I recently had to switch from my dentist (who I loved) because they stopped accepting our insurance. I got 3 cleanings a year there for probably about 10 years without any cavities or other issues. I've now been to the new place twice, and they've found something each time (Around $100 in additional fees both times).

So I can't shake this feeling that either my old dentist really sucked or the new one is trying to shake me down. I think I like the new place other than that though, so just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if I'm just being paranoid. (Didn't include names to avoid controversy)

doubledog said:

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Counterpoint said:

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I recently had to switch from my dentist (who I loved) because they stopped accepting our insurance. I got 3 cleanings a year there for probably about 10 years without any cavities or other issues. I've now been to the new place twice, and they've found something each time (Around $100 in additional fees both times).

So I can't shake this feeling that either my old dentist really sucked or the new one is trying to shake me down. I think I like the new place other than that though, so just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if I'm just being paranoid. (Didn't include names to avoid controversy)

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If I bring my old car to a dealership for servicing, they are likely to identify dozens issues that require repair. The point is that I do not take my old car to the dealership for repair.

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Not sure good dental care can be compared to an old car? Good way to lose your teeth!

histag10 said:

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Depends. I have a kid with weak teeth (and a 6 year old with 1 surface cavity) and a husband that needed a decent amount of work this year. We paid around $3000 out of pocket between everything. I checked the cash pay price- we would have paid around 6k for everything without insurance. My premiums are less than 1200/yr.

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That's for that. Sounds like it's a case where it makes sense for you to I'm surprised the cash price was higher than the network price. I've had providers tell me they charge less for cash on delivery than they collect for insurance. That's particularly true for services like X-rays. In health insurance there's actually a product called Sidecar that doesn't maintain networks at all. You get a debit card that tied to your bank or credit card that you then use to pay the cash price for whatever service at whatever doctor. They maintain a list of services and prices and manage your account by that schedule. Way more efficient than the nonsense we all deal with now.

Thanks for the explanation.

Will they bill your insurance as out of network? Lots in our area do and it's still mostly covered if their rates are near the insurance allowable amounts. That's how it works for ours. Lots of dentists aren't in network especially good ones.

Yep. Having $1500 worth of periodontal work done, not covered by insurance. All out of pocket. Super fun.

what insurance carrier allows 3 cleanings a year ?

LOYAL AG said:

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histag10 said:

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Depends. I have a kid with weak teeth (and a 6 year old with 1 surface cavity) and a husband that needed a decent amount of work this year. We paid around $3000 out of pocket between everything. I checked the cash pay price- we would have paid around 6k for everything without insurance. My premiums are less than 1200/yr.

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That's for that. Sounds like it's a case where it makes sense for you to I'm surprised the cash price was higher than the network price. I've had providers tell me they charge less for cash on delivery than they collect for insurance. That's particularly true for services like X-rays. In health insurance there's actually a product called Sidecar that doesn't maintain networks at all. You get a debit card that tied to your bank or credit card that you then use to pay the cash price for whatever service at whatever doctor. They maintain a list of services and prices and manage your account by that schedule. Way more efficient than the nonsense we all deal with now.

Thanks for the explanation.

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Cash pay was cheaper than the network price, but not my out of pocket price. My insurance (BCBS) covered 60% of the network cost on all of our work (maybe more?). I just know it came out way in our favor on the stuff we did this year.

FlyRod said:

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Yep. Having $1500 worth of periodontal work done, not covered by insurance. All out of pocket. Super fun.

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Damn, that doesn't make sense that it wasn't covered, because all of the dental insurance I have had covers periodontal, either at 50% cost to you or 20%.

I was surprised too. They said they'd file a claim anyway but i'm thinking why bother? Delta told me it wouldn't be covered anyway.

I'm just glad it wasn't $3-5000 which I had reason to believe it would be.

doubledog said:

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Counterpoint said:

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I recently had to switch from my dentist (who I loved) because they stopped accepting our insurance. I got 3 cleanings a year there for probably about 10 years without any cavities or other issues. I've now been to the new place twice, and they've found something each time (Around $100 in additional fees both times).

So I can't shake this feeling that either my old dentist really sucked or the new one is trying to shake me down. I think I like the new place other than that though, so just wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if I'm just being paranoid. (Didn't include names to avoid controversy)

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If I bring my old car to a dealership for servicing, they are likely to identify dozens issues that require repair. The point is that I do not take my old car to the dealership for repair.

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I hope you don't own a BMW and use their service here...that's all I will say.

sirhc said:

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JP76 said:

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what insurance carrier allows 3 cleanings a year ?

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Who wants to go to the dentist that many times in a year

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I go twice a year because I drank lots of coffee and red wine. I hate the dentist but cleanings are pretty harmless. I think I hate the sound of the tools more than anything.

Oh, we've all lived this story. Heck I've even had it at the same dental place if you got the associate dentist.. My main guy everything was always great. His partner shows up And he finds all kinds of new things. My regular dentist gets back in town. Nope everything's fine.

My favorite that a lot of them push nowadays, especially if you're a new person all the deep cleaning you need the deep cleaning. I fell for this one time never again.

75AG said:

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In your (and my) case, red wine is medicinal. But iced coffee is so very wrong. I would suggest psychological help for the iced coffee stuff.

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I water it down with a couple shots of zero calorie creamer. Seriously, I've lost 10-20 pounds this summer barely even changing my exercise routine.

Wine (or any alcohol) in the evening is not helpful to your natural sleep cycle. Yeah, it might make some people feel initially more relaxed or drowsy but they aren't actually getting good sleep once they do sleep.

maroon barchetta said:

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Wine (or any alcohol) in the evening is not helpful to your natural sleep cycle. Yeah, it might make some people feel initially more relaxed or drowsy but they aren't actually getting good sleep once they do sleep.

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yeah, I'm talking about over dinner.

LB12MEEN said:

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Oh, we've all lived this story. Heck I've even had it at the same dental place if you got the associate dentist.. My main guy everything was always great. His partner shows up And he finds all kinds of new things. My regular dentist gets back in town. Nope everything's fine.

My favorite that a lot of them push nowadays, especially if you're a new person all the deep cleaning you need the deep cleaning. I fell for this one time never again.

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Thanks, this is actually great to hear.
I too was offered the sedated deep clean when I first got on the A&M insurance (not by either of the dentists I mentioned earlier, thankfully). I later found out that same dentist was being sued because his patient had to have some of her fingers amputated due to complications she had while he had her sedated!

Bourbon tonight, Halcion tomorrow in prep for periodontal hell.