Why do some people claim that dentists are just trying to rip you off or over charge you?

Question

I used to think this way about medical doctors until I got into the dental field myself. I soon found out that the money that they charge goes to pay for everything from salaries to the paper clips the office uses. Of course it doesn't cost $800.00 for an actual crown. You are paying for alot more than that. I know that it is hard to understand when you are not in the field, but I deal with the same thing when I take my pets to the vet. I just try to realize that they are charging what is necessary to pay for the overhead in the office. Please don't think that they are money hungry. They don't pocket everything you pay them. Have some just had bad experiences with a dentist or do you really think they are like this?

Answer 1

>sigh< Preaching to the choir, are we? (haha)

Some people just feel that way and that's the way it is. I think I will expand my "9 out of 10" theory to dentists and their charges. You know the one by now. "9 out of 10 wisdom teeth (or root canals) are no problem at all. You just hear about the one that gives someone trouble."

9 out of 10 dentists are just honest, hard working guys. It's the 1 out 10 who puts people in a position where they have to refinance their house to pay the bill from the third party lender that was necessary to pay for dental "work" that is already falling out of their head.

I'm sure that the patients of those 9 out of 10 are not going to bother answering this question, but let's hope that they are among those who smile and say, "Thanks, Doc, " as they leave the office and pay their bill. Which 9 out of 10 patients do.

Answer 2

I've been a practicing dentist for several years now. I went from being a civilian dentist to contracting for the military. I love where I work now because no one has to pay for dental work It's all covered by the military (as long as your active duty). That was the hardest part for me in private practice. I didn't like talking money. I still don't. It seems like as soon as something says "dental" on it, the dental office gets charged 6 times as much for it.
Take for example:
Clorox - used for bleaching socks. What like about $2.00 at WalMart
Sodium Hypochlorite - exact, EXACT, same stuff used for irrigating out root canals. $40.00 for a very small bottle.

Everything was like that. So by the time I've spent 2 hours preparing a tooth for a crown, then another 1/2 seating it, out of the $800 charge, $150 lab fee, $15/hr assistants x 4 in office, $40/hour hygienist x 2. The impression material is about $50, the temporary material is $80 a tube, instruments all have to be bagged after use and sterilized, cement is expensive, every bag and suction and paper in the whole operatory has to be changed each and every patient and that's expensive. The x-ray film is expensive. It just ad's up.

I have done my best both in private practice and now with the military to honestly treatment plan every patient I see. I treat every patient like they were my brother/sister, father or mother. If I wouldn't recommend a crown for a family member with a tooth like my patients, then I wouldn't recommend it to whoever is in my chair. However, I "understand" (sort or) the crooked dentists out there who treatment plan as much as they can so they can handle the oppressive bills they face. That is to say I understand their motive. How they sleep at night with themselves is beyond me.

I guess it's like anything. If the mechanic says you need a new drive shaft, you have to take their word for it. You don't really know unless you get a second opinion. If you haven't had a single cavity in years and all of a sudden your new dentist finds 12 teeth that need fillings + 2 crowns, get a second opinion. You might just be dealing with a bad mechanic.

Answer 3

I have a real problem with the "assembly line" dentistry that is practiced today. You get put into a cubicle, the hygienist drops by and does her stuff, then the dentist drops in and says hi to discuss you needs or possible needs.
Rip off??? You bet!!!!

I remember going to the dentist when he was the only one in the office. Maybe a receptionist is required, but why can't the dentist do the cleaning....Xrays, etc.... Because they make more money doing root canals and crowns and can get extra income from having all that unnecessary staff that is required nowadays.

Of course they suggest work that isn't always necessary!
With my last dentist, we worked together and discussed what was needed and he worked to keep my teeth in good shape with what he had to work with.
It's not like that any more.

Do I have a beef?? you betcha......

Answer 4

understood what u said,but do realise its a bit of a shock to get the bill. i recently paid 1500 for a root canal.for some people thats spare change,but if u factor in mortgage,car maintenance and repair in any given month,childcare,food and utility costs, u can see that coming up with an emergency 1500 is not aneasy thing for most young families to do.many jobs are eliminating dental plans ,and all the dentists i know expect to be paid "at time of service".,not broken into several increments,which was common when i was a child.i saved my tooth,but i'm one of the lucky ones.if its a choice between ur childs needs and ur own appearance,most loving parents struggling to make ends meet will of course choose to help their child.i'm college educated,and used to look at people with missing teeth as rednecks,ignorant and objects of scorn.it was a sobering lesson to realise that,in a month when their were several unexpected and extremely high bills,i almost lost a tooth myself !!!! and i certainly said "why does this cost so much,and cant i pay half now,and half next month?"

Answer 5

The majority of dentists are like the ones you just described, but in every field there are the ones who try and rip people off!!! and they tend to give the rest a bad name.

There are also some people in this world who think that they should get everything for free and that if they have any problems that it is some other persons fault.

Answer 6

Hi I just wanted to say that I've been working in the dental field for almost 15 years,10 for the same dentist.I deal with insurance and billing.I do agree to some point you have to be careful who you choose and a crown does cost around that much it is alot of work to prepare the tooth for a crown,not to mention lab fees.So be carful who you choose some could rip you off.l

Answer 7

Because some dentists are. That said, most are charging what needs to be charged in order to stay afloat and not go bankrupt. I worked for an ophthalmologist who charged more than the other two ophthalmologists in the building because he was just out of medical school and had more loans to pay off and the equipment was more expensive than when his colleagues bought their equipment. My dentist is a bit pricey, but he is also up-to-date on all the latest techniques for pain-free dentistry and tooth saving practices. You get what you pay for, I guess.

Answer 8

I go to a dentist and she is very reasonable. If you have insurance itis higher. Crowns are very expensive, i know I've had a couple.

Answer 9

http://caag.state.ca.us/newsalerts/2004/04-110.htm

Smile

Answer 10

dentists are cool. people need to leave them alone and stop talking badly about them.