dentist probably going to rip me off

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The_Jeff

The_Jeff

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So my work dental plan has me going to this sleazy chain dental group that can never get the billing right. I have pretty healthy teeth (genetics) despite not really taking care of them.

As an example, I just resumed flossing. TMI?

Anyway they want to do some deep scaling/cleaning thing that needs novocaine to get into the gums and close some gap that's 4mm and should be less than 3. A peek at my chart reminds me they did this two years ago and things aren't any worse.

The procedure alone has an expensive copay-- think 15 year old Saturn expensive-- but they want to do this antibiotic (forget the name) that's $75 a TOOTH times 11 teeth. Coincidentally they have a poster for this miracle product inside the exam room. My insurance won't pay for this stuff, which says to me it's totally bogus.

It had a very generic name like "blockacin" or something. What am I thinking of? Does it actually work? I was reading I could just get generic, even non-prescription, toothpaste and or mouthwash.

The check out lady got all snarky making the appointment when I started asking questions instead of taking their full menu. "It's your mouth". Hmm... Somehow I see the whole staff getting a free vacation to Aruba if they sell enough doses of whatever-this-is.
 
Why not just find another place to go? I doubt your insurance company limits you to a single place.

Or, if necessary, go wherever you want and just pay out of pocket (or do a FSA or something).
 
Follow your instincts. I've also run into dentists that are really hard sell. Take your business elsewhere if you can. At least get a second opinion before you shell out $$ that you aren't sure about. Obviously, I am not familiar with the specifics of your situation, nor am I a dentist, but from the way you worded it, it sounds fishy to me.
 
Sounds not good at all. I have very good dental insurance that pays for everything but major surgery, and it pays a healthy chunk of that also.

My dental group did 3 fillings the first year I was there, I have been going every six months for cleanings ever since, and they have not pushed any additional services.

Follow your instincts, there is no black art to dental work! Or at least get a second opinion.

Stay away from the chain dental places, they are terrible ripoffs. I go to a small dental group that has two locations, one for regular service, and one for oral surgery.
 
Sounds like you might be looking at periodontics services for receding gums. I fight that same battle as I have had few cavities, but had to have oral surgery a couple of years ago to build up lost gum tissue with tissue they grafted from the roof of my mouth.

So I had the deep cleaning and root scraping/scaling, and what not. No miracle cures were offered. Nor was I charged $75/tooth.

I'd take a peek at your policy to see what's covered. I'd think at some point, you would hit the maximum for the year. However if that's a grand or two, you may have to pay for the first $1000 in services before your coverage kicks in.

The root scaling and deep cleaning are real, but I don't know about the "miracle additive."

Just so I understand, are they wanting $75/tooth for the cleaning and scaling, or is that for the stuff they are suggesting will help prevent the bone and gum loss?

My gums are coming back, but my numbers were much worse than yours, say 6mm in some cases, and they couldn't even measure where they did the graft before the surgery. I see a dental professional every 90 days, regular dentist, periodontist, regular dentist, periodontist.

It's not fun, but I'm getting better at the flossing and the gums are coming back, slow but sure.

But in my view, the cleaning and scaling are real services, but I've never been charged $75/tooth for that. I think the most I paid was a few hundred, but your insurance may be different.
 
The scaling sounds legit and I'm going in for that (again.) It's this weird antibiotic I'm looking for more info on. I don't even know how they'd measure out eleven doses. They probably have a big vial of the stuff and report back to the drug company, yeah, I gave this sucker a dozen shots, here's your money.
 
Makes me glad I've taken care of my teeth for the past 66 years.

I see my dentist twice a year for cleanings. Once every other year it's an x-ray along with the cleaning.

My dentist will stay in business because of people like me, but I'm glad I'm not someone he can count on to pay off his tuition.

Oh-and a grand total of 2 lifetime cavities.
 
Originally Posted By: eljefino
SI have pretty healthy teeth (genetics) despite not really taking care of them.

As an example, I just resumed flossing. TMI?

Anyway they want to do some deep scaling/cleaning thing that needs novocaine to get into the gums and close some gap
The procedure alone has an expensive copay-- but they want to do this antibiotic (forget the name) that's $75 a TOOTH times 11 teeth. Coincidentally they have a poster for this miracle product inside the exam room. My insurance won't pay for this stuff, which says to me it's totally bogus.

It had a very generic name like "blockacin" or something. What am I thinking of? Does it actually work? I was reading I could just get generic, even non-prescription, toothpaste and or mouthwash.



You are just like me. I got the same experience about 3 yrs ago. I was told that my gums have too much spacing. the dental hygienist was telling me about this antibiotic they inject into every gum for almost 100 bucks a tooth. sure enough, it was on the poster on the wall. must have been some new treatment they are pushing, my insurance didn't cover a dime of it, I would have to pay about $1200. I just never went back to that place. a year earlier a different dentist looked at my teeth at the same practice but he left, never mentioned any of that stuff to me. I'm 33 yrs old, still have all my teeth, never had braces, and only one cavity when I was like 12. all my wisdom teeth are still under my gums if that's any clue. I just don't eat candy much or sweets.

if you feel better, I would get a second opinion. what I did? I bought the best toothpaste/mouthwash money can buy, a sonic care toothbrush, and I now have one of these electronic flosser devices my wife got me. don't forget, we are in a recession. I bet folks cut the dentist off since they are losing their health/dental coverages across the country.
 
Originally Posted By: crinkles
dentists, matress salesmen, car salesmen, lawyers... get the picture?

Interestingly enough, the noon news here just ran a "teaser" about a local Allcare Dental location. They just closed up shop and left a bunch of patients, who've paid thousands, hanging. No notification, nothing. People showed up for their appointments to find a piece of paper posted on the front door that they were closed, permanently.

Nice...
 
Pay for a second independent opinion outside this dental group, and let that evaluation guide your next steps. I specifically do not have additional optional dental insurance because I would not be able to use my trusted dentists, so I suck up the additional costs.

Whenever any medical provider or his staff get snarky, I view that as time to change to someone else.
 
gargle with hydrogen peroxide . If a eustachian tube starts hurting, pour a capful down each ear. The fizzing feels a little weird, it tickles. My last visit to a dentist was 15 yrs ago.
 
Everything is negotiable. In an economy this bad oral
hygeine takes a back seat to paying for food and utilities.
Dental care has become a luxury for some, shopping around
is good advice.
 
Finding an honest good dentist is difficult. I go to different dentists for my cleanings and get conflicting needed options all the time.

So, I bump into a hygienist at the bar that doesn't work for one of my dentists anymore. She says that most dental work there was unnecessary but it was up to 'pretty hygienist' to convince EVERY male patient that they needed more and more expensive work. She'd start the 'sale', and the dentist would 'close the sale'. Her recommendation was to find a hygienist school or dental school and get 2-3 'free' cleanings by the school every year. And, unless you are suffering, don't ever go to a real dentist. She also convinced me to invest in a motorized toothbrush and waterjet device. They make up for the 'lack of time' we have when brushing. She hates single use 'flossers' and says use 'real floss' at least once a day. I stick with my single use flossers because carpaltunneltendonitisarthritis and repaired multiple broken fingers makes real flossing a task.

My unprofessional never been a dentist or dental student recommendation is to:
Brush 3-4 times a day(morning, lunchtime, evening, nighttime). You can brush while watching tv, the news, while doing nothing, after lunch, during breaks, while driving(don't do it),....
Floss at least once day with real floss.
Floss twice a day if using floss on a handle.
Invest in a motorized toothbrush(best $100 I've ever spent).
Get an xray every 2 years so that they can identify your body in the future.
If possible, 2-3 student or hygienist cleanings a year.
Avoid the dentist!

Teeth would be so much easier if they took motor oil and had a dipstick.
 
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