Nonsense with the dentist
So, I have my own dentist story to tell, but I’m saving that one for another day.
Remember when I tried to cut #1’s finger off? Well, before that there was some serious silliness (is that an oxymoron? Maybe).
As she sits down in the chair and the hygienist rolls her chair over, she politely lets me know that our insurance only covers a fluoride treatment once a year (which is odd because I’m quite certain I get it twice a year). But, for the low price of $28 cash, I am welcome to allow the treatment, but I am responsible for it, out-of-pocket.
I politely declined. Does that make me a bad mom? I hope not. We brush daily and we have pretty good teeth genes, so I’m banking on that.
But, when the assistant comes over, she asks #1 what flavor she wants (I think it’s for the toothpaste). It’s not. It’s for the fluoride (the one I declined). The assistant then squirts it on the tray.
I ask if that’s the fluoride and the hygienist says yes. I remind her I declined that.
What does she do? She covers it with some gauze and says, okay.
So, I wonder. They were going to charge me $28 for that dollop of fluoride they were going to brush on her teeth. The one that they’ve already put on the tray (and I hope can’t use on somebody else). But, it’s okay to cover it with gauze and just throw it out?
Really, how much does that fluoride cost them? And, how could they be so blasé about it, but want to charge me $28?
I guess I should have asked if I could have taken it and brushed it on #1’s teeth myself. Wonder what they would have charged me for that.
This nonsense. This is what’s wrong with our health care system.
that is what’s wrong! craziness. no it doesn’t make you a bad mom. I’ve had to decline things before too.
hi! thanks! i appreciate your advice….sigh…my daughter is really dreaming for white skin, she adores your color…she love americans, and any other nationality that is white =) see you always!
Oh, I totally agree. That is ridiculous for sure. And don’t feel bad about declining it, either. I haven’t even taken my boys to the dentist yet… I know, I totally should start, huh? Heck, my boys don’t brush every single day either, although, yes, most days. The odd day I forget to remind them. Gulp. Now I feel bad!
You are lucky. I was told it was covered, only to get a bill for 75 dollars for a floride treatment. That is nonsense.
I hear ya, I’m still dealing with the hospital bills from when the kids had their seizures last year, it’s madness. One of Jill’s shots was $400. Seriously, $400. The ibuprofen they gave her? $12. Pretty sure she only got one dose, not two bottles….makes me crazy what they can charge.
Two things come to mind.
1) Yes … GIGANTIC waste of resources. Yes, only a small amount of fluoride paste, but still a waste. After you declined the treatment even. Shows that they aren’t paying attention. What else aren’t they paying attention to???
2) Good for you mom for noticing that they were about to perform an unauthorized treatment. What if they were doing something more invasive or performing a procedure that you were declining for religious reasons or health reasons???
I bet she is going to take it home and use it on her self. She didn’t want it to go to waste after all. 😉
Oh girl, that’s just the tip of the iceburg, as they say. Geez.
Here is what my Mom always used to say “They started putting flouride in our water system 60 years ago to help prevent cavities and other diseases….the trick is that you have to brush your teeth”. I think she might have figured out that when we were little we used to just run our toothbrush under the water instead of actually brushing our teeth. We tried that with the soap too, but I guess she figured that one out when she couldn’t hear the bath water running long enough. And we though we were so smart!
ugh. Don’t get me started on the dentist…
When my little girl had to have fillings done last winter (bad genes-yuck!) we were given a ‘good faith estimate’ that was NEVER ever cross referenced with our insurance…
Somehow – we ended up getting fillings, COMPOSITE – WHITE fillings that will fall out with her baby teeth, and sealants…SEALANTS – on baby teeth – that will fall out –
None of this I ever remember agreeing with…yet I still got a bill for several hundred dollars – (six hundred and something thankyouverymuch!) that our insurance would. not. cover!
ugh.
you are right – THIS is exactly what is wrong with our health care system!
That really is just ridiculous! More reasons to loathe the dentist…
maybe its only covered once a year for kids? That is crazy they were just going to throw it away.. unless it doesn’t cost much and costs more to apply? crazy!
Don’t hate me for anything I’m about to say; I’m just trying to make sense of it all.
My question: What did you expect her to do with it? You were clearly declining the services…which, of course, was her problem/mistake…but she couldn’t do anything else with it. I mean, I understand that one of your points was the fact that it was $28 and I can’t justify that not knowing how much fluoride is, but she literally had nothing else she could do with it. I’m sure the “standard procedure” was to just cover it and dispose of it. Because, yes, hopefully she won’t use it on another patient.
Come on!!!!!!! Ridiculous. I totally agree with you!
That’s dumb. At starbucks if they mess up your drink they make you a new one and offer your the one that wasn’t correct for someone else to enjoy. It’s nice to see things not wasted.
dude. crazy-ness!! you need to stay away from the dentist office.
What? That’s just insane right there!
All your horror stories make me really appreciate my dental insurance. Had the same company through three different jobs (I guess they all use the same company?) and preventative care for me and the kids is 100% covered. Which means no co-pay for cleanings, fluoride treatments, etc. Especially now that they are cavity free.
Braces are another story though.
Wow, huh. I bet there is a lot of waste in the medical fields that we have no clue about.
Besides, isn’t a fluoride rinse from the drug store like under $5 a bottle?
Really? Are you serious??! (please tell me I get super creative points for that one!)
I hate the dentist. like i’d rather give birth than get my teeth cleaned. Really, I am serious!