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

Bill, you just don't get it, do you?  You're obviously not the consumer.  

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.

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

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.

____________________________

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

Consulting another dentist is easier said than done.

Also, how does one know if the work the dentist said they performed was
really done?

    Consult another dentist.

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
really done?