Dental fees to be paid up front normal?!

Dental fees to be paid up front normal?

I have always seen either my grandfater (dentist) or the dentist my mother has worked for (she's a hygenist), but now I live far enough away that I have to find my own dentist.

So after much procrastinating, and now with some pain I go see a dentist. My 22 year old fillings are failing and I need a couple of crowns. I don't have any issue with the diagnosis.

BUT, the office manager tried to extract payment for the self pay portion at the time we were making the appointment for the procedure. Is this normal?

I have good insurance that is covering over 2/3 of the cost. I have no problem with paying at least a portion of my share at the time the prep work and temporaries are put in (2 weeks from now). But why should I pay in full up front when it will be at least a month before the work is complete? And what redress would I have if there was some problem with the work done and I had already paid in full? Advice?

While there is no reason a dental office should grant you credit ("just send me a bill after my insurance pays"), neither should YOU grant THEM credit ("pay us before we do the work.")

Obtain a good-faith estimate of your non-insured charges and pay that as each procedure is completed. Any difference (to your benefit, or the dentist's) should be paid immediately after insurance pays.

I am an office manager in a dental practice. It is our policy to collect an *estimated* patient portion at time of service. If I over collect, payment is refunded within two business days of insurance payment. I expect the same if the patient owes us.