I went to the dentist yesterday. I hate going to the dentist. Not for the usual reasons of being afraid or not liking pain. No, that doesn't bother me at all. What does bother me and gives me the most pain is when it comes time to pay the bill.
I have no dental insurance. These days it seems there is no such thing unless you get coverage through your place of employment. And the few places that do offer dental insurance aren't really worth the money you put out. Especially if you only go a few times for routine things.
I have been going to this particular dentist for a little over a year now. They took over the practice when my other dentist retired and sold everything. I never had a problem with that dentist. But now it seems these people are finding things wrong that shouldn't be wrong.
Three months ago I was told that two of my bottom teeth are cracked. Well whoop-dee-doo, how long do you think they have been cracked? Probably quite a while. Yet I was approached by their money guy to sit down with him and he would work something out so that I could have crowns put on both teeth at a small fee of $2000. Just where do these people think this money comes from to pay for these things out of pocket? From a tree? Perhaps from my butt which makes more sense. Yeah, if I could crap money out I would be rich indeed. They could put a crown on every one of my teeth whether they needed it or not.
So anyway, back to yesterday's visit. I had been paying $65 the last two times for them to do pocket readings, a simple cleaning, and then a polishing of my teeth. Yesterday the fee was $85 and they did less than they did the last two sessions. I was doing fine with the hygienist until the dentist (female) was brought in to check things out and to make sure all was OK. She found a very tiny cavity on the outside front of one of my upper teeth. I had to schedule so that it could be filled. The hole is so tiny that you cannot see it and you can hardly feel it. They want $145 to fill it. I will not be put under either as it is such a tiny indentation so I imagine it won't be a long job for the dentist to do.
I still have most of my teeth and I want to keep them as they are in fairly decent shape so all I can do is go there, pay the bill, and wait for the next visit so they can take more money from me. What a vicious cycle.
9 comments:
Oh, what a racket! I am very fortunate to have insurance (and my daughter is still covered under mine - so I won't complain much).
This past summer when she lived in Florida, she insisted to the Dentist there that she had insurance (and said she gave them her card ;)!)
Well, they never billed the insurance company, ended up sending her bill to a collection agency and by the time I got a hold of things to straighten them out they were not nice at all!
It was a $750 bill (for 3 fillings and a cleaning, I believe) but what a racket!
I agree that I think they find things to make money off of us (Like a car mechanic).
Didn't Readers Digest do an article on this years ago about a guy who went around the country just to see what each office would find wrong with his teeth?
I could not find the rd story, but here is a reference to it and dental fraud:
http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-30/issue-11/columns/fabricating-periodontal-problems.html
I agree and going to the doctor is no better. They prescripted a ointment for me. Six packages each containing about four drops. Cost $135 after my co-pay.
Ralph
Peruby ~ When I first went to them over a year ago they said I had gum problems. They took readings telling me they were 5's and 6's and needed planing etc. I dished out $650 and now I am wondering if that was really necessary. we take their word for it, never question them, and I am getting tired of that.
Ralph ~ At least at the doctor I know I am fairly well covered with the insurance I have. I just wish dental insurance was included...then they could do what they want. I am being held hostage it seems.
Dentists live in another world. They are hard to find, and harder yet to find out about them.
I have four pulled teeth that I have halfway spent the money to replace. Except a nicer way would be to replace all of my upper teeth. Cost? $25,000 with a senior discount.
Mrs. Jim would like for me not to be toothless much longer.
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How are the decorations doing? Grandchildren are the reason to keep us doing the stuff that should be done by the younger generation.
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My dental insurance doesn't cover this.
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Something sounds fishy to me.
I don't have dental insurance either, so I send my dentist $50 each month--to build up credit, then when a filling has to be done, or a cleaning, I usually have enough in the account to pay for it. I call that my dental insurance.
Jim ~ the decorations are done, thank goodness. Not as much this year as last year though, but enough to make it look festive.
$25,000 you say...ouch. I'd rather be toothless than pay that kind of money.
judemiller1 ~ I like your dental insurance plan. But with my dentist they would take every cent of that money and apply it to whatever they could find wrong (or not wrong) with my teeth.
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