Dentists

[dave99]

Couple things to set the record straight:

- If a dentist charges different fees for the same procedure to an insured vs non-insured patient, they are committing insurance fraud. Report them to the Alberta College of Dentists and rest assured it will be investigated. The dentist risks losing their license to practice. The only exception that we make can legally/ethically make is for folks on some form of assistance program like AISH or NIHB. In those cases, the fee schedule pays about 50% of the Alberta Fee Guide. We actually lose money by doing the work (the fees collected don’t always cover the overhead).

- Re: Xrays. Dentists like X-rays as they help in detection, diagnosis and treatment planning of dental decay and pathology. As an example, if you are 40 years old with little to no periodontal disease and no recent (last 5 years) history of cavities or other big issues, I often recommend X-rays every 2-3 years rather than annually, whether or not your insurance plan covers them. Talk to your dentist about caries risk and challenge them to explain why they recommend annual X-rays. If you are unsatisfied with their answer, then find a dentist that suits your needs and that takes the time to explain their recommendation.

- Oh, and I drive a 2013 F150…

[RandyBoBandy]

Originally Posted by dave99

Couple things to set the record straight:

- If a dentist charges different fees for the same procedure to an insured vs non-insured patient, they are committing insurance fraud. Report them to the Alberta College of Dentists and rest assured it will be investigated. The dentist risks losing their license to practice. The only exception that we make can legally/ethically make is for folks on some form of assistance program like AISH or NIHB. In those cases, the fee schedule pays about 50% of the Alberta Fee Guide. We actually lose money by doing the work (the fees collected don’t always cover the overhead).

- Re: Xrays. Dentists like X-rays as they help in detection, diagnosis and treatment planning of dental decay and pathology. As an example, if you are 40 years old with little to no periodontal disease and no recent (last 5 years) history of cavities or other big issues, I often recommend X-rays every 2-3 years rather than annually, whether or not your insurance plan covers them. Talk to your dentist about caries risk and challenge them to explain why they recommend annual X-rays. If you are unsatisfied with their answer, then find a dentist that suits your needs and that takes the time to explain their recommendation.

- Oh, and I drive a 2013 F150…

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by dave99

Couple things to set the record straight:

- If a dentist charges different fees for the same procedure to an insured vs non-insured patient, they are committing insurance fraud. Report them to the Alberta College of Dentists and rest assured it will be investigated. The dentist risks losing their license to practice. The only exception that we make can legally/ethically make is for folks on some form of assistance program like AISH or NIHB. In those cases, the fee schedule pays about 50% of the Alberta Fee Guide. We actually lose money by doing the work (the fees collected don’t always cover the overhead).

- Re: Xrays. Dentists like X-rays as they help in detection, diagnosis and treatment planning of dental decay and pathology. As an example, if you are 40 years old with little to no periodontal disease and no recent (last 5 years) history of cavities or other big issues, I often recommend X-rays every 2-3 years rather than annually, whether or not your insurance plan covers them. Talk to your dentist about caries risk and challenge them to explain why they recommend annual X-rays. If you are unsatisfied with their answer, then find a dentist that suits your needs and that takes the time to explain their recommendation.

- Oh, and I drive a 2013 F150…

[barbless]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

That must be the Ferrari 150 (F150) LOL

[dave99]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

Haha, touché. That one wouldn’t do me much good for hunting and fishing, would it?

[barbless]

Originally Posted by dave99

Couple things to set the record straight:

- If a dentist charges different fees for the same procedure to an insured vs non-insured patient, they are committing insurance fraud. Report them to the Alberta College of Dentists and rest assured it will be investigated. The dentist risks losing their license to practice. The only exception that we make can legally/ethically make is for folks on some form of assistance program like AISH or NIHB. In those cases, the fee schedule pays about 50% of the Alberta Fee Guide. We actually lose money by doing the work (the fees collected don’t always cover the overhead).

- Re: Xrays. Dentists like X-rays as they help in detection, diagnosis and treatment planning of dental decay and pathology. As an example, if you are 40 years old with little to no periodontal disease and no recent (last 5 years) history of cavities or other big issues, I often recommend X-rays every 2-3 years rather than annually, whether or not your insurance plan covers them. Talk to your dentist about caries risk and challenge them to explain why they recommend annual X-rays. If you are unsatisfied with their answer, then find a dentist that suits your needs and that takes the time to explain their recommendation.
Oh, and I drive a 2013 F150…

I totally agree but why are the insurance and benefit plans so far behind the their pricing? I do get the required x-rays and pretty much know why they are required. Some or a lot of people cannot afford that cost. No matter I cannot change that. I don't blame the dentist's it's the insurance and benefits that don't keep up. $500 to pull a tooth? That freezing serum and pliers are pretty expensive. Just kidding. Lot more too it.

[green scud]

Originally Posted by barbless

Like I said with it, there are other options. Who told me? My dentist did. It could be capped like a filling,

This is incorrect information.

[vinny]

Originally Posted by barbless

JohninAB and vinny. You are very lucky to have the Dentist's you have.

I feel the same way. And when we’ve had dental emergencies with kids, we’re very grateful.

[HVA7mm]

Originally Posted by barbless

I totally agree but why are the insurance and benefit plans so far behind the their pricing? I do get the required x-rays and pretty much know why they are required. Some or a lot of people cannot afford that cost. No matter I cannot change that. I don't blame the dentist's it's the insurance and benefits that don't keep up. $500 to pull a tooth? That freezing serum and pliers are pretty expensive. Just kidding. Lot more too it.

Insurance companies are publicly traded companies and are beholden to the shareholders. They are in the money making business and do their best to keep as much money as possible in their pockets and do their best to avoid payouts. No different than any other publicly traded companies from utilities, to telcos, to oil companies, grocers etc. It's pretty much whatever the market will bear.

A bottle of water shouldn't cost $3-4 dollars nor should a cup of coffee, yet people stand in line to pay for it. An iPhone shouldn't be $1500 or a pickup $110000, but people wait months to shell out their hard earned cash. Easier to pick on the dentists I guess.

[Bushrat]

My dentist treats me pretty fair, only does what's necessary. Understands I pay out of my own pocket.

[ZJHoban]

I hadn't been to the dentist in 18 years (forgive me Dr. Pittman lol). Aside from the 20 needle pokes and a couple of holes in the back of my jaw it was not a terrible experience.

2 wisdom teeth out, 1 root canal/crown, and 1 filling. It cost about 4 grand.
Young guy around my age 10 years of school at UBC. If someone is willing to get a masters then dental school plus most likely a huge pile of debt AND stick there hands in a burger hole like mine I think they deserve to make a couple hundred an hr.
If they didn't make big bucks I don't think we would have very good dental care.

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by dave99

Haha, touché. That one wouldn’t do me much good for hunting and fishing, would it?

That is why you also have a truck

Haha. All good fun. When I posted that pic of the Ferrari, my 8-year old asked me why I was smiling, lol. Then she looked and asked if that car was for sale. Lol. I would have said perhaps, but I am no dentist. Haha. She wouldn’t understand the joke though.

Seriously though, I perfectly understand everything you are saying (and understood that before your post). Pretty sure what put me “over the top”, so to speak, was seeing the polishing on the bill and I am pretty convinced that didn’t happen. Take away a quick chat, X-ray, the check by the dentist, etc etc, and 2 units of scaling and polishing was done in about… 20 minutes? I don’t buy that. Anecdotal, but also, not sure how to explain this, but my teeth always feel different, call it cleaner (?), after a similar appointment. They didn’t this time.

Same place I have been to a few times. New hygienist and new dentist though. The dentist was nice and knowledgeable. I liked the guy from the first impression. Like I said, I didn’t mind that part of the bill. The hygienist, on the other hand, while nice, maybe knowledgeable in what she does, but gave an impression of a car salesman, starting with trying to sell me a toothbrush that “retailers don’t have yet but their office does” ending with bringing a dentist from Edmonton who can pull my wisdom teeth out and I would have a choice of being put to sleep or having a local anesthetic. The teeth do not need to be pulled, obviously. And the polishing that didn’t happen. So kind of sour about that, hence this thread. I usually don’t create similar threads, lol.

PS. Did I now offend “car salesmen” too? Damn… Rough day. Haha.

P. P. S. I never saw a dentist in a Ferrari that I know of. BMW, Mercedes, Tundra, Acura, etc. One drove an old beat-up Toyota Tercel for the longest time; then switched to a Ram, haha.

Anyway… Happy hunting and fishing, dentists and everyone else

[zabbo]

Originally Posted by jungleboy

Paid $6 for a lb of butter las week!
Bloody grocers! 😡

But take heart. Trudeau’s got your back. He’s going to give you the national Dental plan. That way we can all chip in for your X-rays and cleanings.

Originally Posted by Drewski Canuck

There, I fixed it for you.

Drewski

Good one Drewski!

[1899b]

As discussed before in other threads, my ex wife won a malpractice suit from a local dentist that should have referred her to a specialist rather than do the procedure himself which he did. No feeling in half her face and she got hooked on pain meds which destroyed our marriage and family.

Mistakes can be more costly than others. Ensure your dentist is up to the task. Hope you all have great dentists.

[fishtank]

Originally Posted by Trochu

One of the biggest rackets out there, huge prices, different rates if you have insurance or not, like you said, want to do the x-rays every visit, etc.

One of two reasons I don't go often.

Did they try to take one before and one after the cleaning. Cause they did that with me and charge me $75x2 . . I think the employment part help them figure out your insurance company coverage so they can milked you to the maximum . Now I go to dental hygienist and I said paying out of pocket and get a price first , there are dental hygienists clinics that offer cleaning and check up cheaper then dentist.

[brslk]

My dentist was great! Only did what was necessary because he knew I was paying for it out of my own pocket. When I was 18 he did a bunch of dental work and let me make payments.
He buys a new Porsche every year, always red.

Then he retired and I was referred to some guy who wanted to do about $25K worth of dental work on my first (and last)visit.

Currently looking for a new dentist
(doesn't matter what he drives)

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by fishnguy

Why do they care about my employment, employer, their phone number, etc? Obviously fill out only what I think they should worry about and keep on file (already on file).

Because you don't have a clue about your policy and the dentist may have to pay his front end staff to contact your HR department to get payment. Of course you could just pay by credit card and figure it out yourself. But then you're going to pout and stomp your feet and go elsewhere to someone who will do the work for you.

You owe us $182 after the insurance. After the insurance? Yes. Well, that is insane! Yep, thanks for that insurance, it would have been $550 otherwise. Well, thanks!

Sounds like your insurance only covers a portion of the fee...80% is pretty common. Any dentist charging that amount over the fee guide won't be in business very long if there is any competition around.

Maybe you should check if your employer bought you a crappy dental benefits plan before blaming it on your dentist. Dental insurance is a contract between an insurance company and you or your employer. Dentists have nothing to do with it and only accept it as payment as a courtesy to their patients.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by Trochu

One of the biggest rackets out there, huge prices, different rates if you have insurance or not, like you said, want to do the x-rays every visit, etc.

One of two reasons I don't go often.

By your own admission, you don't go very often. So yeah...you're going to need X-rays every time you go in. Unless your dentist is Superman and can magically see through teeth and bone to complete a thorough exam. Because if he doesn't complete a thorough exam and detect that big cavity that's a month from turning in to a root canal because you never go to the dentist, he is legally liable. I don't know what you do for a living, but in our profession doing a half-A#$ed job is no bueno. There's these things called lawyers lurking around.

And, as mentioned further down, the whole "different rates" thing is just wrong (and illegal). Unless it's the government dictating that you should see Social Services patients for remuneration below the cost of your overhead. But you're a dentist so of course you never take one for the team and do your part for society.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by lmtada

Nailed it. X-rays everytime……$250.00/+ for X-rays. Clean teeth 2/annually @ $400.00 cleaning. Need question the dentist.

Cleaning and check-up every 6 months is probably about the norm for most adults. Kids and seniors for sure as caries occurrence is a bimodal distribution peaking in those age groups. The need for X-rays during each of these visits is determined by several factors, including your caries history, caries risk, homecare, and on an on.

Do I actually need this…… Then they make you sign a sheet, that you denied the X-ray.

Because when you refuse X-rays that have been recommended and then have a problem, it's the dentists fault unless he can prove you refused them. Just having a note in your chart that you didn't want X-rays isn't good enough. Ask a lawyer.

This is after spending last 20+ years at that dentist.

You're on here bi$%^ing and moaning about your dentist that's taken care of you for 20 years. I'm sure he feels the same about your relationship as you do...

They in the gouging pocket of the group insurers.

Again, dental insurance has nothing to do with dentists. It's an agreement between the insurer and whoever bought the policy (usually an employer on behalf of it's employees). If you think the collective bargaining power of the entire Alberta Dental Association is anything more than a nuisance to a multibillion dollar international insurance company, you're incredibly naive.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by slopeshunter

Ya, I hear ya. Mine at least likes to just do x-rays every 2 years.

I have close to 7,000 active patients in my office. The number of patients I recommend radiographs for every 24 months is...0. You're definitely signing a piece of paper in my office if that's how often you want X-rays.

I have a saying when explaining to patients why they should get treatment in an area not bothering them..."it's never a problem until it is." And when it is, you're not blaming me for your negligence.

[AlbertanGP]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Alberta dentist are the worst Crooks in all of Canada as far as dentists go

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

Fees next door in Saskatchewan are higher. Chew on that.

[AlbertanGP]

That's the first five posts in this misinformed thread debunked. I could do this all day.

Is dentistry a scam. Sure. So is diesel at 28 cents a liter more than gas at Costco, and a two cheeseburger meal at McDonalds across the street for $14. Our governments made it so, and dentists aren't going to eat it any more than any other business.

Having said that, there are good dentists and bad dentists like any other profession. If you feel you're hard done by, try another office and see if it's a better fit for you. I can assure you there are lots of clinically skilled, ethical, personable dentists out there to take care of you. If you're having a problem finding one, maybe look in the mirror...not all patients are a joy for us either FYI.

And if in the end it's still eating your craw, feel free to apply yourself. The U of A accepts 30 students each year for all of Alberta. When I applied in the '90s there were 978 qualified applicants for my class. That's not 978 zit-faced backpack wearing kids telling their friends and family there were in "pre-med". These are the kids mopping the floor with everyone else in high school and undergrad. Good luck.

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Because you don't have a clue about your policy and the dentist may have to pay his front end staff to contact your HR department to get payment. Of course you could just pay by credit card and figure it out yourself. But then you're going to pout and stomp your feet and go elsewhere to someone who will do the work for you.



Sounds like your insurance only covers a portion of the fee...80% is pretty common. Any dentist charging that amount over the fee guide won't be in business very long if there is any competition around.

Maybe you should check if your employer bought you a crappy dental benefits plan before blaming it on your dentist. Dental insurance is a contract between an insurance company and you or your employer. Dentists have nothing to do with it and only accept it as payment as a courtesy to their patients.

Lol. Not really. A lot of assumptions about things you have no clue about, no?

There are more than 5 posts in this thread.

But thanks for chiming in.

[Rvsask]

Bravo Albertangp. Too many guys on this site just miserable at the world and looking for something to whine about. Some are probably even the guys go want 150 an hour to drop leg oil from an outboard and charge an hour to do so.
My wife works for a dental office, the dentists are good people that care about employees and patients.
When people complain about another profession you generally know they know very little about it.

[slopeshunter]

Let’s all take a couple deep breaths here. Personally, I have a great dentist who I’m very happy with, the fact that he’s a hunter also just gives us more to talk about.

[Fish along]

Originally Posted by dave99

Couple things to set the record straight:

- If a dentist charges different fees for the same procedure to an insured vs non-insured patient, they are committing insurance fraud. Report them to the Alberta College of Dentists and rest assured it will be investigated. The dentist risks losing their license to practice. The only exception that we make can legally/ethically make is for folks on some form of assistance program like AISH or NIHB. In those cases, the fee schedule pays about 50% of the Alberta Fee Guide. We actually lose money by doing the work (the fees collected don’t always cover the overhead).

- Re: Xrays. Dentists like X-rays as they help in detection, diagnosis and treatment planning of dental decay and pathology. As an example, if you are 40 years old with little to no periodontal disease and no recent (last 5 years) history of cavities or other big issues, I often recommend X-rays every 2-3 years rather than annually, whether or not your insurance plan covers them. Talk to your dentist about caries risk and challenge them to explain why they recommend annual X-rays. If you are unsatisfied with their answer, then find a dentist that suits your needs and that takes the time to explain their recommendation.

- Oh, and I drive a 2013 F150…

Great post, its nice to hear from a person in the business. Im sure there are lots of great dentists,but there are a few that are unethical,which is the same with all professions.

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by AlbertanGP

Fees next door in Saskatchewan are higher. Chew on that.

Don't have the article handy but that's not what I read heard Alberta charges the most in Canada

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

[fishnguy]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Don't have the article handy but that's not what I read heard Alberta charges the most in Canada

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

You don’t need an article, our own guberment says so:



However, many other costs/salaries are higher here than elsewhere in Canada.

[does it ALL outdoors]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Alberta dentist are the worst Crooks in all of Canada as far as dentists go

Sent from my SM-G930W8 using Tapatalk

It sure pays well!

http://www.salaryexplorer.com/salary...=924&jobtype=3


https://nationalpost.com/news/canada...0k-640k-a-year

[does it ALL outdoors]

Originally Posted by dave99

Haha, touché. That one wouldn’t do me much good for hunting and fishing, would it?

It would if you were hunting and fishing for women