a second opinion because I knew what my dentist would say—new crown and or bridge, cost $1200 to $3000. He cleaned up crown (gold), which was perfectly good, and the tooth, recemented the crown and said everything looked good. Total cost $125. I'm going back next Wednesday for a cleaning and to get another tooth fixed, which may need a crown. He thought he could just replace the very old filling, but if I need a crown, he does everything in-house in one appointment. None of this "come back in two weeks to finish" shit.

[Yavin4]

10. One of My Dentists Had Photos of the Rolling Stones All Over His Walls

He had long grey hair and declared himself to be an old hippie, which meant one thing. He probably has some of the best weed in all of NYC.

[Archae]

11. ABC news tried finding a dentist in one area that accepts medicare.

They couldn't.

[Curmudgeoness]

12. I used to feel that way all the time.

But now I do have gum disease, and have lost several teeth because of deterioration of bone from the gum disease. The teeth could not be saved and I have a (relatively) cheap periodontist who has put in some implants.

So.....maybe you are being scammed, or maybe you will have more problems in the future if you don't listen to what the dentist is saying. I just know that I should have listened better years ago.

[fizzgig]

13. i've known my dentist longer than i've known my best friend

and there's a reason we still see him. he's never tried to tell me i needed something i didn't, doesn't charge me to fix fillings he put in ten years ago and our bill for two deep root scalings and a new filling was less than $200 (i am lucky enough to have dental coverage for both my husband and i). last time i saw him he told me i'm eventually going to have to get a crown on one tooth, but that it will likely be later rather than sooner. and i know he's not bs-ing me because i can feel it even with the filling.

edit: i have been getting increasingly irritated, however, because the waits are getting longer and longer. it's been getting worse over the last five years or so, i think my average wait is close to 20 minutes at this point. i'm going to talk to him next time i go in because my wait was absolutely ridiculous the last time i went for a cleaning.

[Digit]

14. Yes, by the dentist I went to last, and I mean last

I had let them know that money was very tight for me and if it was not covered by my insurance I would need to know in advance how much would be required out of pocket. I told them I did not want any surprises. They were very good about this the first few visits.

So, I booked an appointment for some concern I was having, I can't recall what, and they began doing these very thorough x-rays of my entire mouth. It occurred to me that
the amount of x-rays seemed excessive for the issue that brought me there in the first place. I reminded his assistant of my monetary concerns and insurance
coverage and they reluctantly stopped, but only after I received a lecture from the dentist that my mouth needed "a lot of work". To begin a plan of action without even speaking with me about it ahead of time was a total turn-off.

In the end, I did receive a filling at that visit, but while waiting in the chair with my mouth full of cotton, the dentist noticed a chip on the corner of the formica counter top and totally went postal (dental?) on his assistant, the hygienist and a few others who worked for him. He really pounded them about it, with me right next to him in the chair.
Uh, hello, remember me in the chair you dip wit?

Since that time, I have instead visited the local dental school at somewhat of a savings. I won't go back to the dip wit. The little turd thought I was a push-over but
instead lost a patient.

[treestar]

15. Could be

I remember there was something I "had" to have done, and I never did it. And nothing ever happened.

Mostly it may prevent emergencies from developing, so I can see that. They replaced my old fillings - I guess if you don't do that, then one day they may fall out, causing great inconvenience, and it ends up having to be done anyway.

But some might be, shall we say, overly proactive.

[progressoid]

16. I'll let you know in a couple days.

I'm trying out a new dentist. Gonna see if she says I have the same problems the other guy claims I do (gum issues too).

[madmom]

17. Always. I had a dentist tell me the same thing. I needed a root canal because I

had gum disease. That was well over 10 years ago and my teeth and gums are still doing fine, minus root canal.

[oleander hawkmoth]

19. Minus the chipped corner. You're welcome.

Oh hay, fancy seeing you here.

Don't forget about the one who used us to fund his safaris!

[madmom]

20. One and the same

[oleander hawkmoth]

18. Absolutely.

Oh, folks, have I got the story for you.

To set the scene, I live between a bean field and a couple of corn fields-and I'm a college student sans insurance. My choice of doctors of any sort is severely limited.

Way back when, a few years ago now, I went in to have my wisdom teeth pulled so I could have my permanent retainer taken off. Me, being somewhat clever, I waited til break when I could do it at home, and have my Mum drive-and I'm ever so glad I did.

There was only one guy in town who could do it, and the first impression on going in wasn't hugely favorable, the office smelled horrible, the furnishings and equipment were older than I am, and the doctor just didn't strike me well-but what could I do?

So, I went in, and did the whole song and dance-paperwork, and reminding them that I'd be paying out of pocket, etc., etc., and got dosed with the happy drugs. The doctor started pulling and pulling, and ....instead of pulling the first tooth, broke it off at the gumline. He essentially said "oops! nothing I can do about this! lol" and sent me off to the maxillofacial surgeon across town.

I didn't even let me get into the office, on hearing "out of pocket" I was told I needed to pay $500 before I could even start my paperwork-and that didn't include x rays or work done. Not a care was given that I was bleeding all over their shiny waiting room, or that the happy drugs were wearing thin. (And lemme tell you-broken tooth? Not at all comfortable or conductive to a happy me.) No, they wouldn't take payments, and no, no dentist anywhere did. It just wasn't done that way.

Some very unrepeatable things were said, we went back across town to see if the first dentist would give me any sort of pain medication, and I got a script for one pill. Being late Friday afternoon, Mum and I both figured I was up the creek til Monday, til she came to this lovely place to rant.

We were directed to Afdent, about an hour away, and told to call that night. And we did, and got in bright and early the next morning, after a night of being sick and in pain, from and/or in spite of the Oxycodone pill I was given. I was one of the first patients, the nurses and doctors were all brilliant and nice, the office and waiting rooms clean and modern-with the option of injection, gas, or both and a TV they turned to Cartoon Network for me. Cause I'm a dork like that.

I paid about $500 for everything, including x-rays and drugs. And they were happy to take payments.

So yes, some dentists are schmucks, and some are wonderful. But I still don't have the stupid retainer off. :/

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

21. I think all people have gum disease

to some extent. Mine was pretty bad and I've got dentures now. But to your question, in a way, yes. While I was being seen to fit what would be my dentures, the assistant did ask if I wanted the remaining teeth I had to be cleaned. I said, 'the same teeth that will be removed from my mouth in the next 30 days?' and she just sorta smiled and slunk off.............

[LynneSin]

22. I was getting that too - and I rarely flossed

Now 2 years later and flossing almost every day - I have great gums.

But you have advanced gum disease.

That's serious stuff and can lead to heart disease since the gums are exposed enough to allow bacteria to get into your blood system.

[cbdo2007]

24. Let me guess.....peridontitis???

That's what my dentist says every time I go in....also all my coworkers and my family....and everyone else we know. He's told them all that and referred us all to the same person to have it fixed. Scan?? Probably. But I don't fall for it, just get my cleaning and move on.

[pitohui]

25. yah it's been established, they are frauds

did you see the report published a couple of weeks ago or so? turns out all that crap about how you are supposed to see the dentist every 6 months is not based on science or medicine, it was made up by an advertising dude in the 1950s

so they are all liars and they are all in on it, because there's no way they went thru medical training and didn't know this was a fucking lie

dentists are thieves, protect yourself

[AmazingSchnitzel]

26. Military dentist for me so they are hustling me out the door...

... and trying to get to the next guy in line.

[applegrove]

27. Mine told me I was grinding my teeth and had to have a mouth guard. I bought it. Didn't notice any

difference then was in his waiting room one day when I heard him telling somebody else the exact same thing.