Taken advantage of by dentist office?!
Question: I had two teeth pulled yesterday, they required stitches, and I had to pay everything up front. They charged me $952 for all of it.($331 per tooth!) I don't have insurance, so I knew I would have to pay, but they told me everything while I was "under"(nitrous)and took my bank card and had me sign and everything, I knew the amount, but was not told it would be taken in full, I found this out as I was leaving and got my receipt. I have to go back to have the stitches removed in a week, should I get charged for that too? Did I get screwed over? I was under the assumption I was going to make payments.
Answers: I had two teeth pulled yesterday, they required stitches, and I had to pay everything up front. They charged me $952 for all of it.($331 per tooth!) I don't have insurance, so I knew I would have to pay, but they told me everything while I was "under"(nitrous)and took my bank card and had me sign and everything, I knew the amount, but was not told it would be taken in full, I found this out as I was leaving and got my receipt. I have to go back to have the stitches removed in a week, should I get charged for that too? Did I get screwed over? I was under the assumption I was going to make payments.
I can't say that you were ripped off - I was going to have to wait 3 weeks to get a wisdom tooth pulled, so I started calling around. Since no one else around here accepts my insurance, it would have cost me anywhere from $150-400 PER tooth to have my wisdom teeth pulled. I waited because I couldn't afford that.
I do feel, however, that the price and payment should have been much better explained to you before hand. They could have worked something out with you, and I feel the way they handled this was totally in the wrong. I highly suggest calling them and seeing if there is anyway to get some or all of that money back, and make smaller payments on a regular basis instead of paying it all in full - obviously that's expensive!
Best of luck to you - I hope you're able to work things out!
A friend of mine once put it aptly, regarding dentists: "Most of them are brutal and they're in it for the money." What if someone didn't have the money beforehand - are they going to send him away? That is a violation of professional ethics, IN MY OPINION.
I've also been charged when walking in, and when sitting in the chair, having to peel it out. I think this really shows a like of classs and greed on the part of these money-grubbers.
Also, I've had a lot of dentists do bad work, so the bottom line is I don't have a lot of teeth despite going over the years, now that I'm in my 50's and can't even afford to go any longer.
All this being said, I'm sure that there are some decent ones you can trust, somewhere.
Get a laywer to sort it out. Tell them your side of the story, and what happened, and they will take care of it.
You need to call the dental office and explain the situation you are in. Ask if they can take back the charge and bill it in thirds. Lots of offices will, if you are a regular patient. There is also a dental payment plan by a third party available in most places. Taking out the stitches is usually not charged, it is part of the procedure, but ask to make sure. Good luck!
NO, YOU WERE NOT RIPPED OFF. THE CHARGES SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED BEFOREHAND.
THERE WON'T BE A CHARGE FOR SUTURE REMOVAL.
FYI, IT IS MORE EXPENSIVE TO BE PUT UNDER FOR SURGERY.
Yes you were ripped off & how!! If you are being trurhfull?? Can't imagine this, they just plain stole from you!! I would report this to the state Board of dental examiners, give them all the details!! This a disgrace!! DMD 32 yrs here