Members Lucky Posted February 3, 2012 Members Posted February 3, 2012 Again. My dentist is doing a crown, and thought I had best get a root canal before the permanent crown went on. So she referred me to another dentist in the plan. Lucky for me I checked my coverage first. I got there and they wanted $483 in extra charges. Only $100 of it was presented as optional, and that was the rip-off $100 for an antibiotic treatment. The other charges were not clear, except the $58 for consultation, which my insurance also covers at 100%. So, I had to leave without getting a root canal. But I am filing a complaint with the California Dental board. Why can't people just be honest businessmen? Quote
Guest Allessio77 Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 I can't begin to tell you how dishonest the dental profession has become. NO two dentists can even agree on the TEETH that need work, let along what that work would entail. Trust not this profession that has succumbed to marketing seminars and just plain greed. Quote
Guest tomcal Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 LUCKY ALERT! FOR YOUR TRIP NEXT MONTH! This last trip to Rio two weeks ago, I had a tooth implant done while I was there. It was a tooth I cracked and the dentist I saw, I had been to several times since 2006 and not only is his office as modern as any here in the U.S., his skills are are great! I had not ONE second of pain or discomfort during the procedure, he finished it at Noon on Monday and I was at Meo Mundo at 5:00 p.m.! and most importantly it cost 1/3 of what it would cost me in the U.S., my saving paid for the trip! I have referred 3 other American friends to this dentist and they all have been just as impressed. (and he's cute!) Quote
Guest FourAces Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 Lucky I believe this is the board that issues dental license http://www.dbc.ca.gov/ I also would file with the department of consumer affairs and department of insurance. Quote
Members TampaYankee Posted February 4, 2012 Members Posted February 4, 2012 Again. My dentist is doing a crown, and thought I had best get a root canal before the permanent crown went on. So she referred me to another dentist in the plan. Lucky for me I checked my coverage first. I got there and they wanted $483 in extra charges. Only $100 of it was presented as optional, and that was the rip-off $100 for an antibiotic treatment. The other charges were not clear, except the $58 for consultation, which my insurance also covers at 100%. So, I had to leave without getting a root canal. But I am filing a complaint with the California Dental board. Why can't people just be honest businessmen? Go back to your original dentist and ask him for a referral to an honest dentist. Let him know what you found. Maybe henceforth he will refer patients to others. Maybe he will be stunned that you were unhappy which tells you to find another primary dentist. Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 Make a trip to Asia and get it done there too. It's much cheaper that way. Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 I have had one dishonest dentist after another since I moved to Southern California. That's why I go to a dentist back in Indiana. Fortunately I've never had a cavity so my need is minor but the last one I saw in California said I had 3 cavities and I knew better so I got up to leave immediately and refused to pay anything and I did complain to the state dental board. I was able to provide confirmation from my dentist back in Indiana that the California one lied to me outright. It's absolutely unbelievable to me that this is happening. Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 EXPAT, you never had a cavity? You need to share your method! Quote
Guest EXPAT Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 EXPAT, you never had a cavity? You need to share your method! My sister and I never have had cavities. We had strong fluoride in our water supply where we grew up and we had a lot of milk. I think it is really genetic more than anything. Quote
Members Lucky Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Posted February 4, 2012 Part of the problem is the insurance. It is DeltaCare, an offshoot of Delta Dental. It is an HMO and you do not get to pick your dentist. None of the dentists in the plan are born in the USA that I can tell. The plan offers great coverage- 100% on most things. But, and it is a big but, the dentists don't seem all that happy with what they make from the plan. So, each customer coming in the door is prey. Their wallet becomes the focus of attention as the dentist comes up with ways to part the customer from money above and beyond what the plan will pay. Even "my" dentist does this, except that they had to refund money to me when they found out I knew what they were doing. But, even so, for the work I am now having done, they are getting extra. The choice I had was to ignore my insurance and go to Mexico, or to pay some extra money and get the same care right down the street. The root canal is not required, it just seemed like good planning down the road. But I won't pay double for it. If the dentist today had not been so greedy, I would have paid something above the real cost just to be done with it. In my dreams I file a class action suit on behalf of all of those in DeltaCare who have been ripped off like this. Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 There are so many things like this in the us health care. I had to see an optomologist and she tried to force an extra procedure( insurance dont cover it) for my exam that were totally unnecessary. She was a divorcee but still what's on a huge engagement ring to show off. I went in the second time to gather evidence for her medical misconduct but she somehow managed to figure it out and backed down. Later I got my money back for unnecessary charges that she tricked people to pay that had already been covered by insurance. Quote
Guest CharliePS Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 There are so many things like this in the us health care. I had to see an optomologist and she tried to force an extra procedure( insurance dont cover it) for my exam that were totally unnecessary. She was a divorcee but still what's on a huge engagement ring to show off. I went in the second time to gather evidence for her medical misconduct but she somehow managed to figure it out and backed down. Later I got my money back for unnecessary charges that she tricked people to pay that had already been covered by insurance. I knew there was a reason why you are usually so optimistic: you see an optomologist! Quote
Members Lucky Posted February 4, 2012 Author Members Posted February 4, 2012 We learn so much about hitoallusa. I flat out asked him where he was going on vacation, but he didn't respond. Then he said he was in Beijing. We know that he owns more than one home, so thus is probably in the 1%. His book was a best seller but he refuses to tell us what it is. Quote
Members JKane Posted February 4, 2012 Members Posted February 4, 2012 There are so many things like this in the us health care. [...] How DARE you! According to all Republican sources there is NOTHING wrong with our healthcare system and having every aspect of it be solely profit driven makes it the envy of the WORLD! Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 Lol... You now know why I have to see one! I knew there was a reason why you are usually so optimistic: you see an optomologist! Quote
Guest hitoallusa Posted February 4, 2012 Posted February 4, 2012 Sorry Lucky I haven't seen your inquiry. The book has not come out yet and is not even finished. We learn so much about hitoallusa. I flat out asked him where he was going on vacation, but he didn't respond. Then he said he was in Beijing. We know that he owns more than one home, so thus is probably in the 1%. His book was a best seller but he refuses to tell us what it is. Quote
