I NEED SOME WORK DONE ON MY TEETH..THE DENTIST STATES I MUST PAY HIM 20,000 DOLLARS BEFOR HE WILL WORK ON MY TEETH,,IF I DO NOT PEPAY 20,000.HE WILL NOT HELP ME.IS THIS LEGAL ETHICAL??..the dentists office is in a town where the medium income is 31,863. a year!! is i legal for a dentist to demand prepayment of so much,,?if i dont pay he wont do the work..never have run ino this befor..is this a scam??
2007-11-08 16:29:17 · 8 answers · asked by mary w 1 in Health ➔ Dental
That is cosmetic surgery. He doesn't have to do anything.
If you want all that done you need to get a loan and pay for it.
Quit being silly. Why would that be illegal?
2007-11-08 16:36:50 · answer #1 · answered by Doc Cee 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
What kind of work is going to be done for $20,000 ? You doing a complete structure in pure gold ? I think you had better get a second, third and fourth opinion for the work to be done. If there isn't another dentist in town find one in an adjacent town. As far as legality, the dentist can charge whatever he wants and it is legal.
2007-11-08 16:44:08 · answer #2 · answered by googie 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Where is the illegality in requesting to be paid? If you go into a grocery store, are you not expected to pay for the items prior to eating them, much less leaving with them? On a smaller scale a dentist may allow patients to run a balance but obviously to this extent, $20,000, the dentist will be incurring some major bills himself ie. lab expenses, chair time, material cost etc. All in all, if you feel that this is unethical, illegal or what ever go to another dentist who is willing to carry your debt. Good Luck.
2007-11-08 22:51:18 · answer #3 · answered by enamel 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you FORGOT to mention the scope of the dential work you are supposed to have? Lets say this for amusement sake.....suppose you need DENTAL IMPLANTS... and lets say you need 6 of them. OK each dental implant has a cost factor of $2500 PER IMPLANT.... (had the implants put in MYSELF a few years ago So I know the costs)... then, you will need TEETH to go over the implants....For MY teeth (a complete set of UPPERs thta screw into the implants), I was given 2 quotes---one for $8,200 and another from a different prosthadontist of $8500 so, 6 implants at $2500 = $15,000 then $8,200 for the TEETH- comes to $23,200.... Dental insurance RARELY covers the implants OR the teeth for these implants but they will cover SOME of the cost of the teeth... IF you go to one of the insurance companies participating oral surgeons or maxillo facial surgeons.... but not much... So that could be ONE reason why your doctor wants $20,000 up front.... IF it is a really expensive procedure you are having it is NOT illegal or wong for a dentist to demand payment... I'd really have to know WHAT treatment you are supposed to be getting for that price in order to really judge the fairness of the charge ...
By the way, if YOU were a dentist and YOU were going to be putting in your time, MONEY and supplies, you certainly would want your payment.... In this day and age, too many people are skipping out on their bills and I really CAN'T blame a dentist for wanting the money ahead of time IF the procedure is WORTH that much money-----
also, in the bridges made for implants (the ones that screw into the implants, gold IS USED--as a liner for inside the bridge---I have a full band of gold and another of platnum inside my teeth---it acts as a "gap filler" between the teeth and your gums... and I believe it HAS to be gold because of the durability of the metal and the lack of an allergic reaction to the metal against your gums....
2007-11-08 16:41:40 · answer #4 · answered by LittleBarb 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
FYI,
THIS NOT ETHICAL BUT IT'S ALSO NOT ILLEGAL THIS IS A VERY POOR POLICY UNLESS THIS DENTIST PANS TO DO IMPLANTS AND WANTS TO RESTORE THE TEETH WITH BRIDGES. IT COULD BE HIS OFFICE POLICY TO BE PAID BEFORE THE WORK IS EVER DONE. THIS IS NOT AT ALL A SMART CHOICE. A DENTIST MAY ASK TO BE PAID AHEAD OF TIME, BUT THIS NOT A COMMON PRACTICE. REMEMBER THAT SIGN THAT SAYS PAYMENT IS EXPECTED UPON SERVICES RENDERED?
2007-11-08 16:36:47 · answer #5 · answered by Dr. Albert, DDS, (USA) 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
um no. def not - you should go to a new dentist. also, 20,000!? what are you getting done? That's insane. he sounds really, really shady.
2007-11-08 16:36:36 · answer #6 · answered by nostalgia2007 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
No it's not legal!! He is ripping you off! Report him to the American Dental Association at once!!
2007-11-08 16:34:09 · answer #7 · answered by peterbilt197 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
your teeth must be f**ked up!
2007-11-08 16:35:41 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋