Dentist Problems

[snackman]

What is the name of your state? What is the name of your state? Michigan
My 16 yr. old daughter went to the dentist for a cleaning and a routien yearly check-up appointment. We have no dental insurance and her appointment was to cost $110.00. She was checked by some kind of laser machine for cavities-- this machine indicated she had 5 cavities--the dentist stated he had time to take care of the cavities as his other appointment cancelled. My daughter was told that if she did not have this taken care of she would end up with root canals by the dentist and other office personell. Well the dentist filled 5 teeth and our bill is $450.00. I am furious that this professional could do something like this without parental consent-- take advantage of a 16 yr old girl that had no cavities just a year ago. I question the legitimacy of the cavities--and the integrity of this dentist! The whole office knows where my wife or I work as we are both self employed in a small town of 2500, so getting in contact with us is no problem. Looking for some advice before I discuss the situation with the dentist. Thanks---Nick

 

[Sponge]

incidentally

To my knowledge even a slight cavitation of the tooth enamel leaves the underlying dentin susceptible to rapid decay. Filing is done primarily as a preventative measure to avoid a larger cavity. Of course, I was told this by a dentist. I would recommend having another dentist examine the x-rays to identify any cavitations of the enamel, in conjunction with any other course of action you take. I was in a similar situation of having no cavities at my previous visit and ending up with 6 on my next a few years later. Apparently they all formed between my teeth because i didn't floss very frequently. I eventually had the x-rays reexamined by another dentist who confirmed the existence of all the cavities. In my opinion the dentist in your situation still had no authorization to undertake an expensive and slightly traumatic procedure without parental consent. For her sake, I hope he didn't fill them with mercury amalgam.

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

Re: incidentally

"For her sake, I hope he didn't fill them with mercury amalgam."

====================================

My response:

Oh, please. All this unwarranted fear about the slight amount of merycuii on bran fukiontion hs no truth in fackt, oir ioaiorrio wsjkriofjkljf. So, sjkhasjkhr hlkasjhaljkhd. And that's the truth.

IAAL

 

[I AM ALWAYS LIABLE]

TOP 10 Ways To Determine If Mercury Is Being Used By Your Dentist - -

NUMBER 10: Your dentist wears paper hats made from health department warning of high mercury levels in dental amalgam.

NUMBER 9: Before the gas takes effect, you hear your dentist saying the words "filling" and "castration" in the same sentence.

NUMBER 8: The water level in the dentist's spit bowl rises whenever someone flushes the toilet.

NUMBER 7: Your dentist dips his fingers in mercury-laden amalgam powder, and then licks it off like fried chicken grease.

NUMBER 6: He insists that the "test dolphins" are perfectly fine, and then has them canned.

NUMBER 5: Since mercury isn't magnetic, then there's no other use for it than to put it in your mouth.

NUMBER 4: He proudly shows you that his GPA is lower than his blood mercury level.

NUMBER 3: Your dentist has you gargle with this mysterious silvery-looking liquid.

NUMBER 2: He put so much mercury in your mouth, that gravity keeps your jaw open.

AND NOW, the NUMBER ONE Way To Determine If Mercury Is Being Used By Your Dentist - -

He shows you his mercury experiments, and those cockroaches the size of lawn tractors.


IAAL

 

[JackSchroder]

Mail that dentist your check for $110.00 as payment in full. Your daughter is a minor. She can not make a contract.
You have no need to spend an unpleasant half hour with that guy. He will learn a lesson.

 

[pele]

Although I agree the dentist should have notified you, the age of consent varies from state to state.

 

[ellencee]

snackman
I wonder what your family's usual relationship with the dentist has been. For instance, was this out of the ordinary for the dentist to have repaired the teeth at the same appointment if time permitted?

I don't think you are saying that you would not have had your daughter's teeth repaired at all, but that you are saying that the additional expense would have had to be worked into your budget. I anticipate that your dentist will be willing to allow you make the payment in divided amounts until paid in full. If you have paid the amount in full, then perhaps the dentist will allow subsequent dental visits by family members to be paid in installments.

 

[HomeGuru]

Writer, good thing your daughter did not go to a plastic surgeon with a similar MO.

 

[philip2000]

dentist replies

I would recommend having someone else look at the x-rays.

I guess when I was younger there was a dentist here (who can no longer practice!) that would tell people they had cavities when they didn't and he would fill them. I was pretty young, but I have a filling that my parents did not consent to...in fact they didn't even know about it until they got the bill! I was only 6 or so and had no clue what the guy was doing. I came out with my mouth numb and asked my mom why he had to numb my mouth to clean it, she thought I was just pulling her leg.
Let's just say that bill did not have to be paid and like I said, the dentist is no longer allowed to practice.

Oh and I didn't have a cavitiy according to a new dentist looking over the xrays.

Believe it or not, i am a dentist(at least my state board thinks so).

It is always interesting to here patient's views/perceptions and how they can be so different than what a dentist's perceptions may be. Most of the time, patients don't talk to the dentist about their concerns(probably because we have all the sharp instruments)

I can tell you with 100% certainty that dentistry is as much an art as it is a science. One dentist may look at a defect in a tooth and decide to treat it, another one may decide to wait....who is right?
the answer: BOTH!
assuming dentists are ethical(most of them are), each has a certain set of "rules" he/she develops based on their clinical experience. Those rules will differ from dentist to dentist

The diagnodent is a laser device that is able to detect the amount of demineralization in a tooth(therefore, the likelihood of it being a cavity). I don't own one(mostly because of the expense of the unit and because it can't diagnose decay between teeth), but the dentists that do use this as a tool to help detect lesions before they get to be of larger size.

As far as treating a minor, in most states, a parent must be present in the office when treating a minor. The reality is most parents just drop their kids off. Many times, a dentist will have the parent sign a consent form that basically says the parent will trust the dentist's diagnosis and judgement and can do whatever they deem to be necessary

from the trenches
philip

 

[S.Wilsford]

I wish this guy had a relative with an office close to me in Texas that would bill for the work he has done. I need teeth filled bad, and there is not a dentist anywhere who will bills or even sets up payment plans. I needed 2 fillings 2 years ago, now I need over 6! It just travels from tooth to tooth and the only thing flossing does now is assist in breaking the teeth that were filled when I was young!
Would you call that early preventative dentist care? Maybe he thought he would save your daughter the worry of paying for it herself when she gets older! I definetly would not worry about paying him until I was able. But first I would have another dentist do x-rays and see what he thinks or have him view the other dentists since that is part of the $110 charge.

 

[ellencee]

S. Wilsford
Check with your health department; most have dentists who provide care through the health department. The only drawback is a long waiting list. Also, if there is a dental school contact them; students perform the dental work for free or based on what you can afford.
EC