Particularly concerning the US system. Should I write the state Attorney General on this, or not?
It had been close to 3 years since I'd gone in for a cleaning and exam. So I figured I'd bite the bullet and get it done, even though I had no coverage. Little problems now turn into big problems later, etc.
I just moved to a new area (but not too far from where I was). Many dentist offices in the area are not taking new patients... given where I work, I am able to hear the word of mouth on which dentists/doctors/specialists are good in the area. I ended up going to a random "doc in a box" dental office because it was close by and they could give me an appointment this side of doomsday.
Friday I go in for my exam. They poke around, take x-rays, take a gander at my choppers, and finally say I have two cavities. They give me quotes at rates that are rather high for this area. And since I don't have coverage, this sort of bill would leave me eating only pasta and tuna for the next few months. I say I'll call later to book an appointment date because I have to check with work (truth!)
Instead I call my old family dentist whose office is a bit further off. I ask for their rates to fix me up...their quotes on "worst case" are much lower than what the other place quoted me.
So I set an appointment, go in, they do their own exam and...magically I go from two cavities to NO cavities! They did several close up x-rays to be sure. No cavities, nothing wrong.
So it LOOKS like the other place tried to take me for several hundred dollars of un-needed work. If I'd had dental coverage at the time, I'd have shrugged and believed them and let them drill holes in my perfectly sound teeth!
So my question, dear Ufiedom, is this: Do any of you know any plausible reason or misdiagnosis for this? Or did I just walk into a really scummy office? Cavities are diagnosed off the X-rays, right? |
