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Medical Forum / General / Dentistry / September 2006Was the work Really Necessary/Was it Done?
How does one know if the treatment recommended by their dentist is really necessary. Also, how would one know whether the work they said they did was really done? > How does one know if the treatment recommended by their dentist is really > necessary. Also, how would one know whether the work they said they did was > really done? Consult another dentist. Steve  SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. Also, how does one know if the work the dentist said they performed was really done? >> How does one know if the treatment recommended by their dentist is really >> necessary. Also, how would one know whether the work they said they did was [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Steve > Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. > > Also, how does one know if the work the dentist said they performed was > really done? I wasn't trying to be facetious. There isn't any practical way for you to evaluate dentistry on your own. You will know if it hurts, you will know if something falls out. Even another dentist will not be able to tell after the fact if restorative treatment (no matter how nicely done) was necessary, unless (and sometimes not even if) pre-operative x-rays are provided. Steve >>>How does one know if the treatment recommended by their dentist is really >>>necessary. Also, how would one know whether the work they said they did was [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] >> >>Steve SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 Can you tell me what the usual and customary fee for Guided Tissue Regeneration is? >> Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. >> [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >>> >>>Steve > Can you tell me what the usual and customary fee for Guided Tissue > Regeneration is? UCR fees (usual, customary and reasonable) are terms used by insurance companies to determine limits of coverage. It is defined as the 90th percentile for a given area, but insurance companies are notorious for using UCR tables that are woefully out of date. As far as guided tissue regeneration (GTR), this is a procedure done primarily by periodontists, so I'm not familiar with typical fees. I would imagine it would vary widely, depending upon how many teeth are involved, whether bony grafts are used, etc. As such, while I'm sure insurance companies have a figure (they tend to keep these figures a deep dark secret, btw), they really aren't useful to patients, I'm afraid--there are really just too many variables to the procedure. Steve >>>Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. >>> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> >>>>Steve SignatureMark & Steven Bornfeld DDS http://www.dentaltwins.com Brooklyn, NY 718-258-5001 > Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. ____________________________ Is that because you are in a rural area with only one dentist? In most urban and suburban regions, there are many dentists who would be able to render a second opinion. - dentaldoc I do not live in a rural area. I cannot just go to another dentist for a second opinion, I must change dentists through my insurance company. Why should I have to go through this? The reason I am so skeptical is that the insurance company I am with does not require the dentist to submit for approval x-rays,a written description of the patient's dental issues, or her/his treatment plan. They require NOTHING. The dentist just just gets paid by them to have me as a patient and she/he can do whatever she/he pleases. As the consumer, I find this outrageous! To no avail, I have searched and searched (even with my local and the national dental association) for a list of fees charged for dental services in my area;a range would suffice. Am I being robbed? Feeling skeptical. >> Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. > [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > >- dentaldoc > I do not live in a rural area. I cannot just go to another dentist for a > second opinion, I must change dentists through my insurance company. Why [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > for a list of fees charged for dental services in my area;a range would > suffice. Am I being robbed? Feeling skeptical. It is of course possible that your dentist is substandard; however, insurance companies should NEVER be depended on to determine the appropriateness of treatment. In fact, many policies will explicitly say that their decision not to provide a benefit is NOT a judgement of the appropriateness of care; it is only a judgement as to whether a service is eligible for benefits according to the provisions of the particular insurance contract. Steve >>>Consulting another dentist is easier said than done. >> [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >> >>- dentaldoc Don't ever trust the insurance to make your dental decision. They are only concern about making money, and they are not responsible for their recommendation. They always recommend the cheapest treatment, which may not be your best choice. Getting a 2nd opinion from another dentist is the only way, if you don't trust your current dentist. If you don't trust your current dentist, you probably should change. Get recommendation from your friends or relatives. Dentist they have seen and like. Don't go to a dentist you don't trust. It's not going to work out. [AdvanceAgent #367924] Games I am currently playing: http://uc.gamestotal.com/?in=367924 > > I do not live in a rural area. I cannot just go to another dentist for a > > second opinion, I must change dentists through my insurance company. Why [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > >> > >>- dentaldoc AdvanceAgent, It's not that I don't trust this particular dentist, I don't trust any of them. I don't have the information to know what is a reasonable fee for each procedure and I don't have the knowledge to know whether I really need that procedure or not. >Don't ever trust the insurance to make your dental decision. They are >only concern about making money, and they are not responsible for their [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> >> >> >>- dentaldoc For price, you can locate your local dental association to find out the average fee charge by dentist around your area. You can find out your local dental associate by contacting www.ada.org You can do reseach on the web to see what's the common treatment for the problem you have. I always like to offer my patients different treatment options, and let them know my recommendation. I wll also explain why I recommend that particular treatment. [AdvanceAgent #367924] Games I am currently playing: http://uc.gamestotal.com/?in=367924 > AdvanceAgent, > [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > >> >> > >> >>- dentaldoc > I do not live in a rural area. I cannot just go to another dentist for a > second opinion, I must change dentists through my insurance company. Yes, you can just go to another dentist! Your "insurance" won't pay for it, that's all. (I put the word "insurance" in quotes because it appears that you don't have real dental indemnity insurance, but have a capitation-type "dental plan" instead.) If your "insurance" were to give you a couple of cheap coupons for a couple of hamburgers at your local McDonald's, that would NOT mean you "can't" go to another restaurant for the rest of your life. You can go to another restaurant any time you like. People go to restaurants all the time without expecting the insurance to pay for it, and people go to dentists the same way too. And when you look at the costs, people spend more money for food than they do for dentistry -- so why is there "dental insurance," but not "food insurance?" Maybe food insurance would be more logical than dental insurance, because food costs MORE than dentistry. > Why hould I have to go through this? The reason I am so skeptical is that > the insurance company I am with does not require the dentist to submit for > approval x-rays,a written description of the patient's dental issues, or > her/his treatment plan. They require NOTHING. The dentist just just gets > paid by them to have me as a patient and she/he can do whatever she/he > pleases. As the consumer, I find this outrageous! I agree, it is outrageous! But that's what the "insurance" company wants to do, and if you agree to subject yourself to the whims of a far-away company instead of just buying what you really want, then that's what you have to put up with. Best regards, dentaldoc Bill, you just don't get it, do you? You're obviously not the consumer. >> I do not live in a rural area. I cannot just go to another dentist for a >> second opinion, I must change dentists through my insurance company. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] >Best regards, >dentaldoc > Bill, you just don't get it, do you? You're obviously not the consumer. Oh, I do get it, indeed. The insurance companies try to make you think that THEY are in charge of your dental health. In fact, they are really there only for their own profits, not for your dental health. The insurance companies would like you to think that THEY make all the decisions. Their attitude is so pervasive that in your own message, you related how you "must" go through the insurance company to change dentists. There is no "must" about it. You can switch dentists any time you want. The insurance company does not own you. You can see any other dentist, pay his fee, and get a second opinion regarding both the necessity of the treatment, and its cost. No insurance company can stop you from exercising your own control over your own dental health. - dentaldoc Insurance companies have really come inbetween and interfere with the doctor-patient relationship. Patients have now been brainwashed into thinking procedures are not necessary if it is not covered by insurance. They have, in many cases, suceeded in dicating treatments. And they can not be sued! At least if a doctor made a mistake he/she can get sued. There is no accountability with insurance company. They serve a purpose by making insurance more affordable so more people can be insured, but do not think they are making decision to your benefit. People & politicians always complain about medical cost rising every year. All the blame go to doctors. No one seems to notice that insurance companies' profits are rising every year. They are rising faster than doctor's fee, which are control by the insurance now a day. Politicians won't attack insurance companies because their are big political donors. Anyway, the point is. Listen to the options offered by your doctor and make the decision that's best for you. Don't let insurance coverage influence your decision. [AdvanceAgent #367924] Games I am currently playing: http://uc.gamestotal.com/?in=367924 > > Bill, you just don't get it, do you? You're obviously not the consumer. > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > - dentaldoc Thank you ALL for your input. You've been very helpful. >Insurance companies have really come inbetween and interfere with the >doctor-patient relationship. Patients have now been brainwashed into [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] >> >> - dentaldoc NO dear, Bill does get it. When a patient signs up for this kind of plan, the doctor is paid a coupdl of dollars a month to see the patient. For the 30 cents on the dollar fee [if he is lucky] the patient is not going to have the doctor do a ton of paperwork, and approvals. THE INSURANCE [???] pays for nothing, and this patient is upset because of the co-payments which is all the doctor is going to get for whatever he is prescribing for the patient. IF the patient wants to get a second opinion, he is welcome to it. BUt of course the patient does not want to pay for it. Did I GET IT??? > Bill, you just don't get it, do you? You're obviously not the consumer. > [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] >>Best regards, >>dentaldoc |
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