I'm forced to believe that the "Dentists at Hyde Park", are young, inexperienced, and running a practice with faulty software. They may be overcharging and over-treating their patients. Here is what happened to me today.
I took the 'Dentists at Hyde Park Plaza' (DatHP) up on their $59 offer for Cleaning, Exam, and Digital X-rays. They are new. I lost my dental insurance this year and decide to try them out. Also, much more convenient for me than going downtown as I have for years.
They seem to have the latest equipment and did complete X-rays (full head, and 4 bite-wings), dental exam, including PERIO chart of pocket depths for all my teeth.
Results: Dr. John said I have Stage II - Moderate Periodontitis (based on many tooth depth readings in the 4 and 5mm range) and also had a molar (#19) that need to be removed and a crown placed because it was in bad shape, too big for the tooth, and had signs of decay. Dr. John and the whole staff was very patient with my questions and spent lots of time explaining my condition to me.
They then showed me the suggested treatment plan and cost of $3445. They did have a "My Smile Dental Plan" for $111 that would reduce the cost to $2051. Actually, it was originally about $2400 until I questioned why the cost of the crown was only reduced from $1502 to $1402 with the "Plan". Seems the software is not working correctly.
By the end of this session (1 hour and 15 minutes), I was being to feel uncomfortable. Also, wondering if I was going to get the cleaning done. They said that because they were recommending the Periodontitis treatment, it would replace the standard cleaning. But they would be happy to do the cleaning if I wanted it.
Also, because of my condition, they said my standard twice-yearly cleanings would be replaced with quarterly Periodontic Maintenance visits. I decided I should leave and think about it all.
Back at the office, I decided I needed a second opinion and made an appointment later the day with my normal (downtown) dentist who I have been seeing for over 10 years. Also, I still wanted to get my teeth cleaned.
At my downtown dentist, the hygienist at my request completed another set of pocket depth measurements. She came up with just 3 teeth with 5mm pockets, DatHP came up with 19. Also, my dentist had prior years numbers to compare to and although it showed some degradation of the last 2 years, some teeth actually were better.
The dentist came in and verified the measurements at my request. She then examined my teeth and found that one of my molars had cracks down two sides and I was in danger of it breaking off. She suggest it get crowned immediately. This was not the #19 molar that DatHP had identified, but #14. I asked her what she thought of #19 because it had been recommended to be replaced with a crown. She double-checked and said it looked good. As full disclosure, this office had done the most recent work on #19, replacing the old silver filling with the new white ones.
Without insurance, I paid $139 for the cleaning and exam downtown. DatHP did not charge me anything. My downtown dentist quoted me a no insurance price of $1277 for the crown on #14. The no insurance price of the crown on #19 by DatHP was $1502.
My downtown dentist also recommended I come back and get fitted for a tooth guard for grinding my teeth after I got the crown. That will be $565. (Went ahead and ordered a DIY set of 5 from Amazon for $21, and will see if those work first.) The DatHP did not mention my teeth grinding.
All of the information above is meant to be factual. I'll post pictures if Yelp lets me. I realize that in all health care there will be different professional opinions. How could 2 different practices present me with such different findings?
DatHP had plenty of opportunities to really upset me (sell me teeth whitening, showed any reluctance to give me the cleaning for $59, tell me my teeth were going to fall out, etc.) which did not happen.
So, I'm only left to feel that although my periodontal condition is probably not perfect, DatHP really do think I need the $2k worth of treatment. My dentist disagrees at this time. I think I have to also disagree.
To support this, I hit google and found that "Pockets deeper than 4 mm may indicate periodontitis." But, the main symptoms are "swollen" "tender" "easy to bleed" gums. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/periodontitis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354479) I do NOT have these problems.
I'm left to believe that the "Dentists at Hyde Park", are young, inexperienced, and running a practice with faulty software (prices were messed up). They may be overcharging and over treating their patients. read more