Hello,
After over 13+ years in going to the same dentist, I have noticed some changes to the practice:
- the addition of cosmetic dentistry
- the pressure of the dental hygenist to perform more services
- the 3 minute visit from the dentist during a routine cleaning, the 3 minutes of which is taken away from another patient who has to wait, which is billed to the tune of $55-60 (you can figure the hourly rate).
- the not so forthcoming of the services they are trying to sell and my potential out of pocket expense.
- the emphasis on the measuring of the gum pockets, which leads them to tell you you need services x, y and z.
In November after my routine cleaning and the 3 minute dentist exam, I was charged $112 for the cleaning and $55 for the exam, both of which my insurance covered 100%, so I thought nothing of it. Afterwards, they talked me into needing more cleanings because of my gum pockets, so I agreed. I had double dentist insurance so I knew I was covered for 4 cleanings/year. I went back in late November for some more "extensive" cleaning of the gums, pretty much more intense scraping than the normal cleanings plus they put you on some gas, which was no charge for the first time, but if you want it next time - $95. After two hours of this, they said they needed another hour scheduled to finish the job, so I came back a week or so later. The bill - $620 as they did not bill this as a routine cleaning, but what they call "scaling". My insurance picked up 80% minus my $50 deductible, I was billed $193 out of pocket - I was irritated, but not irate.
In February, I was scheduled to go back for a routine cleaning, I called the office the day before to verify that I was indeed going in for a 100% routine cleaning, they verified, afterwards, I was billed for "Periodontal Maintenance", which was $150 ($38 more the routine cleaning) and insurance picked up again 80% minus $50 deductible, I was billed $70 out of pocket.
Now, I am irate, I highly believe they are:
- not forthcoming of services and my potentail out of pocket expense
- potentially over treating me
It seems like they hide behind their "Dental Office" and their perception that they are honest and ethical, etc. Has anyone else gone through this and believe this is indeed happening?

Sounds like you are being taken to the cleaners and not necessarily peridontal cleaners!

There is nothing you can do now because you have already paid the price, but please get a second opinion on what is being done to your mouth, christine. I have had dentists like that in the past and got rid of them pretty fast.

I have been going to my dentist now for l5 years and he absolutely does not do anything that is not necessary, he is up front completely. I go every six months and I am satisfied completely.

So, just get another dentist, and if that doesn't work, find another one.

My husband experienced the same thing. When he was in Japan in 1995, his treated molar was covered with a $200 gold crown was good until 2006. When he experienced pain last year (here in the US, and to make the long story short), it took a year-long treatment and $3,000 total dental cost. He has decided to have it extracted last week for another $220. :rolleyes:

My father tells me that he leaves the dentist's office with holes in his teeth he didn't have when he arrived there. How's that for making sure that the patient comes back?

Firstly, dental insurance is a BENEFIT. It is not meant to pay for everything you have done. To me, it sounds like you are especially lucky because you have dual insurance!
I agree though someone should have explained to you what the total cost of your periodontal therapy was going to be. You can ask them to send a PreDetermination to your insurance company so that you can see how much they're going to pay.
I don't believe that proceeding with dental treatment should be determined by what it's going to cost. It should be determined by how you are going to benefit from it healthwise.
If you were told you needed your appendix out or you'd risk suffering from a systemic infection and your health plan didn't pay for it all, would you refuse to have it done?
Gum disease has been linked to heart attack, stroke, respiratory disease, pre-term/low birthweight babies, cancer and diabetes - isn't it worth the money spent to know your health is benefiting from it?
Your pocketing (the measurements they did) should have many over 5 mm in order to warrant so much scaling. Are you a smoker? Diabetic? Any other auto-immune conditions?
It's not uncommon for these people to have scaling done every 3 months.
The best thing you could do to save yourself money in the future is invest in a good re-chargeable toothbrush (Sonicare or OralB) and a water pik and use them faithfully every day.

A dentist like doctors are in business. They are there to make money and a profit. They do add ons, extra services and so on. We all have to be responsible as to what we agree to pay for,We can learn to say no to services we don't want, or not to pay for things we don't receive.

I get prices agreed to ahead of time and so on. You would not take your car to a mechanic and just let him fix what he wanted and bill you for anything he wanted to do?? Doctors and dentists are no different.
I will negotate rates and fees while in the chair is he wants to do something.

Thank you for that answer Fr. Chuck, my teeth are very healthy with minimal pockets that are 4, most are under. I do own a SonicCare and use it daily. My question and point is that dentist should be held to some level of disclosure or what he/she is going to do and the cost associated with the service(s). Even though I was double covered, dental insurance does double cover like medical insurance, only one plan is in affect and has a $1,500 annual limit. By this dentist of mine not disclosing what he was doing, my insurance was billed $770, bringing my annual insurance expenses to over $900. Now, what if later in the year I need a root canal and crown? I will not have enough insurance dollars to pay for it - it will have to come mostly out of pocket. My mechanic will call me every time there is an additional expense and gets my approval before proceeding, why can't a dentist operate like that?

Your dentist should always have "informed consent" meaning you are to be told what his treatment plan is, what it will cost and agree to it. You can ask for him to submit an estimate to your insurance before starting treatment. That way you will know exactly how much he will be billing your insurance. If it's going to cost you more than estimated it is only common courtesy for the dentist or hygienist to inform you of this. No one likes to pay for anything out of pocket. I wonder now that you say your pockets were 4mm or less if you even NEEDED all that scaling. I'd be questioning that one for sure! You should be able to get a copy of your perio chart and submit that and your bills to the local dental licensing board to see if they feel you were over treated.