Help! Dont know what to do about a high dental bill?

Question

Oh my goodness. Ok, wasnt using my head when I went to see this dentist about a broken filling I had. Well, I went outside my network of dentists on my insurance plan. I go into his office and he only gives me one option for a filling and proceeds to start prepping my tooth for this filling. Turns out, it was the most expensive filling he offered. On top of that I havent received a bill yet and the nurse just told me that the approximate amount was going to be $1,087. She says I have to pay everything up front when I come in to have the filling placed in my mouth. Right now I have a temporary and I asked if I could go with another kind of filling, she tells me it's too late. They have already taken the impression of my tooth and I have to pay for the whole thing. I feel like I was taken advantage of. What do I do?

Answer 1

WOW!! Over a thousand for a filling. Call another dentist for another opinion. That sounds like a really outrageous amount of money for that procedure. Best of luck to you. If you have a temporary filling in your mouth, well, it is kinda like having braces and going to another dentist to have them removed. They usually will not remove the braces because it is a sign that you did not pay the dentist that put the braces on the the first place.

Answer 2

I agree with the two above me. They do not take impressions for standard fillings. They will take impressions for a onlay or a crown which both run around $1000. If the tooth deteriorated more or is too deep it will not support a standard filling, that may be why it broke. Get all the dental codes they are using for your billing and contact your insurance to get the correct names for what that DDS is doing. Procedures are defined by a four digit ADA code that starts with a D. That will tell you exactly what it is that they are doing. Your insurance should still cover some of the procedure and visit, just at a lower rate. On average they will only cover 50% of crowns and onlays. (stinks but oh well) If it is a crown or onlay there are only a few materials used with the most popular one being porcelain.(gold is the most expensive) Many DDS don't make them in their office, the impression will get sent out to a lab to be made. That is why she may have said "it's too late". Speak to the DDS directly and have him explain what exactly is happening, don't go to his staff. Tell him you don't want to proceed until you fully understand, don't be timid about all of this. Remember he is providing a service to you just like any other trade. The DDS after his name does not make him any less human than you or I.

Answer 3

Contact your insurance company and see if they have out of network benefits. Most do at a reduced rate.
For instance, they may only pay 70% of the bill instead of 100%.
But call your insurance company and talk to them before going back to the dentist.

And by the way, so what if the dentist has already done impressions, you are free to go to another dentist. He can do new impressions and fillings. Don't let the dentist's nurse bully you into coming back if your insurance company recommends you stay in network and that office can not charge you for work they haven't done whether they charge global fees or not. Global fees are usually bundles fees that go together for certain procedures. But if they have to, they can charge for the work they've already done and if they don't, report them to your insurance company.

Answer 4

Just because they did the molded impression of the tooth for the expensive filling doesn't mean it's too late to back out of this procedure. The nurse was mistaken when she told you that it's too late.

Pls get another opinion about this from someone else. If you can't talk to the office manager of the clinic to find out about a payment plan.

Answer 5

I would call the better business beaureu like someone suggested earlier that sounds a bit much especially if you had ins. And it deff isnt too late to see another dentist. Do some reasearch for the dentist online too if you like. Maybe you can find some news. Also if you havent paid go and see another dentist in the mean time maybe they can tell you what to do about this dentist.

Answer 6

It sounds more like a crown than a filling. You might want to check with the Better Business Bureau about this dentist and proceed from there.

Answer 7

Will, from your describtion I say its propably a special type of restoration called gold inlay, which is used mainly in some cases of wide cavities where other restorations as amalgum are contraindicated. I don't know the exact prices in the US but generaly this type of restoration is really expensive as the gold alloy used has nearly double the price of 24K gold, so If this is the case I don't think this price is outragous. Regarding undoing this restoration I don't think Its possible as the cavity is prepared widely whit a flaring occlusaly, which is the reverse for amalgum (the cheaper option), but the final judgement of the case can't be done unless I see it. If you would like you can capture a picture of this tooth and mail it to me then I well tell you my final opinion.

Answer 8

Call your own insurance company. They may have a few things to tell you. I dont believe its to late to not get it done at that office you maybe able to change the dr and go to someone in network. If it is a chain of offices you maybe able to talk with an office manager or someone in the office for a payment plan at least.