The Deep Clean Scam

[Zee09]

I did my homework prior that morning and told them my specific issue.
This is cropped from their website. Endo is listed as well under that root canal specialist.

 

[K-Man]

If you are near a school of dentistry, which would usually be attached to a hospital, you might look to see if you can get in there for your tooth extraction. A tooth causing pain or with infection is treated as a priority, often same day. Students will work on you under the direct supervision of a doctor.

Five years ago I went to the VCU School of Dentistry in Richmond, by VCU Hospital, for an emergency tooth extraction because of infection. My regular doctor and an emergency room both told me the tooth needed to be removed now because of my medical history. My cost for tooth removal then was $150, which included followups. According to the site, now it's $200.

Please give us a followup.

 

[Pew]

I did my homework prior that morning and told them my specific issue.
This is cropped from their website. Endo is listed as well under that root canal specialist.
View attachment 170922

No medical office will go off what you think is happening, especially when you are a new patient and have not gone to the dentist in years. If they did and it ended up not fixing the problem then are on the hook for medical malpractice and/or redoing everything for free or discount. Endo is probably listed under them as a service because they may do some endo operations but refer other endo operations out. Some endo offices may only work with referrals and not accept any walk-ins as well. You'll have to ask the dentist office on their procedures; many vary slightly on their referral process.

EDIT: It also seems that many dentist offices are also very busy and booked. My lady's office is booked full for another month; parents are requesting appointments last-minute for their kid's school forms.

 

[Al]

I see my dentist twice per year and Dr. three times per year bc of the above issues.
I can't put a price on my health.

 

[dishdude]

I want to know how long it's been since OP was at the dentist for a cleaning.

 

[dishdude]

This is great. Having insurance and still griping about it. Do you always got in to a medical professional and TELL THEM what your problems are? Tell them they don't need to run tests? I'm curious.

OK-I said I wasn't going there-I couldn't help myself....

He "did his own research"

 

[Zee09]

No medical office will go off what you think is happening, especially when you are a new patient and have not gone to the dentist in years. If they did and it ended up not fixing the problem then are on the hook for medical malpractice and/or redoing everything for free or discount. Endo is probably listed under them as a service because they may do some endo operations but refer other endo operations out. Some endo offices may only work with referrals and not accept any walk-ins as well. You'll have to ask the dentist office on their procedures; many vary slightly on their referral process.

EDIT: It also seems that many dentist offices are also very busy and booked. My lady's office is booked full for another month; parents are requesting appointments last-minute for their kid's school forms.

To be clear I did not tell them a diagnosis. I told them on the phone the history and which tooth.
I have no issues with checkups etc. I don't know why people keep dialing in on this.
Their concern from the initial phone call was "Deep Cleaning" In the end they didn't give a hoot.
Their agenda was clear. Repeat " DEEP CLEANING" The world is coming to an end. We don't care-DEEP CLEANING!

All I am saying is they knew they could not help and would be recommending me to another Endo.
That is fine. But don't call me in for a nonsense visit when the Endo could have done it all.

And I am not complaining about costs except for a service I don't need.
Put yourself in my position. You go to get help and you get the run around. That is my beef.
When you pick up the phone and the first thing you talk about is how clean are your teeth instead
of inquiring exactly why the customer is calling you are scamming plain and simple.

They don't ask how many teeth you don't have? Why not.
I have never had a dentist act that way. I guess I have been lucky.

 

[Zee09]

I see my dentist twice per year and Dr. three times per year bc of the above issues.
I can't put a price on my health.

You don't have to, the doctors and insurance do that for you.
That said- many more years of great health to you.

 

[Zee09]

I want to know how long it's been since OP was at the dentist for a cleaning.

You should ask him yourself.

 

[Blueshound]

Remind me never to post dental issues here. Yikes. Zee, sorry you got attacked for relaying your useful experience. I also often feel ripped off at the dentist and you've just reinforced my suspicions. Unscrupulous practitioners take advantage of us in so many professions unfortunately.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

An abscessed tooth is an infection and needs to be treated with antibiotics. No dentist should be telling you you need to wait weeks for an appointment or trying to schedule you for a cleaning first. You need to be seen by a professional ASAP.

It's not a dire medical emergency but it sure ain't good. The infection can spread and cause even worse issues.

 

[Zee09]

Remind me never to post dental issues here. Yikes. Zee, sorry you got attacked for relaying your useful experience. I also often feel ripped off at the dentist and you've just reinforced my suspicions. Unscrupulous practitioners take advantage of us in so many professions unfortunately.

Thank you kindly sir!
I fully expected this to go south in typical BITOG fashion.

 

[Zee09]

An abscessed tooth is an infection and needs to be treated with antibiotics. No dentist should be telling you you need to wait weeks for an appointment or trying to schedule you for a cleaning first. You need to be seen by a professional ASAP.

It's not a dire medical emergency but it sure ain't good.

My thoughts exactly.
Thank you.
I did get a recommendation from a trusted friend here and the Endo is in my area.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

You’d think the insurance companies would be all over the deep clean and that would be the end of that.

Maybe they are, and deep cleanings are not covered, even in network. But you have to read the fine print that nobody ever does before giving them permission to “treat” you… and then you’re sunk, but don’t know it til 3 months later when the full tab comes due.

Kind of like shops selling transmission flushes vs. a simple drain & fill… $$$

 

[Zee09]

To be totally dishonest with you... Oh wrong thread...

 

[CKN]

To be clear I did not tell them a diagnosis. I told them on the phone the history and which tooth.
I have no issues with checkups etc. I don't know why people keep dialing in on this.
Their concern from the initial phone call was "Deep Cleaning" In the end they didn't give a hoot.
Their agenda was clear. Repeat " DEEP CLEANING" The world is coming to an end. We don't care-DEEP CLEANING!

All I am saying is they knew they could not help and would be recommending me to another Endo.
That is fine. But don't call me in for a nonsense visit when the Endo could have done it all.

And I am not complaining about costs except for a service I don't need.
Put yourself in my position. You go to get help and you get the run around. That is my beef.
When you pick up the phone and the first thing you talk about is how clean are your teeth instead
of inquiring exactly why the customer is calling you are scamming plain and simple.

They don't ask how many teeth you don't have? Why not.
I have never had a dentist act that way. I guess I have been lucky.

Let's be clear. If anyone uses the word " Scam" or " Rip Off" on this forum the direction this thread took can be expected under certain circumstances. And this was one of them.

 

[CKN]

Maybe they are, and deep cleanings are not covered, even in network. But you have to read the fine print that nobody ever does before giving them permission to “treat” you… and then you’re sunk, but don’t know it til 3 months later when the full tab comes due.

Kind of like shops selling transmission flushes vs. a simple drain & fill… $$$

No it's different.

 

[Zee09]

Let's be clear. If anyone uses the word " Scam" or " Rip Off" on this forum the direction this thread took can be expected under certain circumstances.

The only people this could possibly offend would be those that are involved in the so called scam-rip off and now find themselves exposed.

Not that there is anything wrong with that..

 

[CKN]

The only people this could possibly offend would be those that are involved in the so called scam-rip off and now find themselves exposed.

Not that there is anything wrong with that..

BTW- when was your last teeth cleaning/ checkup- prior to this situation?

 

[Zee09]

BTW- when was your last tooth cleaning?

You mean deep or regular?