Have you noticed the latest technique dentists are using now to increase income?

You have to be careful with dentists. There are some trustworthy ones out there though.

I love and trust my dentist and will question and discuss with them what is needed. You have talked about needing dental work. I hope you find one that you trust and can get the work done.

I just don’t know if these two are untrustworthy or wanting to do a thorough job. I did leave both offices with two cavities unfilled. It seems to me that if I want to leave half a dozen teeth unfixed that should be my right, correct? It’s my mouth, right? But their attitude is, “all or nothing.” I bet they all laugh about it at parties.

I would had stated that this is urgent to be corrected right now, and that I will decide on the rest after I am healed.

I like that, @Inspired_2write . I wish I had the gall to say it. I think dentists are stubborn and determined to collect huge bucks before the patient goes to someone else. And it sort of knocks out my entire day to deal with them . The person answering the phone is well trained. And possibly trained to lie, the idea being ,” get the patient in the office no matter what you have to say to do it and I will take care of the rest.”

I just went to my dentist yesterday. Cleaned and X-rays and no cavaties. So not all are shysters.

My dentist does not charge a flat filling fee per tooth. I had a small filling at the same time as a larger one and received one fee for numbing and the filling fees varied somewhat (although they both required almost the same time and similar materials).

I also have to schedule separate x-ray and filling appointments. That does not bother me. It is likely to optimize office flow.

@chyna I’m sure I need a whole lot of work unlike you. I get it; I understand. But they want to charge the same amount of cash per tooth(over $1,000 ea) even though the work required varies greatly per each tooth.

I was just saying that there are some honest dentists out there. Maybe one of your friends can recommend someone they trust.

So many dentists are scam artists, especially if they work in those corporate dentistry places. They will tell you you have to make two separate appointments, one for X-rays and the dentist, and one for the hygienist. They will tell you you have cracks in your teeth and you need crowns. They will tell you your gums are receded and you need a special topical medication for the gums and $1k worth of gum work.

Most of the time all of it is total bullshit.

Be careful, get second opinions. Sometimes, the work is warranted. It’s terrifying that we average folk basically have no way to be sure.

I was in a room of about 50 people where I live in a lecture led by a dentist. I asked about the scams, and the dentist said that dentists need to make a living. The dentist said the standard of care is different from state to state. Then someone in the audience asked, “how many of you had no significant problems with your teeth back home, and then your new dentist here told you you needed a crown?” About 35 people out of 50 raised their hands. I’m guessing 80% of those 35 didn’t need it done. I live in a 55 and up retirement community.

I don’t let them take bunches and bunches of xrays, no thank you I don’t want that radiation in my mouth. However, I am 51, and now I’m more willing to do xrays every 18 months or so. Previously I only did them every 2–3 years, and I’m glad I did that.

Our jelly dentist (thank God for her, she has helped me more than once) said one reason she left the profession was the pressure on her to do unnecessary work was hard for her to deal with. Pressure from her bosses.

@Aster That is way too much to charge for each tooth!
Look for a dental plan ( insurance ).
I have one automatically when I became a senior and applied foe benefits.
Unfortunately its only Basic coverage and anything over that is paid by me.

I was scammed before and never went back however he did remove more teeth than required in order ( he stated) to make room for a bridge for a denture.

After going to another close by City to have this denture created, the denturist asked me ‘why’ four were taken out as only two needed it?????
I learned that once the dentist realizes that YOU have coverage by Seniors Plan they go all out and create more unneeded procedures in order to capitalize on there investment( me)???
He left for a 6 month Holiday soon after….hmmmm probably paid for by my seniors Plan and others like me .Never went back to him, not that clinic.

I hate the dentures and gag every time I put them in, thus I go without them and eat everything anyways, no impediments to eating steak etc.( fortunate that only my upper teeth are exposed as my lower teeth are hidden under my lower lip, so no one sees the small gap.
Wish that implants were much cheaper, I would go that way instead..time to update the dental system and make it affordable for all.

You don’t have to have insurance for them to want to charge the money, but I’d say having insurance does help them with their thievery.

I have zero insurance and my MIL doesn’t either, and they still try to charge more than I think is warranted and diagnose false problems.

Because of this people go to the dentist less often and do wind up with more problems and needing expensive treatment. It’s a horrible system. There are some honest dentists out there still, but hard to know who you are dealing with.

I got really lucky with my MIL when she had a loose tooth, a nearby oral surgeon did it for $150. Hrs a saint as far as I’m concerned. Took her without a formal referral and did the work on the spot.

My medical care I have the same problem. The coding is ridiculous, and the fraud is everywhere.

You don’t say what they want to do. If it’s for crowns for each top tooth, yes that is a set fee. I suggest you find a dentist you like and bite the bullet as it were. Good dentistry is expensive but necessary.

I have great insurance and a platinum level insurance policy. A few years ago, I had a pain in my mouth on a Friday, while I was at work. My regular dentist was out so I got in touch with a local dental clinic to assess what was going on, especially because the weekend was coming and I didn’t want to have pain all weekend long.

I went to the clinic and the dentist sent me for an xray. They said my wisdom tooth needed to come out. The dentist put me in his chair and gave me Novacaine. While he was waiting for the Novacaine to take effect, he put the chair down and started bonding my teeth. He told me this was why my teeth were sensitive. Meanwhile, I had no conversations with him about my teeth being sensitive (although they were sometimes). The assistant came with the laser, which I guess is to harden the bonding. I was afraid to say something against the bonding because I would be at his mercy when it came time for him to extract my tooth. I was so mad when it was over. Luckily the bonding wore off in a few months, but still, I didn’t ask for it and of course he billed my insurance company for hundreds of dollars.

I have noticed they tell everyone “You need teeth guards to wear at night because you grind or clinch your teeth” I can’t wear mine because it makes me gag.

I wont wear them because I can’t sleep with that apparatus in my mouth. I bought a cheap one on Amazon to try one out. Had to remove it.
Remnds me of a sleep study. Strange atmosphere, wires coming off of your skin, knowing you’re being watched==how can people sleep like that?