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Message
re: How much of a scam is the dentist?
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:05 pm to 03 West CoChamps
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:05 pm to 03 West CoChamps
quote:
How much of a scam is the dentist?
lolwut?
0
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:06 pm to Chucktown_Badger
quote:
You replied to a post about the deep cleaning procedure noting how your regular cleaning takes less long and requires far less in terms of interventions.
Because I don't wait 10 years between cleanings. This is very simple stuff.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:15 pm to deeprig9
quote:
How much comes out of your paycheck every month for that dental insurance, AND you still have a $23 copay? Add all that shite up and re-run your numbers, and get back to me.
$5.71 per paycheck, just checked. So about $148 a year...add in $25-$50 twice a year for my cleanings and I'm all in for about $200 or so.
So still less expensive and I get the benefit of not having a disgusting mouth, pain, a poorer quality of life because my teeth are failing, not having the downstream effects of unhealthy teeth/gums, etc.
So like I said, if you want to deal with your gum disease every few years and all that is sure to come with it, and pay more to do it, by all means.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:16 pm to ronricks
quote:
Because I don't wait 10 years between cleanings.
Thanks captain obvious. This thread is better for you pointing out that your normal procedure is less expensive, intensive, time consuming, and painful than the one for those with gum disease.
This post was edited on 6/18/26 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:24 pm to 03 West CoChamps
If you ignore your teeth, they will go away. Go back to your old ways if you feel dentists are a scam. It's as simple as that.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:27 pm to 03 West CoChamps
Some are huge scams, I haven't missed an appointment since I was 5 years old, only 2 cavities my whole life. Moved to Houston and obviously had to find another dentist, they hit me with we need to do deep cleaning, gum testing etc etc. Told them nope just a cleaning, refused to do it. I had to find an old school dentist that didn't try and upsell.
I guess I should have known when I walked into the office and it's a 10K sq ft standalone with every type of African big game mounted hanging in his office.
ETA; my mom worked in a dentist office for 30yrs so I know I didn't get BS care. Never needed braces, never had a tooth pulled and zero root canals.
I guess I should have known when I walked into the office and it's a 10K sq ft standalone with every type of African big game mounted hanging in his office.
ETA; my mom worked in a dentist office for 30yrs so I know I didn't get BS care. Never needed braces, never had a tooth pulled and zero root canals.
This post was edited on 6/18/26 at 3:30 pm
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:39 pm to 03 West CoChamps
are you British?
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:39 pm to 03 West CoChamps
This thread has been entertaining. Full of personal anecdotes that people then believe applies to the rest of society.
Note for anyone that has half a brain....(and this is for any service in any industry)
If you seek a service, get advised of a solution and you don't like what you are told-- Get a 2nd opinion from someone in that field. If they are agreeing on the solution, then you probably got the right answer.
If they disagree, get another opinion.
However, the dumbest thing to do is seek advice from family, friends and the OT Lounge. Absolutely stupid.
Note for anyone that has half a brain....(and this is for any service in any industry)
If you seek a service, get advised of a solution and you don't like what you are told-- Get a 2nd opinion from someone in that field. If they are agreeing on the solution, then you probably got the right answer.
If they disagree, get another opinion.
However, the dumbest thing to do is seek advice from family, friends and the OT Lounge. Absolutely stupid.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:45 pm to 03 West CoChamps
Dentist here
Lots of great responses! Dental insurance is absolute crap. Agreed!
No your dentist does not gain a thing by referring your wisdom teeth to the surgeon. I think one time they (oral surgery office) sent us cinnamon rolls at Christmas. Woo! Your dentist informed you of your conditions and recommended what was in YOUR best interest. And he has to because it’s a diagnosis clear as day on the panoramic xray. The patients he doesn’t inform will end up suing him for not saying something when a cellulitis develops and cuts their airway, so….
He is medico-legally obligated to inform you of every condition, and the BARN (benefits of treatment, alternatives to treatment, risks of treatment, and what happens with NO treatment). He did his fricking job and it sounds like he cares enough to be comprehensive.
Also, it’s very common to push back against cleanings on the first visit because periodontal disease is extremely common, and requires a treatment procedure called scaling and root planing, commonly referred to as a “deep cleaning,” but this is not a cleaning! This is a treatment of INFECTION in your gums, which by definition is causing jawbone to shrink and disintegrate around your teeth. If left untreated, your teeth can get loose (one or all) and I’ve seen them fall out. Literally just fall out. This is also the #1 dental lawsuit, undiagnosed (clinical malpractice) periodontal disease. So you’re unhappy because he did his job and diagnosed your issues, something you hired him to do at his office, and is trying to give you the best long term care. Periodontal disease is a chronic, debilitating disease. You have disease and you must treat it.
Yes dentists have the highest suicide rate of any profession. High debt and long hours and emotional carrying of our patients we care for eventually takes its toll. Then ignorance and anger like this situation are very common. I don’t know a single dentist that retired “10-15 years after dental school.” And I know thousands of dentists. I have 1.2M debt, which was 2M at its peak. But I do earn a comfortable living as I make those minimum payments. No complaints here. Just saying some dentists don’t cope with debt as well and it adds stress and pressure and is a major reason for that high suicide rate.
Yes we work 4 days a week. It’s not because we want to. Patients no show at a much much higher rate on Fridays and we pay staff a lot to be there for no reason, so it kind of made sense to not schedule patients on Fridays. However I have worked every Friday of my life. I digitally design smile makeovers and rehabilitation cases and do practice management things all day Fridays. Monday through Thursday I work in the practice, Friday I work on the practice. I am flying to phoenix at this moment to take continuing education to better serve my patients with advanced dental implant procedures. A $10,000 trip (2 days) and course. I could just take free seninars around town, but some of us aspire to be the best we can be. Those are the things no one sees or appreciates. You pay me to be an expert. Don’t complain when I use that expertise and diagnose your conditions and provide all your options.
AMA
Lots of great responses! Dental insurance is absolute crap. Agreed!
No your dentist does not gain a thing by referring your wisdom teeth to the surgeon. I think one time they (oral surgery office) sent us cinnamon rolls at Christmas. Woo! Your dentist informed you of your conditions and recommended what was in YOUR best interest. And he has to because it’s a diagnosis clear as day on the panoramic xray. The patients he doesn’t inform will end up suing him for not saying something when a cellulitis develops and cuts their airway, so….
He is medico-legally obligated to inform you of every condition, and the BARN (benefits of treatment, alternatives to treatment, risks of treatment, and what happens with NO treatment). He did his fricking job and it sounds like he cares enough to be comprehensive.
Also, it’s very common to push back against cleanings on the first visit because periodontal disease is extremely common, and requires a treatment procedure called scaling and root planing, commonly referred to as a “deep cleaning,” but this is not a cleaning! This is a treatment of INFECTION in your gums, which by definition is causing jawbone to shrink and disintegrate around your teeth. If left untreated, your teeth can get loose (one or all) and I’ve seen them fall out. Literally just fall out. This is also the #1 dental lawsuit, undiagnosed (clinical malpractice) periodontal disease. So you’re unhappy because he did his job and diagnosed your issues, something you hired him to do at his office, and is trying to give you the best long term care. Periodontal disease is a chronic, debilitating disease. You have disease and you must treat it.
Yes dentists have the highest suicide rate of any profession. High debt and long hours and emotional carrying of our patients we care for eventually takes its toll. Then ignorance and anger like this situation are very common. I don’t know a single dentist that retired “10-15 years after dental school.” And I know thousands of dentists. I have 1.2M debt, which was 2M at its peak. But I do earn a comfortable living as I make those minimum payments. No complaints here. Just saying some dentists don’t cope with debt as well and it adds stress and pressure and is a major reason for that high suicide rate.
Yes we work 4 days a week. It’s not because we want to. Patients no show at a much much higher rate on Fridays and we pay staff a lot to be there for no reason, so it kind of made sense to not schedule patients on Fridays. However I have worked every Friday of my life. I digitally design smile makeovers and rehabilitation cases and do practice management things all day Fridays. Monday through Thursday I work in the practice, Friday I work on the practice. I am flying to phoenix at this moment to take continuing education to better serve my patients with advanced dental implant procedures. A $10,000 trip (2 days) and course. I could just take free seninars around town, but some of us aspire to be the best we can be. Those are the things no one sees or appreciates. You pay me to be an expert. Don’t complain when I use that expertise and diagnose your conditions and provide all your options.
AMA
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:46 pm to 03 West CoChamps
We “had” a dentist who was worse than a car mechanic, every time any family member went for a cleaning or anything they would find a couple thousand dollars of other stuff which had to be fixed before it got worse.
I told them to F off in person
I told them to F off in person
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:51 pm to 03 West CoChamps
The OP.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:55 pm to 03 West CoChamps
quote:
Why can’t I just get my damn cleaning and move in
Did they not try to schedule you for a cleaning?
If you don't know the basics of how teeth and gums work, I can't imagine how nasty your shi is. They have to do deep cleaning to get all the stuff out that's going to ruin your gums and make your teeth fall out. Them doing a simple cleaning doesn't help anything.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:57 pm to Splackavellie
quote:
Gross.
If you floss and brush right, he is not wrong. It's like insurance pay for years for something you may or may not need.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:59 pm to duckblind56
Dental spouse here. hate to say it but I would try to find a well respected dentist over 50 before I'd let a 20-30 something start in on treatment planning my mouth.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 3:59 pm to 03 West CoChamps
You better go. Neglecting your teeth will be painful soon, if not already.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:00 pm to 03 West CoChamps
quote:
Because it felt exactly the same as going to a mechanic to get a new tire and they sell you on that you must have new break pads, caliper, lug nuts and 3 different belts.
My dentist is cute as hell and she rubs her titties on me while examining me. I'm so lucky she hasn't suggested a bunch of work because I'd be broke. I wouldn't say no.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:07 pm to TDsngumbo
OP:
Rabid anti-dentite who probably thinks they should have their own schools.
Rabid anti-dentite who probably thinks they should have their own schools.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:08 pm to travelgamer
Under appreciated point in this thread: your mouth/gum health is very important/connected to other vital systems.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:09 pm to 03 West CoChamps
I just got back from a cleaning this morning. Before they started, I had to put my head in an upright device that scanned my full head.
They identified two small cavities beneath old fillings. Luckily, with insurance my bill for the first filling will be $78 after insurance.
Now they have a bunch of young skinny dental hygienists and will miss the older one who put her boob on my ear.
They identified two small cavities beneath old fillings. Luckily, with insurance my bill for the first filling will be $78 after insurance.
Now they have a bunch of young skinny dental hygienists and will miss the older one who put her boob on my ear.
Posted on 6/18/26 at 4:12 pm to wesfau
quote:
Under appreciated point in this thread: your mouth/gum health is very important/connected to other vital systems.
Correct. Dental plaque can lead to heart issues.
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