I want to believe in good and honest men and women, who possess compassion. I want to find solace…read morein the knowing that there is genuine empathy in people for others. In our dog eat dog society, I long to find that hope... still and always.
Speaking of hope...
I would hope that when anyone who is suffering from a tremendous loss, that the first inclination of a doctor of dentistry, or the owner of the office, would not be to take all they could get and inflate an estimate, that even an insurance company, being Delta in this case, would gasp at.
Literally gasp.
This is more than a bad dentist story. It's a reality check for me, and maybe for you, that sometimes the people we trust, rely on to assist us in our effort towards good health, might not be who they seem to be.
Beware of people who say not to worry, you are in good hands, while at the same time, quoting you some outlandish price for your care.
Imagine this...
You have just lost the most important person to you. You watched them struggle, year after year and then finally succumb to what caused them continual pain and sorrow.
Imagine then too...
You have an abscess on the roof of your mouth, that because you cared for the most important person to you, you were not able to get it taken care of.
Until... you tragically lose that person you love.
After 4 months of tears, you make your way to the dentist you've been going to for years.
They pretend to understand. After all, they knew of him and always asked how he was doing.
You always suspicioned that the dentist had been inflating his prices, more than any other dentist's prices you compared with friends. But you could never follow through on investigating your suspicions. You were caring for the person you loved.
There, sitting in said dentist's chair, you are informed that their estimate will be $18,000. for your care.
Yes...
EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS!
You are in shock.
But, you go ahead anyway and get the first part done on that same day. You just are not strong enough, emotionally, to know where else to turn.
The manager has you initial many sheets of paper, right after that first procedure. You are still drowsy from Nitrous oxide (gas). The print is small and you can't make any of it out. Crying, you ask if he can't do something about the $18,000. tag. No, he says.
Before you leave, you give said dentist's office $4000.
Your sister tells you later, she had the same exact thing done for $5000. She too had an infection in her bone. She too needed 2 crowns and a bridge.
You wonder about all this.
Is it possible that a dentist would be so calloused, so opportunistic, as to inflate his prices to such a degree, knowing you have also experienced losing the most important person to you and while you are grieving?
Some kind of rescue needs to happen!
Your niece steps in. She demands accountability. She demands an itemized receipt of what was done.
They comply. Or at least try to.
The office just keeps changing that estimate along with the dates, along with details of what was done. They make no sense and it's quite obvious, they know it. Their first estimate changes to a bit over $15,000.
Yes,
FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS.
Still an inflated price. They say you need to come back. They want to finish the job.
The insurance company is informed and they GASP when the story is related to them. They encourage you to file a grievance and get a new dentist.
Your niece finds you another dentist. You go, she drills and completes the job @ $3600. Not, $11,000. more.
Like I shared, I want to believe in good and honest men and women, but sometimes, you have to accept that, that's not always possible.
If you choose to go to this dentist's office, please take this advice:
Hold them accountable and
get a detailed estimate in writing. Call your insurance company and double check things they tell you.
But most of all, still believe in good and honest men and women. They're out there.
So why even give this office two stars? Instead of one? That's for potential. Everyone has it.
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