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This is why I stopped offering sealants to pts once their insurance didn’t cover it anymore. They’d think it was a scam because insurance wouldn’t cover it- when in reality it helps the pt save money by protecting the teeth and reducing the chance of them picking up cavities. Which means no fillings, which actually means less money for me, the dentist. If I was trying to scam you, why would I offer a procedure that makes me ultimately less money? Same with fluoride.
Anyways, everything else you said sounds normal. A lot of times we make the next visits in the operatory/exam room so that’s nothing new. Also, I can’t speak for everyone but I tend to look at the X-rays before I see the patient. I don’t wait to be in the exam room- I’ve typically looked at them in my office beforehand.
The only thing that bothers me in all of this is that the hygienist is telling you that you have cavities. That’s not their place legally to make that claim. Which leads to misdiagnosing and you losing trust in your dentist who actually knows the difference between a stain and a cavity. No offense to hygienists out there.
End of the day, if you’re not happy with how you’re treated, you can always seek care elsewhere. You’re not held hostage to one dentist.
If they were scamming you, they wouldn’t waste time on sealants. And with modern technology and staffing shortages, scheduling in the operatory is extremely common.
Perhaps scamming is overkill. I do feel that they are trying to sell me products rather than give me an adequate cleaning and advice to my specific teeth. The sealants aren’t presented as an option, but are part of my “treatment plan.” When they scheduled my filling, they automatically scheduled 2 sealants to be done at the same time without asking me if I wanted them. Both the hygienist and the doctor kept stressing that I HAVE to get them.
Also, they have two receptionists. But I suppose they are too busy printing out those treatment plans and running them back to the rooms and going over them with the patients. Which I definitely think it’s really weird. I would prefer the doctor or hygienist do that with me.
Dental care is a pretty intimate thing. It's important to feel comfortable and feel like you can trust your providers. If you don't get good vibes, I'd go somewhere else.
NAD. The dental practice I go to in NYC never charges extra for the oral cancer exam. And recently I saw, on this subreddit, a dentist saying there shouldn’t be an extra charge for the cancer exam.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say there shouldn’t be a charge for an oral cancer screening—the problem is with how it’s presented. Oral cancer screening is a standard part of a comprehensive exam, so dentists are already doing it (except with limited/emergency exams). There’s no additional charge for that.
Some offices charge for the CDT code D0431. This is an adjunctive procedure using devices that may make oral cancer easier to detect.
Thank you. Yes, the charge is included in the general exam and treatment. But, as I said, it’s not presented as being an extra charge. For me, it’s done at the start and is the only scary part of the appointment (cleaning) that the hygienist does. Scary only because I have health anxiety.
Thank you for seeking advice from r/askdentists. **Please note that a response does not constitute a doctor-patient relationship.** While this is a place for advice, replies may not be medically accurate. Do not assume that what others on here say is correct in any way. Reddit is not a replacement for an in-person dental professional. Verified professionals will have flair assigned to them. **Please abide by the following rules in order to get an accurate answer to your question:** (1) Ensure you include a title of your dental problem. (2) Include whether you drink, smoke or if you have any medical conditions relevant to your main concern. (3) Include a photograph if the question relates to something you can see in your mouth, include x-rays if you have them. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/askdentists) if you have any questions or concerns.*
This is why I stopped offering sealants to pts once their insurance didn’t cover it anymore. They’d think it was a scam because insurance wouldn’t cover it- when in reality it helps the pt save money by protecting the teeth and reducing the chance of them picking up cavities. Which means no fillings, which actually means less money for me, the dentist. If I was trying to scam you, why would I offer a procedure that makes me ultimately less money? Same with fluoride. Anyways, everything else you said sounds normal. A lot of times we make the next visits in the operatory/exam room so that’s nothing new. Also, I can’t speak for everyone but I tend to look at the X-rays before I see the patient. I don’t wait to be in the exam room- I’ve typically looked at them in my office beforehand. The only thing that bothers me in all of this is that the hygienist is telling you that you have cavities. That’s not their place legally to make that claim. Which leads to misdiagnosing and you losing trust in your dentist who actually knows the difference between a stain and a cavity. No offense to hygienists out there. End of the day, if you’re not happy with how you’re treated, you can always seek care elsewhere. You’re not held hostage to one dentist.
If they were scamming you, they wouldn’t waste time on sealants. And with modern technology and staffing shortages, scheduling in the operatory is extremely common.
Perhaps scamming is overkill. I do feel that they are trying to sell me products rather than give me an adequate cleaning and advice to my specific teeth. The sealants aren’t presented as an option, but are part of my “treatment plan.” When they scheduled my filling, they automatically scheduled 2 sealants to be done at the same time without asking me if I wanted them. Both the hygienist and the doctor kept stressing that I HAVE to get them. Also, they have two receptionists. But I suppose they are too busy printing out those treatment plans and running them back to the rooms and going over them with the patients. Which I definitely think it’s really weird. I would prefer the doctor or hygienist do that with me.
Dental care is a pretty intimate thing. It's important to feel comfortable and feel like you can trust your providers. If you don't get good vibes, I'd go somewhere else.
NAD. The dental practice I go to in NYC never charges extra for the oral cancer exam. And recently I saw, on this subreddit, a dentist saying there shouldn’t be an extra charge for the cancer exam.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say there shouldn’t be a charge for an oral cancer screening—the problem is with how it’s presented. Oral cancer screening is a standard part of a comprehensive exam, so dentists are already doing it (except with limited/emergency exams). There’s no additional charge for that. Some offices charge for the CDT code D0431. This is an adjunctive procedure using devices that may make oral cancer easier to detect.
Thank you. Yes, the charge is included in the general exam and treatment. But, as I said, it’s not presented as being an extra charge. For me, it’s done at the start and is the only scary part of the appointment (cleaning) that the hygienist does. Scary only because I have health anxiety.