to exceed a dental estimate by over $100? I've beyond annoyed. I got 2 cavities filled today. When I was there in June for my x-rays, they gave me an estimate quoting $160 for 2 clear fillings. When I left today, I paid $277! The lady neglected to tell me that the charges have changed since then. My original "old" estimate was in my folder still so she had to be aware of the original prices I was quoted. She just said "Well, there's nothing we can do. Those are the charges." I tried arguing with her saying that if the prices change from the estimate that is IN MY FILE, I should be made aware of it before the procedure. It was their mistake not to make me aware of it and therefore should call it their own loss. I'm calling the district manager later when my mouth isn't so numb and i'm not leaving this alone until I get my $117 credit. This is BS.

By Breann on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 06:06 pm:

I completely agree with you. And, raising prices $100 in two months time is quite a bit!

By Karen~moderator on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 07:14 pm:

I agree also.

By Crystal915 on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 07:20 pm:

Thing is, fillings are charged per surface. If the tooth decayed more in the 2 months, that would lead to the extra charges. I agree that they should have told you before the procedures were done, but a 2 month old estimate cannot be considered accurate in that situation.

By Pamt on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 07:25 pm:

They should have told you the change before they did the procedure. That stinks.

By Annie2 on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 07:31 pm:

I agree with you! That is way over the estimate. I also feel it is their responsibility to make sure you are aware of all charges, that day, before anything is performed.
If you were given an estimate for that particular work then I deem it their responsibility to inform you that there could be a window of time that this work needs to be done or the estimate would be void.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 09:22 pm:

Crystal, the insurance pays for all of those charges under our policy. The only thing I pay for is the difference for what a silver filling and a clear one would be since they don't cover that.

On the estimate, there was no such statement such as "These charges are only good for XX days." If it were under $50 I could understand but over $100 is just too much to expect a person to pay without forewarning them.

By Boxzgrl on Friday, September 30, 2005 - 09:23 pm:

Can I also add that with being as deadly afraid of needles as I am, It was totally cool to have my mouth numb, lol. That was an easy dental visit. I'll opt for the numbing in the future too.

By Paulas on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 12:01 am:

Oh, don't even get me started on dental problems LOL

Last year I was told that some older fillings needed replaced (lots of them). I went in and they replaced the fillings on the right side. When I got home my mouth was sore so I looked in and noticed that they had replaced my silver fillings with white ones. They looked lovely but I had been told that they cost more. I assumed since the dentist didn't ask me that white fillings were now covered under my medical plan. (BTW...he has several teacher clients so he is VERY familiar with our plan and what it covers). I went in the following week to have the other side done and asked the receptionist about it but she never really answered me. Well, when I got home that day, my reimbursement check was in the mail for the first visit. In total the two visits ended up costing about $500 out of pocket for me! I was livid. I called and got a very cool receptiion. When I suggested to the receptionist that they inform their patients next time I was told that they didn't have to agree with my opinion. When I spoke to the dentist I was told that they didn't have the time to go over the advantages and disadvantages of white/silver fillings.

Furthermore, I was scheduled to have all the top ones replaced as well since I was told this was necessary. This was last year and I still have them. My current dentist said that I might want ot look at replacing them next visit (two years after the other doc wanted to replace them)

Unfortunately, many dentist are like used car salesmen (not meant to offend anyone here)

By Kaye on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 12:05 am:

Let me just add this, I am sorry that it cost so much. But white fillings are worth EVERY penny! The silver fillings have trace mercury in them and you could have issues. Most don't, but if you do they are horrible and then it is very costly to reverse (as in paula's stuff). So it is better to suck it up and pay it one by one!

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 08:46 am:

I want to have my silver fillings replaced because of the *mercury connection*, but I have other dental problems such as another broken tooth, to deal with first.

And, IMO, ANY doctor or dentist who tells you they *don't have time* to explain or inform you of something, especially when it was done to you without your knowledge or express consent, should be reported, and should certainly not receive any future business from you.

I'm one of those people who is also terrified of the dentist anyway, so finding a *good* one is very important to me, and not an easy task.

I guess you learn through experience, to ask a lot of questions, and to not be afraid to tell them *NO*, or stand up to them, or tell them you won't be coming back.

By Paulas on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 05:23 pm:

The risks of using the silver fillings is still an issue of debate. See the following link:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0857/is_n4_v9/ai_11446889

As mentioned in the article, some fish, such as tuna, have larger amounts of mercury than the silver fillings.

Karen, I totally agree about the reporting thing but I just haven't gotten around to it. Do you think that since a year has passed, it is too late to report?

By Boxzgrl on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 05:44 pm:

I never knew there was a risk with silver fillings. I've always opted for white ones for cosmetic reasons. I didn't want a mouth full of silver. It just looks tacky.

By Karen~moderator on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 06:13 pm:

Paula, I have no idea what the statute of limitations might be in that regard. Perhaps Ginny might have some info???

Melissa, when I was a kid, silver fillings were the only choice - there were no ceramic or other *white* fillings. So I have a mouth full of tacky silver fillings. LOL

All of my fillings are very old - like, before age 12, most before age 8. So you do the math, some of them have been in my mouth for over 40 years.

Unfortunately, my teeth seem to be breaking easily the past year or two, so instead of having a silver filling in one of them, the tooth is now gone. The one in front of it was damaged by the oral surgeon who extracted the other tooth last year, and that one has broken too. I have to get a bridge, which was scheduled twice and had to be cancelled twice due to us losing our moms this year. Now I'm waiting for the dentists in our area to reopen their offices after the hurricane.

There was no such thing as white fillings, ceramic braces, or even colored rubber bands/colored braces when I was coming up. Silver was *it*, and now there's the mercury connection. My sister had all of her silver fillings removed and replaced with the new material and she paid quite a bit to have it done. She did it for medical reasons, she has gone through chelation therapy to rid her body of mercury due to health problems.

By Pamt on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 06:27 pm:

Ditto Karen. I had a mouthful of "tacky silver fillings" because that was the only option back in the 70s when most of my fillings were done. I have since had to have all but one of my fillings replaced due to loosening, cracks, etc. I know have 1 crown and 1 partial crown, all white fillings except my last silver filling hold out. It will probably need to be replaced in the next few years. I have not had a single cavity since middle school. I sure wish I had taken better care of my teeth in my younger years!!

Anyway, my dentist only does the white fillings now and my insurance covers them fully. Go figure...

By Boxzgrl on Saturday, October 1, 2005 - 07:13 pm:

LOL girls! I didn't mean it like that. I guess with all the options today, silver doesn't seem to be the popular vote. If I had all silver fillings, *I* would be the one with "tacky silver fillings" since i've had 9 cavities in the last 3 years. I just don't think it looks nice. DH still gets silver fillings so I guess i'm just comparing the two of us.