Tuesday, October 04, 2005
The Dentists are Milking
Today, I went to see my dentist who I have not seen in almost three years. The part that suck about this is that I actually had insurance for over a year already but never went to see one. Also a filling popped out yesterday.
OK, so I went in to see them today and this was my first visit. So thus, there was a little more paperwork than usual. There was nobody waiting in the lounge so I an assistant got to me really quickly. I was immediately taken into a room where I was told to sit on the chair. then I was told by the assistant that I was getting a full x-ray of my teeth. I was stunned. Before I even saw or talked to the dentist, they were already doing a full x-ray job. Come-on - at least let the dentist decide that I need the x-rays. This is like skipping the appitizers and going directly to the dessert or even skipping the foreplay and then going into the divorce phase of a marriage. I could not believe it. I ask how much the x-rays were going to cost... most probably in the hundreds... and I was assured by the assistant that as long as I had insurance, everything was going to be ok. It dawn on me that this was part of the milking process that lots of dentists go through. I told the assistant that I will decline their service. Furthermore I went out to the recptionist and asked her for my paperwork that I just filled out - I was getting the hell out of there and without a trace. The dentist came out and spoke with me. She tried to explain that the x-rays were a standard practice (as if I should accept it because it was standard practice). I told her that I disagreed and left the building.
Looks like I will be visiting my previous dentist. She never took an x-ray. I guess that what makes a good dentist is one that is unconventional.
OK, so I went in to see them today and this was my first visit. So thus, there was a little more paperwork than usual. There was nobody waiting in the lounge so I an assistant got to me really quickly. I was immediately taken into a room where I was told to sit on the chair. then I was told by the assistant that I was getting a full x-ray of my teeth. I was stunned. Before I even saw or talked to the dentist, they were already doing a full x-ray job. Come-on - at least let the dentist decide that I need the x-rays. This is like skipping the appitizers and going directly to the dessert or even skipping the foreplay and then going into the divorce phase of a marriage. I could not believe it. I ask how much the x-rays were going to cost... most probably in the hundreds... and I was assured by the assistant that as long as I had insurance, everything was going to be ok. It dawn on me that this was part of the milking process that lots of dentists go through. I told the assistant that I will decline their service. Furthermore I went out to the recptionist and asked her for my paperwork that I just filled out - I was getting the hell out of there and without a trace. The dentist came out and spoke with me. She tried to explain that the x-rays were a standard practice (as if I should accept it because it was standard practice). I told her that I disagreed and left the building.
Looks like I will be visiting my previous dentist. She never took an x-ray. I guess that what makes a good dentist is one that is unconventional.
