The dentist was highly recommended here by someone. However, my experience was just opposite and I had to leave the place after paying $175 just for being checked in the name of Complete Examination, which, I think, was not necessasy. When I made the appontment I was told that it will cost me only $65.
2006-11-23 13:54:55 · 6 answers · asked by Muhammad A 1 in Health ➔ Dental
There is absolutely no need to file any complaints over this. I am sorry, but complaints need to be reserved for REAL issues, and not a dispute over less than $150.00. You may have been quoted a fee for a limited exam, and then after you got there the dentist felt that it would be in your best interest to have a complete exam done. We do this all the time in my office and most patients are grateful that we are trying to tell them all the problems in their mouth. A complete, comprehensive exam in my office would cost you $140.00. A complete exam is completely necessary, if you have not had one in the past year, and if you have not had one by this peticular dentist.
I don't mean to come across as mean, but are you a dental professional? Do you know what problems, if any, that you have in your mouth? Isn't his professional opinion the reason you went there in the first place? I have had numerous patients that have told me that they don't have any problems in their mouth, that they arn't having pain, so they don't really need a complete exam, and after looking in their mouth and seeing only one or two x-rays on them, I see that they have multiple issues. Most people are grateful that I encouraged them to get a full mouth series of x-rays and havea complete exam, cause they would not have known the problems in their mouth, without those 2 things.
Are you sure that maybe it's just that you are mad that this dentist found problems in your mouth and you are overwelmed hearing the cost of dental treatment?
Regardless of why you are mad at him, I can tell you for sure that you have absolutely NO case against him with the state board. They get complaints all the time about money issues, and 98% end up in the dentists favor.
2006-11-23 14:18:07 · answer #1 · answered by LittleMermaid 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm assuming you called ahead and asked what the charges would be. It would be standard for a dental practice to say something like, "an exam starts at $65, but additional services may be added as needed."
It is NOT in the best interest of a dental practice to pile on charges to a new patient. It's all about first impressions, so to deliberately mislead a new patient would be professional suicide.
I know it's popular to think of dentists as rich, BMW-driving, yacht-owning, elitist rip-off artists...but the truth is the vast majority are hard-working health care professionals who care about their patients. If the dentist you saw was "highly recommended", there must be some reason.
What - if any - responsibility do you as a patient assume for this misunderstanding? Did you ask what procedures were being done? Did you inquire if there might be additional charges for things like x-rays and photos?
I'm not saying there aren't dishonest or greedy dentists out there. But they usually don't last long because word gets around.
All that having been said....if there were no x-rays or study models taken, $175 sounds high. Did they give you a massage?
2006-11-23 16:21:57 · answer #2 · answered by emmalue 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was probably 65$ just for the office call. The rest is probably the fees steming from the exam, which by the way is always necessary. How else do you expect them to see the internal health of your teeth? If you still feel cheated you should go back and ask them for an itemized receipt of the services you paid for and why was you told to pay so much more. My husband says to call them about your bill and threaten to call the "Consumer Protection Agency" because what they did was called " Bait and Switch" Its where one thing is promised and once your there, the "deal" changes in order to benifit their pockets. If that threat isnt taken seriously, go to your local courthouse and file a legal complaint against the business. Also. before u file the complaint, call a lawyer that offers free consultation and explain to them and see what you should do. Good Luck =)
2006-11-23 14:07:09 · answer #3 · answered by Danelle 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The same thing happens in a LOT of businesses. Especially the big-name hair salons. lol
When you got into the office, they probably asked you when your last exam was etc...right? In order to evaluate your mouth properly, they most likely took X-rays? That costs extra. There are many reasons for the added on costs.
2006-11-23 14:05:03 · answer #4 · answered by Evil Wordmonger, LTD LOL 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Take your receipts and file a claim with the national dental board.
they can explore and investigate the Doc. Perhaps they find other patients being ripped off like your self.
find them through the internet www.yahoo.com
type in national board of dentists.
2006-11-23 13:59:31 · answer #5 · answered by angelikabertrand64 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Did you have any x-rays?
2006-11-23 15:00:59 · answer #6 · answered by Picture Taker 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋