Have you had a bad experience with a dentist?

[gerido]

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Before I post, I just want to say that this is anedotal, so no need for jumping my @ss.

1. I've had two dentists and they both gave me a negative impression of dentists that I can't help be be cautious about. The first one was when I help translate for someone who wanted their wisdom teeth pulled out. He had the state's insurance plan and it expires when they turn 19. We met this doctor and he told the patient he already schedule a date to not take that kind of insurance anymore because he's not getting paid... this meant that if my friend wanted to get work done, they have to do it soon. So, 4 week before summer starts, he had it pull out. 6 weeks later, I found out that the doctor is still taking that insurance plan.

2. Low income women went to dentist, she was hurting. They calculated in the cost and then she decided she will come back to get it done because she was paying cash for it. 3 weeks later, the dentist recalculate the same procedure and the cost went up $120 bucks. When shown the original estimate, she didn't say anything and fix it back to the original price.

I am making too much of this or is this totally unethical? I cant stand it when people who don't have much are being taken advantage of (now, if they have a lot, then it's ok ).

I had one good experience though, dentist was providing care for free to low-income K-12 students. very admirable.

 

[aphistis]

Before I post, I just want to say that this is anedotal, so no need for jumping my @ss.

1. I've had two dentists and they both gave me a negative impression of dentists that I can't help be be cautious about. The first one was when I help translate for someone who wanted their wisdom teeth pulled out. He had the state's insurance plan and it expires when they turn 19. We met this doctor and he told the patient he already schedule a date to not take that kind of insurance anymore because he's not getting paid... this meant that if my friend wanted to get work done, they have to do it soon. So, 4 week before summer starts, he had it pull out. 6 weeks later, I found out that the doctor is still taking that insurance plan.

2. Low income women went to dentist, she was hurting. They calculated in the cost and then she decided she will come back to get it done because she was paying cash for it. 3 weeks later, the dentist recalculate the same procedure and the cost went up $120 bucks. When shown the original estimate, she didn't say anything and fix it back to the original price.

I am making too much of this or is this totally unethical? I cant stand it when people who don't have much are being taken advantage of (now, if they have a lot, then it's ok ).

I had one good experience though, dentist was providing care for free to low-income K-12 students. very admirable.

Thanks for pointing out that those are anecdotal. 😉

 

[lnn2]

Before I post, I just want to say that this is anedotal, so no need for jumping my @ss...

It's definitely "anedotal!"

1. I've had two dentists and they both gave me a negative impression of dentists that I can't help be be cautious about. The first one was when I help translate for someone who wanted their wisdom teeth pulled out. He had the state's insurance plan and it expires when they turn 19. We met this doctor and he told the patient he already schedule a date to not take that kind of insurance anymore because he's not getting paid... this meant that if my friend wanted to get work done, they have to do it soon. So, 4 week before summer starts, he had it pull out. 6 weeks later, I found out that the doctor is still taking that insurance plan..

I don't see anything wrong with that. Look at it from another angle. State's insurance plan usually doesn't pay much. Maybe the dentist changes his mind and keep the same insurance.

2. Low income women went to dentist, she was hurting. They calculated in the cost and then she decided she will come back to get it done because she was paying cash for it. 3 weeks later, the dentist recalculate the same procedure and the cost went up $120 bucks. When shown the original estimate, she didn't say anything and fix it back to the original price.

That's why it's called "estimate"! Maybe the price for the procedure went up due to obvious reasons. The dentist did a favor in charging the original estimate. There's nothing unethical in the above situations. They didn't make any false presentation nor misleading the patients.

I am making too much of this or is this totally unethical? I cant stand it when people who don't have much are being taken advantage of (now, if they have a lot, then it's ok ). .

that's not ethical. same price for the rich and poor, good looking and butt ugly!

I had one good experience though, dentist was providing care for free to low-income K-12 students. very admirable.

Yes, it's very admirable but is he doing that 5 days a week, 260 days per year? I doubt it. I know many dentists volunteer once, maybe twice per month. That's admirable.

The overhead of running a dental office is 60-70%. Most people have a **** load of bills to pay. 60% of dental students have loans around $150-250K upon graduation. If I was filthy rich or my mama would send me a check every week then I would be happy to do dentistry pro-bono!

You seem to have a very limited knowledage of dentistry. I'm guessing you're a pre-health (not dentistry related) student. Think of dentistry as plastic surgery. It's a business of providing cares. It sucks dealing with the business side in health profession.

 

[MsPurtell]

Yeah, I went to a real weirdo dentist not too long ago. He was a blabbermouth and couldn't stop talking about women's breasts and lesbians. Funny thing is, my husband had been to him before and no such topics came up!

Before I post, I just want to say that this is anedotal, so no need for jumping my @ss.

1. I've had two dentists and they both gave me a negative impression of dentists that I can't help be be cautious about. The first one was when I help translate for someone who wanted their wisdom teeth pulled out. He had the state's insurance plan and it expires when they turn 19. We met this doctor and he told the patient he already schedule a date to not take that kind of insurance anymore because he's not getting paid... this meant that if my friend wanted to get work done, they have to do it soon. So, 4 week before summer starts, he had it pull out. 6 weeks later, I found out that the doctor is still taking that insurance plan.

2. Low income women went to dentist, she was hurting. They calculated in the cost and then she decided she will come back to get it done because she was paying cash for it. 3 weeks later, the dentist recalculate the same procedure and the cost went up $120 bucks. When shown the original estimate, she didn't say anything and fix it back to the original price.

I am making too much of this or is this totally unethical? I cant stand it when people who don't have much are being taken advantage of (now, if they have a lot, then it's ok ).

I had one good experience though, dentist was providing care for free to low-income K-12 students. very admirable.

 

[Da ObtURator]

Don't fret too much... there are greedy, crooked, and unethical members of every professiona and perhaps this dentist is also. Now, for all of the current dental students, I am sure no one has any of those types of classmates.

Just remember that most people are decent and hard working and a few who are undermining the profession.

 

[gerido]

It's definitely "anedotal!"


I don't see anything wrong with that. Look at it from another angle. State's insurance plan usually doesn't pay much. Maybe the dentist changes his mind and keep the same insurance.


That's why it's called "estimate"! Maybe the price for the procedure went up due to obvious reasons. The dentist did a favor in charging the original estimate. There's nothing unethical in the above situations. They didn't make any false presentation nor misleading the patients.

that's not ethical. same price for the rich and poor, good looking and butt ugly!


Yes, it's very admirable but is he doing that 5 days a week, 260 days per year? I doubt it. I know many dentists volunteer once, maybe twice per month. That's admirable.

The overhead of running a dental office is 60-70%. Most people have a **** load of bills to pay. 60% of dental students have loans around $150-250K upon graduation. If I was filthy rich or my mama would send me a check every week then I would be happy to do dentistry pro-bono!

You seem to have a very limited knowledage of dentistry. I'm guessing you're a pre-health (not dentistry related) student. Think of dentistry as plastic surgery. It's a business of providing cares. It sucks dealing with the business side in health profession.

you are very defensive.

 

[lnn2]

you are very defensive.

wrong answer! try again! 😀
I'm just looking at it at a different angle! I don't care about those dentists. I'm not defending greedy, incompetent dentists. There're greedy, incompetent dentists everywhere (so are other professions). I found out my dentist sucks, absolutely incompetent after my first yr in dental school. Most of the things she had done to my teeth, I had to have them done again.

 

[UConn_SDM]

Yeah, I went to a real weirdo dentist not too long ago. He was a blabbermouth and couldn't stop talking about women's breasts and lesbians. Funny thing is, my husband had been to him before and no such topics came up!

Sorry, I generally only discuss breast size and lesbians with my female patients but if your husband really wants to......well I can make an exception. 😛

 

[MsPurtell]

oh, dear.....I should've known you'd respond to my post.

Sorry, I generally only discuss breast size and lesbians with my female patients but if your husband really wants to......well I can make an exception. 😛

 

[aphistis]

oh, dear.....I should've known you'd respond to my post.

Uh-oh, intra-school squabbling!

If only zdaddy08 were still following me around SDN, he and I could join in. It's almost enough to make me miss him. Almost. 😉

 

[zdaddy08]

Uh-oh, intra-school squabbling!

If only zdaddy08 were still following me around SDN, he and I could join in. It's almost enough to make me miss him. Almost. 😉

since you turned me in for calling you a *******, i've been at a loss for nicer things to say....so don't worry....i'm still here 👍

Have a nice day!

 

[toofache32]

The hardest thing for people to realize is that dental insurance is in no way similar to medical insurance. In general, dental insurance sucks and patients get pissed when they figure that out. Even with insurance you still have a relatively large out-of-pocket fee.

Dental insurance also doesn't pay very well. There were very few local dentists in the city where I went to dental school who took Medicaid. The reason is because Medicaid would only pay about 50% of the fee. When you consider that overhead averages about 70%, the dentist only makes $30 off of a $100 filling. When Medicaid only pays 50%, he just lost $20 doing that filling! It doesn't take an Economics major to figure out that you can't stay in business long doing that kind of stuff. In summary, make sure you know all the facts because a "greedy" dentist is often just trying to keep afloat.

 

[grant555]

The hardest thing for people to realize is that dental insurance is in no way similar to medical insurance. In general, dental insurance sucks and patients get pissed when they figure that out. Even with insurance you still have a relatively large out-of-pocket fee.

Dental insurance also doesn't pay very well. There were very few local dentists in the city where I went to dental school who took Medicaid. The reason is because Medicaid would only pay about 50% of the fee. When you consider that overhead averages about 70%, the dentist only makes $30 off of a $100 filling. When Medicaid only pays 50%, he just lost $20 doing that filling! It doesn't take an Economics major to figure out that you can't stay in business long doing that kind of stuff. In summary, make sure you know all the facts because a "greedy" dentist is often just trying to keep afloat.

Well said. There is a lot of truth to what you have disclosed. Take care and GOD bless.

 

[12YearOldKid]

Before I post, I just want to say that this is anedotal, so no need for jumping my @ss.

1. I've had two dentists and they both gave me a negative impression of dentists that I can't help be be cautious about. The first one was when I help translate for someone who wanted their wisdom teeth pulled out. He had the state's insurance plan and it expires when they turn 19. We met this doctor and he told the patient he already schedule a date to not take that kind of insurance anymore because he's not getting paid... this meant that if my friend wanted to get work done, they have to do it soon. So, 4 week before summer starts, he had it pull out. 6 weeks later, I found out that the doctor is still taking that insurance plan.

2. Low income women went to dentist, she was hurting. They calculated in the cost and then she decided she will come back to get it done because she was paying cash for it. 3 weeks later, the dentist recalculate the same procedure and the cost went up $120 bucks. When shown the original estimate, she didn't say anything and fix it back to the original price.

I am making too much of this or is this totally unethical? I cant stand it when people who don't have much are being taken advantage of (now, if they have a lot, then it's ok ).

You are definitely making too much of this.

1. You are honestly mad at this dentist for being off by 14 days?!!! Maybe he changed his mind about dropping the insurance; maybe he found out he was under contract for longer than he thought, maybe the state convinced him to stay on until they could find another provider in the area.

There are a hundred sensible and honorable reasons for this to have happened. You should just be grateful this dentist took the time to help your friend. Most dentists who take state plans/medicaid plans are losing money on the deal and just do it to "give back" to the community. Cut the guy some slack. You probably ought to be thanking him instead of ripping him apart... just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished.

2. Dentists change their fees all the time. That is their prerogative. Do you also go in and yell at the gas station manager because the price of regular unleaded is higher this week? 🙄 Or maybe the dentist had originally figured in a significant discount for the lady the first time around because he felt sorry for her but forgot about it at the second visit. Or maybe there were unforeseen circumstances that came up during the procedure causing the cost to go up; that happens all the time. In any case, he honored the original price which he was not obligated to do. I don't see what the big deal is.

Don't be so quick to think the worst of people. It sounds like you might be just a plain old anti-dentite. 😀

 

[grant555]

gerido, I understand the frustration here, but there is some truth to what others have said. The structuring of dental fees or running a practice is not as clear cut as it might seem. For example, fee structuring is based on a myriad amount of factors that are frequently evolving from overhead, education level of the staff, insurance rates, zip code, quality of dental materials used, etc.

Whether those clinicians were deceitful or not, there are unethical people in every profession, and dentistry is no exception. Whether you want to do charity work, take medicaid, insurance only, or strictly pay for fee, you must turn some sort of profit or have to close up shop. This doesn't excuse those questionable actions, but is an inescapable facet of business.

For a good breakdown of dental fee structuring see here:

http://www.masterplanalliance.com/DentalFeeSettingwithInsuranceCompanies.htm

Just be the best professional you can be and let others be responsible for their own actions.

Take care and GOD bless.