Am I Being Scammed By "New" Dental Office?

[George304]

We moved from Houston to Austin about 9 years ago and I went looking for another dentist here. I found one and they recommended scaling after doing the gum measurements and finding some were 4 etc. They also put the little tablets in my gums. At that point they wanted me to come back every three months and the charges were racking up. I went back to my old dentist in Houston and they did the same measurements about six months later and I think I had a few 3s and they just cleaned. Since then I've been driving back to Houston for my 6 month cleaning and I think once they found some 4s and did a "deep clean/scale" but usually its just the regular cleaning. The one time they had to do the deep was still fairly inexpensive. I went in January of this year and again nothing was wrong, they just told me to floss more, but then traveled a lot and finally went back last week (so well delayed at 11 months). In that time I understand the practice was sold to another company. This time I got my exam and xrays (I've never had a cavity and just turned 50) and the hygenist did the poking gum routine and said she found a few 4s and one 5 at which point she made me sign several new forms about having early periodontal disease and told me that I would need to be back every 3 months. She then sent me out to talk to their billing person who printed out all I needed that day and a follow up a month later - $377 that day which included $50 for Prevident 5000 and $50 for Chlorhexidine (found out later they were toothpaste and wash). I have Safeguard so normally I get out with a small co-pay. It didn't seem like the scaling took any longer than a normal clean, but now I am supposed to go back for "gingival irrigation and the regularly scheduled prophylaxis" next month for another $130. I'm a little suspicious at the addition of the pricey toothpaste and mouthwash. I've had this scaling etc done before and I assumed the few pockets I had this time (which were a couple 4s, one 5 and the rest normal just as they have been some times in the past) were probably due to me not being in for 11 months. Should I be wary of this office now?

 

[Janet Two Hawks]

It sounds like a proper perio protocol to me. You could consider getting an evaluation with a periodontist, which is a specialist in gum disease and gum surgery. They have very skilled hygienists too. Get a second opinion.

 

[John Roberts]

Second opinion. I am trusting dentist less and less.

 

[Uptown101]

Look for another specialist and have second opinion for that.

 

[h1430640]

I had a similar story with you , but may not be exactly the same experience. I got second (third and fourth...) opinion, but they were all general dentists. Going to a perio every time is a heart-attack to my wallet, but at the end of the day I did the deep scaling treatment. I was also told by the perio specialist that I had early periodontal disease. But the other general dentists ALL said NO, I don't have periodontal disease. I don't know, from the extensive Google search I have done, I still couldn't reach a consistent answer with the dentists and the perio.

But my GUESS after my extensive Google learning is , although periodontal disease is often theoretically classified as three stages or more but most of the professional dentist won't classify your stage clinically. Instead, by their experience, if they think your condition can be managed, they then manage, because in most cases periodontal disease progresses very slowly, and if managed, it won't progress or progress even more slowly. What's more Perio will do is they will clean out more deeply and practically a "better" clean, while the general dentist is doing a "normal" clean. Maintenance at the Perio office is about helping you to deep clean again at lower price but rougher job done because they want to keep you coming back . Theoretically, from book, maintenance will keep help , it's true, But realistically , I don't think it helps a lot. But I keep going to general dentist for routine cleaning.

Note: I am NOT a dentist and what I say about is only my guess from my experience and anyone should NEVER trust it fully

 

[Busybee]

I am sure the dental industry is no different to others in stretching what is clinically necessary in order to generate revenue. My vet had this down to a tee, using guilt to make you spend more on your pet. Happens a lot in general healthcare too. Unnecessary tests, etc.

 

[DrPhilHellmuth]

I would say, hard to say! Sit down with a periodontist to check on that!