I promised my dentist story- more nonsense
Amazingly, after the fiasco with the pediatric dentist, I found myself in a similar one.
Maybe I’m wrong, and this isn’t crazy (so, let me know if you work in a dentist office), but this was craziness to me and anybody I’ve told.
During my fall break (with the girls in school), I headed off to a new dentist. Of course, not by choice. Our insurance changed and our previous dentist was no longer in network.
The new dentist (and hygienist)?
Totally made the worst of impressions…and they didn’t even do anything.
I filled out my new patient paperwork and waited. And waited and waited.
After waiting for 30 minutes, a woman came out, and said "’Miss Krystyn’ I’ll be with you in five minutes, is that okay?"
Um, well, I’ve already waited 30 and everybody else in the waiting room has been seen, but sure, I need my teeth cleaned.
Five minutes later…"You can come on back now, ‘Miss Krystyn.’" (Yes, she called me "Miss Krystyn" again!
She has me sit and looks over my paperwork. She asked about my allergies that I listed, then said "Oh, good, you haven’t used your insurance this year, so we can do the full workup."
I swear, you could see the dollar signs in her eyes.
"I’ll be right back with your films for your X-RAYS."
"Excuse me, ma’am (she didn’t ever tell me her name) I can’t have any X-RAYS, I’m pregnant."
(Yes, I marked the checkmark on the form stating I was pregnant. The spot right underneath where I listed my allergies."
"Well, ‘Miss Krystyn’ we can’t do an evaluation without X-RAYS."
(Not snarky at all, I really promise.) "That’s okay, I really just wanted to get my teeth cleaned, can you do the X-RAYS next time?"
"Nope. We can’t do anything without your X-RAYS."
"Really? I know my very first visit at my previous dentist I was pregnant, and they just said they could do them next time."
"Well, I’ll check with the dentist."
Two seconds later (okay, maybe more), "No, we can’t do anything."
A dentist didn’t come out to apologize, talk to me or anything.
They completely denied me any service. They didn’t offer any suggestions or solutions.
At that point, yes, my snark came out. I got up out of the chair said "You’ve made your point perfectly clear. Don’t even consider billing any of this (not that they did anything) to my insurance" and walked out.
And now, not only have they lost me as a patient, but Mr. Serious was going there, too, and now he won’t go back.
Am I crazy? Not only did they totally not pay attention to the form they wanted me to fill out, and try to give me X-RAYS, but then they wouldn’t even clean my teeth without the full "workup." It sure seemed like they were only after the money from the full "workup" instead of the keeping a new patient.
Thoughts? Oh, and did you notice that is drove me absolutely crazy that she called me "Miss Krystyn." Because it totally did!
PS Thank you all for the congratulations on our Big Announcement post. I really appreciate all of your well wishes!
PPS More birthday party pictures to come.
I’m a dental hygienist.
1. You can have x-rays taken when you’re pregnant as long as you’re properly covered with a vest.
2. We don’t have to take x-rays if the patient doesn’t want them.
I think that’s really weird that you couldn’t just get your teeth cleaned… and now you wasted a hour of your day sitting there to hear that news. I’d complain to someone (or blog about it and not say anything to the *right* person – yes, I’m confrontational like that) 😉
I have most definitely had my teeth cleaned without x-rays before. That’s ridiculous!
I’m laughing at the “Miss” thing because that is ALL you get around here in Louisiana! It’s a Southern thing, I think…
Anyway, not sure what their problem was but glad you found out they were idiots to begin with and sorry they wasted your time!!
All of this is just nuts. It is my biggest pet peeve when they don’t read the forms I fill out. I don’t know how many times I’ve been prescribed something I’m allergic to. You’d think that the first thing they’d look at is if a woman is pregnant before doing X-RAYS (saying it the same way she did hehe).
Hope you find a good dentist next time. Take care, Miss Krystyn ;o)
I actually think it’s really weird that they felt the need to give you X-rays at all. My dentist has never given me X-rays and I’ve gone to him for years. It’s obviously a money grab and really rude of them.
Yeah, you totally need a new dentist!
You are not crazy. It’s so sad that our public health system is in such a pitiful state these days. You are not alone in a new dentist hunt. I’m looking for a new dentist because I don’t like the dental hygienist…she’s so rough and talks so southern and soft I can’t understand what she says when she chooses to say anything. I like my dentist, though, and feel bad about wanting to leave him, but I don’t like being in pain every six months for no good reason. Slicing my gums open isn’t part of teeth cleaning n my (unprofessional) opinion. Good luck with finding one and congratulations on your pregnancy!
You are 100% right. Sounds like AWFUL service, and of course, do not go back there. And of course you can get your teeth cleaned without x-rays, for crying out loud! I went for my teeth cleaning when I was pregnant and there was no hesitation when they found out I was pregnant – they continued on with the cleaning. Actually, they also ASKED me if I was pregnant, too. AND OHHHHHH MY GOD! Your baby news!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m going to go read that post now! I’m so behind!
Yep. Craziness!!!
The first time I saw my dentist I was pregnant and declined x-rays. They were fine with it. He did a cleaning and sent me on my way. 6 months later I was back with my 4 month old in tow. He admired her, did my x-rays (with baby in waiting room with sister) and then did another cleaning.
Another 6 months later, pregnant again, I declined a new crown work up and they were cool with it.
That is just absurd. It really disappoints me how unknowledgeable dentists seem about pregnancy and the x-rays. Some honestly don’t seem to know that it’s not okay. WTF? And the “Miss Krystyn” thing would have annoyed me as well.
It doesn’t take much to turn me off of a dentist as I tend to loathe them on principle, but oh yes, I would look for someone else!
that is crazy! I’ve definitely had mine cleaned w/o x-rays!
I would have been FURIOUS. How could they refuse a teeth cleaning?! Could you report it to some agency? Maybe the better business bureau??
OMG! PLease tell me what dentist…we are in the market for a new one and I definitely don’t want to go there! Aside from all the other things wrong with that office visit, the Miss first-name would have SERIOUSLY ticked me off. If I am paying for something I better be referred to PROPERLY! Augh. (Can you tell I’m really opinionated about that? 😉
total nonsense.
but thanks for the reminder…must call dentist.
The Miss Krystyn irritated me before I even knew it irritated you! That’s absolutely ridiculous about the x-rays. I have moved a gazillion times and not once have I ever had that happen.
what.. really! I went to a new dentist when I was preggo w/ Sammy and they just o okay.. lets get you all cleaned up then! Crazy!