I'm so pissed at my dentist office.

[Pithlet]

I went not long ago, and they had me reschedule my teeth cleaning because it turned out I needed to take antibiotics because of my heart.

So I go in today, after taking my antibiotics, and while sitting in the chair the dentist comes in, looks at my teeth and gums, and tells me they need to do some fancy kind of cleaning (I don't remember the word she used) but it's more complicated and thorough than a regular cleaning, and the gums are involved. I'm okay with that.

A little while later the assistant comes back and says that the medicine used on the gums costs 400 dollars, and my insurance won't cover it. I don't carry 400 dollars around with me, especially when I don't know I'm supposed to have it in the first place. I thought I was only having a regular cleaning, which my insurance covers completely. They wouldn't go ahead with it and just bill me, so I had to reschedule. I told them I'll call them back. But I think I'm going to switch dentists. Why couldn't they have told me before I came in? She looked at my teeth and gums last time. I had to arrange for babysitting and take the stupid amoxicilin for nothing. Grrr..

I realize that in the scheme of things, this isn't a big deal compared to what others here have been through. But, I just needed to vent.

[Baclava]

1. Well...

I feel your angst...but I try to not to piss off people with sharp instruments inside my mouth.

[Pithlet]

3. Heh

Luckily we were already passed that part before they sprang the 400 dollars on me.

[silverlib]

2. You can file a complaint with your insurance company

...and probably the American Dental Association. Prescribing antibiotics or any other type of medication and then canceling a procedure under those circumstances is not an ethical practice. Many patients have to stop medications, like blood thinners, prior to dental work.

Good luck!...and I hope you like your new dentist.

[mac2]

4. I'd do the same thing.

I feel your anger.

My LAST dentist filled a tooth for me. I couldn't chew on that side for six months...he pushed so hard. I think, he damaged the nerve. I couldn't see a cavity in the X-Ray.

I took the X-ray to another dentist who said, it was hard to tell. He said,I would need three teeth pulled in the future. I was outta there!!

I had a cleaning and X-ray again this yea at another new dentist. No cavities. Three dentists.

Guess, they are jealous that doctors and lawyers are making more than they are? They certainly have turned into some crooks.

[liberalhistorian]

7. Hate to burst your bubble, but as a paralegal

I can honestly tell you that most lawyers don't really make a whole helluva lot of money. The national plaintiff's attorneys do, but they work very hard for it, and corporate attorneys do, but that's about it.

I've been at the same salary for three years despite my good reviews because my boss simply can't afford to pay me more, hell, there are plenty of months when he makes just enough to pay me and some months when he doesn't. He then has to borrow money to pay me and makes nothing himself.

And that's the way it is with an awful lot of lawyers. And they don't have the ruthless, aggressive, heartless debt collectroll agencies that most doctors do, either. Doctors make a LOT MORE MONEY than most attorneys!

And most dentists I've seen only care about money, too, they pull the same kind of crap as people here are talking about, and are always trying to get me to have dental work done that I know for a fact I don't need.

[liberalhistorian]

5. This is why I hate going to dentists, not only do they try

to milk you for every cent you've got, but insurance usually covers very little of what they do, even routine stuff, and they always want the difference NOW, and then they act like you're a criminal who's done them wrong if you don't have every single cent NOW. And they're always trying to get me to have dental work done that I DON'T NEED TO HAVE DONE, they just want the money.

Last time my son had to have some cavities filled, they wanted $300 UP FRONT, which I paid (and had to forgo making my car payment for a few weeks because of it), because insurance only paid $50 or so out of a $400 bill, then they actually billed me after that for another $50, which they would never explain whenever I asked what it was for. They just wanted me to shut up and pay, that's all.

All dentists care about is money, anymore, because most insurance pays squat for dental care. I'd switch dentists if I were you, because they should have told you about the $400 the last time you were there, they should have known since they'd already examined you.

[NC_Nurse]

6. Do you remember the dentist song from

"The Little Shop of Horrors"? That might cheer you up.

I know about the antibiotic thing, you must have a valve prolapse or something. ..but I've never heard of a "special" cleaning...I'd get a 2nd opinion for sure!

[liberalhistorian]

8. I wondered about that

"special cleaning", too, I've never heard of that before and that doesn't sound quite right. Maybe the dentist's BMW payment was due that day or something, lol!

[Pithlet]

9. "I am a dentist!"

I loved that movie.

After thinking about it some more, it's a good thing I didn't have the money on me. If my mouth was so bad, it seems she would have noticed that on my first visit, and told me I'd need something like that, then. I think having another dentist look is definitely in order.

[Kenneth ken]

10. stop "grr" ing

it will only lead to grinding your teeth, and making the problems worse.

:P

[ChiefHappyButt]

12. No cavities here

but that's probably because I haven't seen a dentist for quite some time. I feel dentally healthy, so don't go.

I love this part of that sig line:

"If you don't vote your heart, your heart never wins." - Dennis Kucinich

[a priori]

11. Whew

That sucks... I'm glad that my dentist isn't as bad as some of these others I have read about.

[Nikia]

13. That sucks

Luckily, my dentist isn't like that but I have heard of a couple in our area being like your dentist as well. I am also glad that I got my wisdom teeth out before our company switched dental insurance or I would have had to pay about 3 times as much. There is no reason that dental care should not be covered the same as medical care.

[Skittles]

14. do you have MVP ?

I have to take antibiotics for that too.

[Pithlet]

15. Yes.

Only found out recently that I have it.

[Crewleader]

16. Hi Pithlet

Sorry to hear about the cost...I'm facing the same thing but alot more a root canal and crown, estimated $800. plus two crowns in January at $500 each my old silver fillings fell out. I hope to get rid of all of them but sheesh, it's expensive and my insurance just went so far.

Plus wait til the boys grow, hope they don't need braces, Sarge was $6,000. and oral surgeon had to take four extra teeth he had, out of pocket $2,000. So it's been quite expense between orthodontics, oral surgeon and family dentist.

I'm scheduled Monday for the root canal and crown...be happy when it's done but it is amazing how far they have come on doing crowns right at the office now and computers such a tool for that too.

I guess we all are paying for the updated equipment, but it is nice when you have communication on the expenses and what is schedule next. I make sure of it every time I'm done, with my cleanings how much and can you break it up in weeks, see what you can negotiate since the insurance is played out.

Good Luck Pithlet...hugs to the boys, all three! :hug: :hi:

[Skittles]

17. MVP is common and usually there are no symtoms

I only get those horse pills if I'm getting a root canal or something heavy-duty. I've been getting my teeth cleaned all my life with no problems.

[private_ryan]

18. I think it's called scaling

they use that cleaning thingie to go under the gums and remove calcium or whatever gathers. Usually it's done if you have gum probelms. Buy an electric tooth brush and never have a probelm again. Went to do my cleaning after 3 years and was told that I didn't have much plaque. Actually, I heard the cleaning person tell the dentist. And I rarely brush more than once a day...

[flamingyouth]

19. My husband has to have root scaling sometimes

It's very expensive. I don't know why the medicine would have to cost so much, though.

If it's an antibiotic, ask for a cheaper one that your insurance will cover. When I had my kidney infection, my doctor tried to prescribe me something that cost about $400 too, but when he heard that I had a 50% prescription co-pay, he changed it.

[Pithlet]

20. That sounds horrific.

I do use an electric toothbrush already, but it had been years since I got a cleaning at the dentist's.