Coastal Dental claims to offer "a flexible alternative to insurance" through their My Smile dental plan. My Smile is presented as a third-party discount plan but it's completely worthless at dentists outside Pacific Dental Services (PDS). PDS supplies over 200 dental affiliates in six states with modern equipment and operational staff. PDS affiliates then overcharge patients 40-60% and routinely provide false diagnoses to increase their profits.
Coastal Dental provides the My Smile plan to PDS affiliates as a marketing tool to create an illusion of savings while giving offices the ability to manufacture a second price list. One price list for My Smile members (actual fees) and another for non-members. The non-member prices are so inflated that patients are compelled to pay the $100+ enrollment fee. For example, My Smile members will pay $1150 for a LAVA porcelain crown but non-members must pay $1775. Get a consultation from a reputable dentist and you'll discover LAVA crowns only cost $650-900 without insurance.
On the PDS website, Coastal Dental is appropriately listed as a "Strategic Partner" - http://www.pacificdentalservices.com/vendors.aspx. In addition to providing PDS affiliates with a deceptive marketing tool, Coastal Dental also lays the groundwork for their favorite false diagnosis -- periodontal disease. Coastal Dental devotes an entire page to periodontal treatment, the only dental procedure detailed on their website - http://www.coastaldental.com/health.php.
Dental insurance can be expensive and often covers less than 50% of crowns, root canals and other high level procedures. The dental plans offered by Coastal Dental are an unwise alternative. You are wasting $100+ just to access the real prices at PDS offices, you're not saving money. The easiest way to avoid their bogus discount plans is to avoid PDS affiliates - http://www.pacificdentalservices.com/officesearch.aspx
Disclosure: I was a patient of PDS affiliate, Gateway Dental Group in Mira Loma, California. I purchased the MySmile plan directly from Coastal Dental - sending payment via Gateway Dental Group. read more