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My First One-Star Review -- And It's Well Deserved…read moreThis is my first one-star review ever, but it is well deserved.
I went to this dentist because they accept my HMO insurance. I was experiencing tooth pain and thought I might need a filling, a crown, or perhaps, at worst, a root canal. I understand that sometimes these procedures are necessary.
After taking some X-rays, the dentist came in and told me that I had serious problems. She then asked when I had last seen a dentist. I told her April. (The only reason I stopped going to my previous dentist was that they no longer accepted my insurance.)
Without even examining my teeth--she never once asked me to open my mouth--she presented me with two options: an extraction or another procedure. I felt extremely pressured. Although I was somewhat confused, I decided to go with the procedure she recommended.
She then sent me to speak with the billing person. After my HMO coverage was applied, my out-of-pocket cost was still over $1,000. Keep in mind, she had also indicated that additional steps would be necessary (AKA more bills) and that I needed extensive work on my other teeth (AKA even more bills).
I asked for an itemized bill, which they had not voluntarily provided. I stepped outside and researched some of the charges. I discovered that the most expensive item, which was not covered by my insurance, was something I could not undergo for personal reasons. After researching it, I also learned that it was not necessarily required for the procedure itself but primarily helped speed up the healing process.
I returned to the office and explained that I could not undergo that particular part of the treatment. I asked whether they could proceed without it.
The billing manager--not the dentist--told me, "No, we can't do it."
The dentist never came out to explain why, discuss alternatives, or even offer to call me later. Instead, they handed me a referral to a clinic that would extract my tooth without that additional procedure. Needless to say, I discarded the referral.
They also made sure to retrieve the copy of the itemized bill they had given me. In hindsight, I should have kept it.
Throughout this entire process, I NEVER ONCE OPENED MY MOUTH FOR AN EXAMINATION.
Absolutely crazy!
I decided to return to my previous dentist and pay out of pocket.
He took X-rays, actually examined my teeth, and determined that I had a cavity and needed a crown. He explained that he could not know for certain whether a root canal would be necessary until he drilled down and assessed the extent of the damage.
After drilling, he determined that no root canal was needed.
He also explained that if I ever needed a root canal in the future--which he estimated had less than a 5% chance of happening--the existing crown could be preserved, so I would not have to pay for another one.
His price was fair, and I gladly paid out of pocket.
What a difference between the two experiences!
I went to the first dental office expecting professional care and an honest assessment. Instead, I was presented with expensive treatment options without even receiving a basic examination.
I'm extremely glad I sought another opinion. Had I simply followed the first dentist's recommendation, I might have lost a tooth that my previous dentist was able to save.
This experience is exactly why second opinions are so important, especially when a dentist recommends an extraction or other costly procedures.
