Dental Issue

[actor61]

I have a dentist I like very much. Her office is a 5 minute walk from my place, she's professional, thorough and very pleasant. My problem is the upselling. I go every 6 months for check-up, x-rays and cleaning and she insists every time that I should come in every 3 months because there are some "issues", although she never specifies what these issues are. My dental insurance will not cover visits every 3 months; my 6 month visits are 100% covered. When I tell her this, she says, "We can make a deal with you. My office manager will be happy to make payment arrangements." I always decline. When I'm in the chair, she tells me all the things I could have done, most of them cosmetic, and again states that her office manager will make a payment arrangement with me for what is not covered by my insurance. I decline this as well. I'm 66 years old, I'm in excellent health, take no medications except low dose aspirin, have always had excellent dental hygiene and care and really don't feel the need to have bleaching, plugs, caps, fluoride treatments or any of the other selective treatments she suggests. I had braces in my 50s and wear retainers at night. She looked at them on my last visit and told me she could make new ones for me for $500. When I answered that the ones I'm using worked just fine, her laughing response was "You'll have to pay a lot more if your teeth go crooked again." I left pretty angry that day and considered finding another dentist. I'm really beginning to resent being treated like a customer rather than a patient and politely told her this on my last visit. Have any of you experienced this as well?

[+ Travis69]

I have also experienced this but not as bad as you. I just say no. I do trust my dentist so I will stay with him even if they try all the upselling. Too many crooked dentists out there so if you trust your dentist stay there and just say no.

[+ VeryHappyCustomer]

Yes. Very annoying. My employer covers 4 cleanings/year and my teeth are in great shape. Last time I went in for a cleaning the office manager told me I needed $12k worth of cosmetic work. Before I even saw the dentist... The office manager! I think he gets a commission. Now I'm looking for a new dentist.

[rvwnsd]

My last dentist in San Diego did something like this. They would determine what the insurance would pay for and then insist that I have the work done. And we wonder why we have runaway healthcare costs.

[+ azdr0710]

I guess I'm lucky....six-month visits.....I keep thinking my dentist will finally find another cavity (I don't brush/floss every single day) and he never does.....takes x-rays only every other visit.....he once almost-sheepishly said he could make up whitening stuff for me (only after I asked)......I pay cash for the visits

[rustyrex]

I have a dentist I like very much. Her office is a 5 minute walk from my place, she's professional, thorough and very pleasant. My problem is the upselling. I go every 6 months for check-up, x-rays and cleaning and she insists every time that I should come in every 3 months because there are some "issues", although she never specifies what these issues are. My dental insurance will not cover visits every 3 months; my 6 month visits are 100% covered. When I tell her this, she says, "We can make a deal with you. My office manager will be happy to make payment arrangements." I always decline. When I'm in the chair, she tells me all the things I could have done, most of them cosmetic, and again states that her office manager will make a payment arrangement with me for what is not covered by my insurance. I decline this as well. I'm 66 years old, I'm in excellent health, take no medications except low dose aspirin, have always had excellent dental hygiene and care and really don't feel the need to have bleaching, plugs, caps, fluoride treatments or any of the other selective treatments she suggests. I had braces in my 50s and wear retainers at night. She looked at them on my last visit and told me she could make new ones for me for $500. When I answered that the ones I'm using worked just fine, her laughing response was "You'll have to pay a lot more if your teeth go crooked again." I left pretty angry that day and considered finding another dentist. I'm really beginning to resent being treated like a customer rather than a patient and politely told her this on my last visit. Have any of you experienced this as well?

 

Not exactly from a dentist but I do go through optometrist like crazy... they try to do the upsell, every single one of them. I've been told I'll be blind by tomorrow if I don't do some mumbo jumbo bull that they want to do to my eyes. I listen and then say the magic words "how much will that cost" they typically say "oh it's just $500" and my reply is no thanks. Then they charge me for everything they can think of from sitting in the waiting room to using the pen to write my name on the check in list. I have practically been to everyone in town! So shop around, it may be tedious but at least you know you have options and if you end up finding someone you like, all the more reason that you looked in the first place.

[actor61]

Not exactly from a dentist but I do go through optometrist like crazy... they try to do the upsell, every single one of them. I've been told I'll be blind by tomorrow if I don't do some mumbo jumbo bull that they want to do to my eyes. I listen and then say the magic words "how much will that cost" they typically say "oh it's just $500" and my reply is no thanks. Then they charge me for everything they can think of from sitting in the waiting room to using the pen to write my name on the check in list. I have practically been to everyone in town! So shop around, it may be tedious but at least you know you have options and if you end up finding someone you like, all the more reason that you looked in the first place.

Yes! I have experienced the same thing with an optometrist here. She said she found something in my retina that signaled imminent blindness. I went to a retinal specialist who did a scan and said it was a normal "wrinkle" and absolutely nothing to be worried about. I returned to the optometrist the next day (stupid me) for a follow-up and she performed another retinal scan but didn't tell me that's what it was. The insurance company rightly denied payment as I'd had one 24 hours before which they did pay, and the optometrist then sent me a bill for over $700 for the one she had sneakily performed. I scheduled an appointment with her office manager/biller armed with documentation and she canceled the charge for the second scan as a "courtesy". I told her that I would never, ever return and they called me about half a dozen times afterwards to persuade me to continue care with them. I let the calls go to voice mail.

 

And your experience with your dentist's office manager matches one I had exactly. When I signed in at the desk for my check-up, she presented me with an estimate of costs for procedures I had neither requested nor needed - all of them cosmetic, and over $8,000. I crumpled it up and asked if she had a wastebasket behind her desk.

[+ azdr0710]

wow....these are nearly horror stories!......incredible

[Deadlift1]

I went through the same thing with the dentist. Go get an estimate for a dental implant. In total its like $5k. Very few insurance companies cover them.

[+ Charlie]

I have friends who often go to Mexico for dental work, because it is so much cheaper than in the US, and I occasionally go along with them just for the ride. Last month we went to new dentist in Mexicali, who did routine cleaning for a very reasonable price, but the dentist told them that they needed to come back to get some other things done, and the total price for the them would be $576. I stayed in the waiting room while the cleaning was being done, and I overheard the receptionist dealing with another American customer, who had finished and was paying his bill. His bill was for... $576! How remarkable!

 

My own dentist here in Palm Springs is more expensive, but he has never tried to upsell his services. The periodontist I went to for implants charged a set fee (fairly high) for the entire process of bone grafts and implants, and despite the fact that it took much longer than expected and required several more bone grafts than originally planned, she never charged anything more.

[edjames]

You realize you don't have to patronize this dentist?. Despite the short walk, I'm sure the neighborhood is full of other dental professionals. I would sit the dentist down and have a little chat about her "overselling". Tell her you want to have specific problems identified and what the corrective alternatives are. Remind her again that you are a "man of a certain age" and that it is imperative for you to follow the 6 month check up rule your dental plan dictates. If she doesn't like it, then its not worth the effort. Health care professionals should be willing to work within your insurance and budgetary restraints, if not find someone else. A few years ago I had a chat with my dentist, also a female practitioner, and I made sure she, and her staff understood my concerns and budget. I too have good dental insurance, but despite my dentist's pleas, I declined having all new veneers.

[LaffingBear]

Why not tell her?

 

"Look, I like coming here. I've been your patient for years, I appreciate the quality of clinical care I receive here. I'm not interested in cosmetic services. And, unless you can specify clinical reasons for me to increase the frequency of visits, please stop asking."

1. She may be part of a group, and her partners may be pressuring each other to increase cosmetic services. The margins may be better for cosmetic services. They may have an income allocation formula that rewards them for "upselling"
   
2. Many people somehow maintain an old-fashioned attitude of deference for healthcare providers. There are studies. Older people will dress up to see the doctor, and tell them "I feel great" even when they dont. They want that "wow, you're in excellent condition" reinforcement. Sometimes they dont want to bother their doctor with minor aches and pains (although they'll kvetch to children, friends, neighbors nonstop)
   

Medical pros deserve no more deference than others. If your auto mechanic upsold cleaning, paint coating, detailing, every visit, or if the waiter at a frequented restaurant tried selling shaved truffle every time..... you'd tell 'em to stop.

[+ oldNbusted]

I think I would not bother to say anything (unless asked) and just find another provider.

 

But I have to say thanks to everyone who shared horror stories, it makes me appreciate my dentist of the last 20 years. I am going to be real sad when he retires...

 

I get my eyes checked at the office inside Costco, I've not experienced any upsell at two different locations I've used.

[gallahadesquire]

I think I would not bother to say anything (unless asked) and just find another provider.

 

But I have to say thanks to everyone who shared horror stories, it makes me appreciate my dentist of the last 20 years. I am going to be real sad when he retires...

 

I get my eyes checked at the office inside Costco, I've not experienced any upsell at two different locations I've used.

 

I see the optometrist at BJ's Wholesale Club. NOt covered by insurance (I have to see a retina guy yearly, and THAT (thank goodness!) is convered). $135 for refraction and script. Last visit, about a two month supply of contact lenses, as I want to switch to daily wears: More expensive, but far more comfortable.

[BigK]

I get the same up-selling. They tell me it will be so more expensive if I let it go to failure (old fillings and such). They might be forced to do root canal.

 

I try to pick and choose but it's very tough to reject these dire warnings.

[+ not2rowdy]

Discussion I had with my provider was basically that -

 

I’m over the hill and not trying to impress anyone at this stage of life. Family genetics indicate I have maybe 15-20 years left. So treatments should focus on those facts.

 

His response was that he could “work on maintenance vs cosmetic”. Seems to be going ok so far.

[jawjateck]

My experiences led me to believe it's largely a racket. I'm fortunate that I have never had a cavity as an adult (favorable pH is the reason I think?), have good teeth, form and structure. So, I haven't been to a dentist in over 20 years! I get my teeth cleaned by the students at a local tech college. That's all I want. I don't want x-rays. I don't want recommendations for this, that, or the other. I don't want a scammer sticking his tools in my mouth finding things. I'm doing just fine, thank you very much.

[+ bashful]

I get my eyes checked at the office inside Costco, I've not experienced any upsell at two different locations I've used.

 

+1 on Costco.

 

Last 3 pairs of glasses I got from there. Wouldn't call it an upsell by any stretch, but he suggested I have some sort of picture taken of the eyes ($35 on top of the $50 exam). When he looked at it, he said I have beginning stages of cataracts, but it's not time to do anything yet. Then he said I had hypertension (just by looking at the picture), and asked if was I seeing a doctor about it. Yes I am.

 

Their prices are good if you don't go hog wild in your selections. I got rid of the employer sponsored vision plan for retirees as their low limit on what they would pay, plus monthly premium, came out close to even just paying cash at Costco. Only downside, is their frame selection is very limited, but for a fee, they may be able to re-lens existing frames.

 

I also hear they are the best deal in town for hearing aids.

[+ oldNbusted]

I also hear they are the best deal in town for hearing aids.

 

I see what you did there! :cool:

 

But yes, the audiologist there said of course I should shop around, but I would likely find their prices were similar or better than I would find elsewhere even if I have insurance coverage. I plan to follow up on that next year...

[N13]

I go to Bangkok every two years where my dentist is a NYU graduate; has very modern and up=to-date equipment; is very gentle and NEVER tries to up-sell me. The last US dentist I went to (an emergency broken tooth) gave me a list of things that had to be done. The cost would be upwards of $50,000 dollars. When I told my Bangkok dentist about it...he said that there were only two things that had to be done. The rest was great if I were 25 years old and had another 75 to go. The two things cost me $875. The US would have cost $18,000 to $20,000. Nuff said?

[N13]

My ophthalmologist who does not accept medicare, wanted $9,000 for each eye for cataract surgery. I changed; went to a well=recommended one who took medicare and paid only $1,000 each eye because I opted for the laser surgery which medicare does not cover. Most specialists see me as a profit center. No more. I shop.

[craigville beach]

Not sure where "actor61" lives but if possible check out medical school clinics. Many times the med schools have dental clinics that are open to the public.

[rvwnsd]

My favorite optometrist of all time is located at a Costco in San Diego. She does no upselling.

[+ oldNbusted]

The cost would be upwards of $50,000 dollars.

 

I'm beginning to feel like I'm missing out! I suspect I would break down laughing if a dentist said this to me in the absence of horrendous symptoms, the laughter might be truly therapeutic for me.

[+ Keith30309]

Ask her to write up a treatment plan- it’s a standard process - and take it to another dentist for a consult.