So, I've got something I'd like to sound off about.
Has anyone ever been to the dentist and felt like they were just trying to RIP YOU OFF? I know some of us may have had wonderfully amazing experiences, and left the dentist's office feeling like you were just part of some beautiful fairy tale. More likely it was the unique effect of the laughing gas.
In the last few years I have taken my son to three different dentists; a few times we used our insurance through Blue Cross, and most recently we've had to use Medicaid. Interestingly enough while on our "normal" insurance the dentist never found a cavity in my sons teeth - in fact he complimented on how healthy his teeth were. I regrettably switched dentists after I personally had to have a cavity filled, and he was so rushed and rough he left my gums around the area literally torn and bleeding. There was no way I was going to let that man work on my 4 year olds teeth after he had been that forceful with me.
I took him in June to different dentist who accepted Medicaid and he found 2 tiny cavities. He informed me not to worry because Medicaid would pay for them. Now I am a firm believer in not taking advantage of the government systems put forth to help those in need. So, I asked the dentist what my other options were. He said in a nut shell -- I would HAVE TO have them filled sooner or later, and I'd better do it while it could be paid for 100%.
SO, I decided to get a second opinion before making any rash decisions....
About two weeks ago I took my son to a pediatric dentist who accepted medicaid. With his digitally enhancing x-ray software he managed to conjure up 4 additional cavities completely obscure to the naked eye. He made me feel the same way as the prior dentist that it was an absolute necessity to fill those teeth. He printed up an estimated bill of $660, and tried to use the scare tactic to get me to see the dire need in filling those teeth. He explained that if I didn't have them filled that in 6 months he could likely have to have a baby root canal.
I asked him -- Seriously? Why do you need to fill a cavity you can't even see on a normal x-ray on teeth that are going to just fall out in a few years? In addition, why would I want to put my son thru all the pain and trauma of someone shoving a needle in his cheek, prying his mouth open, and drilling his teeth away? FOR WHAT - a cavity that is causing him NO PAIN, and is so small it can't even be seen! I explained that I personally can attest to the strength of baby teeth as I have 2 baby teeth still left in my mouth. Yes that's right, two of my molars are still my "baby" teeth - I never had any permanent teeth replace them - something to do with my lovely genetics I inherited from my father. Many dentists told my mother that if she didn't have them pulled, and replaced that they would probably cause severe damage to the rest of my teeth. After many years of going to different dentist's one honest man finally told her that sometimes baby teeth, if they are taken care of, could last a well into someone's 30's or 40's.
After obviously being offended that I would question him - This pediatric dentist began to belittle me by starting in on the Medicaid aspect. Saying to me, what if you decided to wait, and what would happen in six months if you weren't on Medicaid and couldn't afford to bring your son back in? He attempted to express genuine concern - that the only reason he took Medicaid was because he understood there was a real need for it locally. He tried to make me feel bad for him by saying, Medicaid doesn't pay his office the full amount of what he normally charges someone.
Honestly, why in the hell did I need to know all of that? That dentist couldn't honestly tell me he opened that office just out of the kindness of his heart. We all know that any actual business is open to make money and to provide a living for their family. Why not take Medicaid? At least he is guaranteed to get paid that money. It is also gives him an incentive to him to find more cavities to bill Medicaid for; considering the fact that he is getting paid less for each individual service he performs. Finally after 20 minutes, he ended up giving me the option to put him on fluoride treatments, and bring him back in six months for a check-up.
Should I have just given the man a break - Probably.
Now let’s get this straight, if it is clearly a necessity I would never deny my son medical attention - Ever. But what exactly constitutes "a necessity" to you and I may differ, and that I understand. Who knows what is right and wrong - that is why we are parents - it is left up to us to make that decision for our children. It may not always be the right decision. However, it was our choice to become a parent, and it is our right and responsibility to be their protectors. If not us then who will?
Maybe, I'm just ignorant and stubborn? Maybe, I'm just a parent who cares?
After having all these feelings, I ran across a short blog/article in the NY times and thought it was worth posting. Maybe, my feelings aren't so crazy after all? Let me know what you think
Has anyone ever been to the dentist and felt like they were just trying to RIP YOU OFF? I know some of us may have had wonderfully amazing experiences, and left the dentist's office feeling like you were just part of some beautiful fairy tale. More likely it was the unique effect of the laughing gas.
In the last few years I have taken my son to three different dentists; a few times we used our insurance through Blue Cross, and most recently we've had to use Medicaid. Interestingly enough while on our "normal" insurance the dentist never found a cavity in my sons teeth - in fact he complimented on how healthy his teeth were. I regrettably switched dentists after I personally had to have a cavity filled, and he was so rushed and rough he left my gums around the area literally torn and bleeding. There was no way I was going to let that man work on my 4 year olds teeth after he had been that forceful with me.
I took him in June to different dentist who accepted Medicaid and he found 2 tiny cavities. He informed me not to worry because Medicaid would pay for them. Now I am a firm believer in not taking advantage of the government systems put forth to help those in need. So, I asked the dentist what my other options were. He said in a nut shell -- I would HAVE TO have them filled sooner or later, and I'd better do it while it could be paid for 100%.
SO, I decided to get a second opinion before making any rash decisions....
About two weeks ago I took my son to a pediatric dentist who accepted medicaid. With his digitally enhancing x-ray software he managed to conjure up 4 additional cavities completely obscure to the naked eye. He made me feel the same way as the prior dentist that it was an absolute necessity to fill those teeth. He printed up an estimated bill of $660, and tried to use the scare tactic to get me to see the dire need in filling those teeth. He explained that if I didn't have them filled that in 6 months he could likely have to have a baby root canal.
I asked him -- Seriously? Why do you need to fill a cavity you can't even see on a normal x-ray on teeth that are going to just fall out in a few years? In addition, why would I want to put my son thru all the pain and trauma of someone shoving a needle in his cheek, prying his mouth open, and drilling his teeth away? FOR WHAT - a cavity that is causing him NO PAIN, and is so small it can't even be seen! I explained that I personally can attest to the strength of baby teeth as I have 2 baby teeth still left in my mouth. Yes that's right, two of my molars are still my "baby" teeth - I never had any permanent teeth replace them - something to do with my lovely genetics I inherited from my father. Many dentists told my mother that if she didn't have them pulled, and replaced that they would probably cause severe damage to the rest of my teeth. After many years of going to different dentist's one honest man finally told her that sometimes baby teeth, if they are taken care of, could last a well into someone's 30's or 40's.
After obviously being offended that I would question him - This pediatric dentist began to belittle me by starting in on the Medicaid aspect. Saying to me, what if you decided to wait, and what would happen in six months if you weren't on Medicaid and couldn't afford to bring your son back in? He attempted to express genuine concern - that the only reason he took Medicaid was because he understood there was a real need for it locally. He tried to make me feel bad for him by saying, Medicaid doesn't pay his office the full amount of what he normally charges someone.
Honestly, why in the hell did I need to know all of that? That dentist couldn't honestly tell me he opened that office just out of the kindness of his heart. We all know that any actual business is open to make money and to provide a living for their family. Why not take Medicaid? At least he is guaranteed to get paid that money. It is also gives him an incentive to him to find more cavities to bill Medicaid for; considering the fact that he is getting paid less for each individual service he performs. Finally after 20 minutes, he ended up giving me the option to put him on fluoride treatments, and bring him back in six months for a check-up.
Should I have just given the man a break - Probably.
Now let’s get this straight, if it is clearly a necessity I would never deny my son medical attention - Ever. But what exactly constitutes "a necessity" to you and I may differ, and that I understand. Who knows what is right and wrong - that is why we are parents - it is left up to us to make that decision for our children. It may not always be the right decision. However, it was our choice to become a parent, and it is our right and responsibility to be their protectors. If not us then who will?
Maybe, I'm just ignorant and stubborn? Maybe, I'm just a parent who cares?
After having all these feelings, I ran across a short blog/article in the NY times and thought it was worth posting. Maybe, my feelings aren't so crazy after all? Let me know what you think
6 comments:
Great post, Lila. This reminds me of when I was in a car accident about a year ago (I was rear-ended by a text-messaging driver). Because my auto insurance PIP (personal injury protection) was paying for my treatment, doctors were trying to give me every treatment possible. They figured since I wasn't paying out of pocket, I wouldn't object to extraordinarily "thorough" treatment. This caused me to wonder just how "thorough" they would have been if I had been uninsured and paying out of pocket. My guess is that they would have told me to throw some ice on it or use one of those freezy-spray cans soccer players use when they get kicked in the shin.
as far as your son is concerned, I would never presume to comment on your parenting decisions, but I can say that if my daughter had a painless, invisible cavity in a baby tooth, no one would be shoving needles into her mouth or drilling her teeth, or giving her gas. Some of your dentists sound an awful lot like car mechanics who tell you that if you don't change your air filter and brake pads immediately you may die on the way home. I think I would call out the one who belittled you for being a Medicaid patient. I would write a rhetorically-brilliant complaint letter to his office, and possibly to the local paper.
i agree with mr. D, where he says that dentists are like mechanics, however i think that's true for most non doctors in the medical field.
My mom has had kind of a same experience with her doctor. He wont tell her how much her surgery is going to cost until they get in contact with our insurance company. They are going to bill the insurance company for how ever much the insurance company will allow for the surgery. So if it is really only going to be a 3,000 $n surgery and they can get 10,000 $ or even more out of the insurance company they will. What i cant believe is that they told my mom this! right over the phone so now she feels as though she in a way is being dishonest and doesn’t want surgery:) Doctors and Dentist in my opinion are serious QUACK'S
Why isn't Medicaid closely watching something like that? A lot of medical people are idiots and just in it for the money, cause they know it's prosperous, long lasting and they can get away with murder. I have been a million dentists in my life I can't evevn count them. But the one I go to now, is actually an honest man, and he shows me my x-ray of my teeth right in front of me and explains it. He shows me the dark grey areas that means a cavity is there or coming. I guess it all depends on what dentists your going to and if he is a genuinely honest man, and if he really wants to help you. But the dentist in Brooklyn should have his license revoked because that my friends, is fraud. Oh but guess what? our government doesn't care enough to watch it cloesly. Mind you, our tax dollars pay for Medicaid and Medicare. Which there is nothing wrong with that insurance, my family is on that. But, if they are giving some jerk off all this money for filling paitents all 32 teeth in one day, something has to be done about that. Also, who has 32 cavities? That are ALLL filled in ONE day? I had 4 cavities one time, and they spread it out in 2 days.
Thanks everyone for your comments -
Since I had such a strong response to this article I decided to go ahead and write my strong response paper on it -- so if anyone has any good ideas let me know!
I'm glad some people can relate to this! It's nice to know you're not crazy for feeling the way you do sometimes about situations.
Whit - I can't believe that about the surgery with your mother -- Just another way to get more money than what is truly "due" for their services. Very sad
Lauren - thanks for actually reading the article that I posted! Let me know if you have any other good ideas about this.
And Dan thanks for responding & being able to relate with all of it --
I really liked this post because it can pretty much be related to any form of medical care.
Last week my mom had surgery on her pointer finger (ha). Originally she had a growth on it and they never dug it completely out. The problem was that the ligaments were starting to grow together, creating a hook shape rather then naturally being straight. What they ended up doing was grafting the bones together and placing a metal pin that ran directly through her finger to hold it in place. I went to pick her up since she "couldnt drive". The nurse's assistant told me her pain-killer prescription had been set up and she was expected to go to 6 months of physical therapy, 3 times a week. HONESTLY?!? FOR A FINGER? that seems a bit ridiculous to me. I asked the aide what good that would do and she said they had some form of finger weight that would help strength the ligaments so they would heal properly.
After taking her home i started to think more about the situation and even though we do have insurance (thank heavens) she would still end up paying almost $1600 in deductibles going at that rate. Now whether that is necessary to attend that much physical therapy, i am not positive. Needless to say my mom has started her route to recovery even after i explained to her how big of a waste it really was, plus i could have bought her her own personal finger weight! But i guess you can never be too careful right? ha
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