Yet another, is my dentist ripping me off, thread

[mikeford]

Sonicare toothbrush is money well spent. I would start with that and more frequent use, then get a second opinion. Is your dentist "in plan"?

 

[Hmongkeysauce]

On a related note, I had a deep cleaning done last year. I don't recall how much it was, but I don't think it was that much since I didn't have to pay anything out of pocket.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Sonicare toothbrush is money well spent. I would start with that and more frequent use, then get a second opinion. Is your dentist "in plan"?

Yup they're in plan.

Any particular model that you'd recommend? They're pretty pricey to say the least lol..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

 

[squarecut1]

It should be around 1000 bucks. So yes it seems high

 

[Schfifty Five]

First off I will say I am not the greatest at brushing my teeth twice a day. I usually do it once and I usually floss every 2-3 days.

So I went to a new dentist, who was recommended to me by a friend, for a normal cleaning today. (Yelp reviews are relatively good too) They did their standard x-ray, check up etc. X-Ray and all of that was fine, no cavities but then they did a gum probe. Basically the told me I had a few 6's (millimeter gaps) in some of my back teeth. They told me I would need a deep cleaning and antibiotics for those teeth.

Well the quoted me the bill and it was $1820. My insurance would cover $1166 (out of my $1500 yearly limit) and I would pay $654 out of pocket.

Is it me or does that sound way expensive? I was planning to use my yearly limit to remove my last two wisdom teeth (which would be about $700) so this would throw a crutch into it. I've had that same probe before and after a cleaning and taking care of my teeth the gaps reduced. Do I really need to do this? From a few sites I read online most people who do this have gum disease and show some bone damage in the X-Ray. I had none of that and no history of that.

I'm trying to figure out if you brush in the morning or at night. Either way, gross to miss one or the other. How do you go to sleep at night w/o brushing your teeth, or get up and talk to people in the morning? lol

 

[squarecut1]

Yup they're in plan.

Any particular model that you'd recommend? They're pretty pricey to say the least lol..

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

No need to get something close to 200 bucks, when this would be fine

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-P...ric+toothbrush

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I'm trying to figure out if you brush in the morning or at night. Either way, gross to miss one or the other. How do you go to sleep at night w/o brushing your teeth, or get up and talk to people in the morning? lol

Morning. Sleep breath is the worse. Gotta feel fresh in the morning

 

[surfsatwerk]

Meh I just chew gum in the morning, ain't got no time for brushing.

 

[zoiks]

It just might be a mistake. Check with your dentist to get a breakdown and ask why it costs as much as it shows.
Similar story. Recently my wife went to a new chiropractor and had a checkup done with xrays with some followup adjustments. She went a couple of times and then we got a letter from the insurance company that they're denying the chiropractor's charges for 55k. We went to the chiropractor and they said that their billing company goofed up and erroneously added too many zeros. The bill was for 550 and not 55000.

Check with your dentist. It's possible that they added services that you did not get done.

 

[NutBucket]

I never really flossed until I started dating my wife. She was disgusted so naturally I started flossing daily. That was over a decade ago and as mentioned by others it now feels disgusting not to floss. Well worth the 5 minutes it takes to do it. Plus, the hygienist always comments how clean my teeth are.

 

[Red Squirrel]

It just might be a mistake. Check with your dentist to get a breakdown and ask why it costs as much as it shows.
Similar story. Recently my wife went to a new chiropractor and had a checkup done with xrays with some followup adjustments. She went a couple of times and then we got a letter from the insurance company that they're denying the chiropractor's charges for 55k. We went to the chiropractor and they said that their billing company goofed up and erroneously added too many zeros. The bill was for 550 and not 55000.

Check with your dentist. It's possible that they added services that you did not get done.

Ouch, I think I would need to go see a cardiologist after that, not a chiropractor. :biggrin:

 

[AznAnarchy99]

It just might be a mistake. Check with your dentist to get a breakdown and ask why it costs as much as it shows.
Similar story. Recently my wife went to a new chiropractor and had a checkup done with xrays with some followup adjustments. She went a couple of times and then we got a letter from the insurance company that they're denying the chiropractor's charges for 55k. We went to the chiropractor and they said that their billing company goofed up and erroneously added too many zeros. The bill was for 550 and not 55000.

Check with your dentist. It's possible that they added services that you did not get done.

Nope. I asked for the breakdown as I was leaving the office. $720 is just the anti-biotics alone.

 

[zoiks]

Nope. I asked for the breakdown as I was leaving the office. $720 is just the anti-biotics alone.

What kind of antibiotics? And why would a dentist dispense medications? Usually you have to go to a pharmacy for that. Most dentists prescribe amoxicillian which is pretty cheap normally. I think I paid like $15 without any insurance for that. They can also prescribe Erythromycin but that is rare I think.

 

[xgsound]

Sonicare toothbrush is money well spent. I would start with that and more frequent use, then get a second opinion. Is your dentist "in plan"?

Sonicares are great and effective. They go from $40 to $190. Get one. It's not $1800.
Also use Sensodyne toothpaste. If you do nothing else, start right now with both as they are effective for your problem. I did not, and as many old folks say, I wish I took better care of my teeth.

Antibiotics for dentistry are so cheap that many pharmacies charge little or nothing for them. My pharmacy (Giant Eagle in Pittsburgh, PA) charges nothing.


Jim

 

[mikeford]

No need to get something close to 200 bucks, when this would be fine

http://www.amazon.com/Professional-P...ric+toothbrush

I have no experience with the rotating head OralB style, and use one that looks like the Healthycare that was around $80 or less with coupon on sale etc.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ls?ie=UTF8&me=

Its cheaper than the cheapest dental visit you will ever have and considerable less painful.

Sonicare is AGGRESSIVE, read the instructions and set it on "whimp" for the first couple of weeks. Sensodyne toothpaste can help. Don' t use cheap heads with stiff brushes, only soft ones, and don't press, just hold gently at an angle to the gum line and change quadrants with the beep. Start out slow, once a day, gentle mode.

Maybe look at using an oxygenating mouth rinse.

Sonicare has regular coupons for big discounts, ebay has some deals, but this is not an item to cheap out on, as I said its the cheapest dental visit you will ever find.

Any toothbrush works if you use it and floss twice a day, Sonicare works pretty well even if you don't use it nearly as often as you should.

 

[JEDIYoda]

What kind of antibiotics? And why would a dentist dispense medications?

Not really...some charge for the medicine they use...others like periodontist can prescribe such things as antibiotics...

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I've been using a Sonicare toothbrush for 15 years and it took 12 years for the dentist to ask, "How often do you floss?" This was the regular dentist office, but not my regular hygienist. The dentist office thought I flossed regularly, and even brushed as my scheduled visits were twice a year. Sonicare is just that good in my case.

As for your dentist ripping you off, I am sure they are playing the insurance game. They know you can go someplace and pay X where insurance isn't involved and know Y is what your insurance will pay. So, they take your insurance and charge you X+Y. It is the same way with prescription eyewear, too.

No benefit to go to Costco for glasses as they charge what I would pay out of pocket because they don't take my vision insurance.

 

[jaedaliu]

I wish I could floss. I've tried every form of floss I know off. I can't get it though my teeth. My dentist also has trouble and typically when they do get it though it's with an audible pop and my teeth hurt for days (not my gums, which also bleed, but mostly from being slammed down on with a thin line of floss as it pops past my teeth).

I sometimes use a tiny little 'brush' to get at the space at the bottom by the gums, but that's about it.

Get the floss needles. Your laziness doesn't mean you can't floss.

http://amzn.com/B001HQYNI6

 

[AznAnarchy99]

What kind of antibiotics? And why would a dentist dispense medications? Usually you have to go to a pharmacy for that. Most dentists prescribe amoxicillian which is pretty cheap normally. I think I paid like $15 without any insurance for that. They can also prescribe Erythromycin but that is rare I think.

I forgot the name but they wanted to put it in my gums, not an oral amoxicillian or erythomycin.

Also been reading up on the toothbrushes. What's better Sonicare or the Oral-B ones? They both have pretty good reviews.

 

[nickbits]

I used to only brush 1x a day in the morning and never floss. I've only had 1 cavity but all of my lower back molars have no enamel left and I have 2 crowns and the other 2 will need something soon. If I could go back in time I would have made sure to brush 2x and floss every day. Save your teeth while you still can!!

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I used to only brush 1x a day in the morning and never floss. I've only had 1 cavity but all of my lower back molars have no enamel left and I have 2 crowns and the other 2 will need something soon. If I could go back in time I would have made sure to brush 2x and floss every day. Save your teeth while you still can!!

Sigh yeah I know. I was half asleep in bed last night but dragged myself out to brush my teeth lol.

 

[Brainonska511]

Also been reading up on the toothbrushes. What's better Sonicare or the Oral-B ones? They both have pretty good reviews.

I've stuck with a basic Oral-B Vitality brush. It's not high end and it costs about $25, but that, plus flossing once a day, has kept my teeth and gums in excellent shape according to my dentist.

Floss down into the gums between the teeth - you might see some bleeding the first few times. Then you just have to make sure to brush both the gum line and around the teeth.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

I've stuck with a basic Oral-B Vitality brush. It's not high end and it costs about $25, but that, plus flossing once a day, has kept my teeth and gums in excellent shape according to my dentist.

Floss down into the gums between the teeth - you might see some bleeding the first few times. Then you just have to make sure to brush both the gum line and around the teeth.

I ordered this.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Had a $20 off coupon from Amazon and I had some credit card points that I used to bring it down to $40.

 

[mikeford]

I forgot the name but they wanted to put it in my gums, not an oral amoxicillian or erythomycin.

Also been reading up on the toothbrushes. What's better Sonicare or the Oral-B ones? They both have pretty good reviews.

Buy the OralB, why risk spending an extra $50 when you have a whole mouthful of teeth and won't miss losing a few.

 

[nickbits]

I have the OralB 1000 or something is a good toothbrush but I've never tried the sonicare.