Dentist are effing crooks

[onewhippedpuppy]

Seriously. My family has been to 4 dentists in 5 years. Each has consistently tried to upsell services such as whitening, orthodontics (wife had braces and has damn near perfect teeth), power toothbrushes, etc. There's been several cases of one dentist claiming that work was crucial and HAD to be done, but the new dentist didn't notice a thing. Case in point, a prior dentist decided that my wife and I both needed two teeth capped. We each had one done then decided to go elsewhere. We been through two dentists since, with no mention of the need for a second cap. Now I'm out over $600 for my son, as the current dentist had to repair 6 cavities that were repaired incorrectly by the prior dentist. Because it's been less than 24 months the insurance won't cover it. But did that work NEED to be done, particularly on a 5 year old that will lose his teeth over the next few years? I'm convinced that they latch onto anything that MIGHT need to be done, then convince you it's life and death.

Anyone here a dentist?

[gprsh924]

Tell your kid to brush his teeth more?

Sorry I can't help, I have seen one dentist my entire life.

[GH85Carrera]

I am not a dentist. I have gone to the same dentist for 30 years. I trust him 100%. I found a keeper.

[onewhippedpuppy]

The little guy brushes twice per day with our help. Pretty damn good in my opinion. I need a no nonsense, no BS, old school sort of dentist.

[Christien]

Beats me. Our insurance covers everything except a portion of checkups, so whatever the dentist says, goes. Though she's never tried to convince me to do whitening or anything like that. As if...

[Aurel]

Yo!

[dhoward]

Been there.
Been told my wisdom teeth need to come out (all 4) for the past twenty-five years.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Christien

Beats me. Our insurance covers everything except a portion of checkups, so whatever the dentist says, goes. Though she's never tried to convince me to do whitening or anything like that. As if...

Normally our insurance is pretty good, but apparently it doesn't cover dentist do-overs.

[cl8ton]

Actual fact here, in a recession dentistry is the first health service given up by people.
Just sain....

[TechnoViking]

Fluoride has reduced the need for their services immensely in the last few decades. So they've got to try to generate profit somehow.

I don't trust them. I turned down X-rays in my last cleaning. I mean, do I really need another set of freaking X-rays of the same teeth that have been in there for my whole life? I started asking questions and all of a sudden it was no longer necessary. Figure that saved me a few bucks and a head full of radiation.

I've had other issues, too long to list here. But suffice to say I don't trust them. My plan is: Go in for cleaning once or twice a year, and don't have any other "work" done unless something hurts.

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by dhoward

Been there.
Been told my wisdom teeth need to come out (all 4) for the past twenty-five years.

Man, what are you waiting for? Have them yanked out and you can start posting in PARF.

[KarlCarrera]

I've been there. Didn't like my dentist and didn't spend any time looking for another one. Spent a number of years not going, even for the routine cleanings (2xyr).

Four years ago I found a really great dentist through work and a reference. Kinda gruff and no BS. He proceeded to tell me how fouled up I was, and how I was needlessly complicating my life.We went through the deep scale cleaning quadrant by quadrant. OUCH. I had to cover some of the expense as not all of it was covered by insurance. Huge Difference. Now I go regularly, (4xyr) cleaning and pay for 1/2 of it myself. Worth every penny.

Don't neglect your mouth, it's more important than you think.

Keep shopping around, their like good Porsche mechanics, there are good ones.

Karl
88 Targa

[Rusty Heap]

What a bunch of double standard hypocrits..........

"do my porsche valves need adjusting?" nah don't hear any tapping yet. let 'em go for another 10K miles then maybe.

"why should I change my oil" It's just as full as it ever was.

air pressure checks, nah, way over rated.

geez, why wax the car, it still sorta looks red, or maybe blue...........

THEY'RE YOUR FRIGGIN' TEETH PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

guess maybe that I know many of my family seniors that have had ALL THEIR TEETH PULLED and now have to wear dentures might show my passion for regular check up's, xrays, and fillings.

try eating a cob of corn with false teeth!!!

cheap s.o.b.s, you'll pay more to wax your car with Zanio instead of taking care of a tooth exam or eye exam.

laughing out loud while shaking my head at some peoples priorities..........sad sad sad.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Seriously. My family has been to 4 dentists in 5 years. Each has consistently tried to upsell services such as whitening, orthodontics (wife had braces and has damn near perfect teeth), power toothbrushes, etc. There's been several cases of one dentist claiming that work was crucial and HAD to be done, but the new dentist didn't notice a thing. Case in point, a prior dentist decided that my wife and I both needed two teeth capped. We each had one done then decided to go elsewhere. We been through two dentists since, with no mention of the need for a second cap. Now I'm out over $600 for my son, as the current dentist had to repair 6 cavities that were repaired incorrectly by the prior dentist. Because it's been less than 24 months the insurance won't cover it. But did that work NEED to be done, particularly on a 5 year old that will lose his teeth over the next few years? I'm convinced that they latch onto anything that MIGHT need to be done, then convince you it's life and death.

Anyone here a dentist?

Not in my case man. My dentist cut $300 bucks off the "usual" price for a cap today for me. Cash is king.

(He still raped me, but nothing like what they bill ins. co's for)

[cl8ton]

Originally Posted by Rusty Heap

What a bunch of double standard hypocrits..........

Whats your prob RH? Nobody here neglects their teeth from reading the posts!
In fact my smile lights up like a god dam Christmas tree from the up sale of my dentist recently

[aigel]

I agree, dentists suck. That's a nightmare job though, no matter how much it pays - digging around in pie holes all day and all week long ...

George

[LakeCleElum]

I know 2 dentists that are on Pelican here......I'll let them step up and explain. I say, just keep shopping and get referrals. I have a great dentist that gives me a break now that my retirment plan does not include coverage....

[porsche4life]

I have only ever gone to one dentist in my life... He is excellent... My dad had some problem once and the dentist was like oh that was caused b/c I didn't do that crown right or something to that effect... He did the root canal... FOR FREE... He absolutely stands behind his work...

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by aigel

I agree, dentists suck. That's a nightmare job though, no matter how much it pays - digging around in pie holes all day and all week long ...

George

Better than proctology, I would think...

[LeeH]

Dentistry is an art and a business. You need to find one who understands both sides. My wife spend years going to a dentist who left her in the waiting room for an hour or more only to say she didn't have time to get her in and that she needed to reschedule. Additionally, there were a few "oops" that required repeat visits to repair.

I finally convinced my wife to try my dentist, where that absolute max I've ever waited in the waiting room was about 10 minutes, but typically there is no waiting. My dentist was bothered by the fact that my wife's bite was off so badly that her teeth were being damaged, plus she had signs of TMJ. Her previous dentist never mentioned any of this. After a couple of months of braces my wife's headaches are now rare. The braces are fairly expensive, but I'm convinced in the long run we'll come out ahead.