When Phil and I moved to Florida in 2015, we were mentally prepared for the challenge of locating new doctors and dentists. We have been much luckier in the doctor department than the dentist department, and from what we hear, we are not alone. I do not know if the regulations on dentistry are extremely lax in Florida, or what the problem is, but instead of filling/fixing teeth, the dentists here push cosmetic dentistry at outrageous prices. For the aging population living in Florida, it seems ridiculous. I’ve lived with my teeth for sixty-seven years. Why at this stage of the game, would I be interested in beautifying myself? Those days are gone. I just want to maintain the teeth I’ve got until I finally kick the bucket.
Our latest experience with dentistry has been frustrating, to say the least. Phil has been having trouble with a broken tooth since summer. At first, it did not hurt, but he knew the tooth would have to be pulled. We tried to get an appointment with a dentist that was highly recommended, but that particular office could not see him for a couple months. They referred us to an associate of theirs at a different office where we received appointments for the next week.
We thought our first appointment would involve cleaning, x-rays and the exam. We didn’t expect a charge because our insurance covers two cleanings per year, x-rays once a year, and an examination. However, this dental practice has a super-duper x-ray machine for which we were charged $63.00/each for the super-duper x-rays. The dentist said he couldn’t pull Phil’s tooth and referred him to an oral surgeon. They didn’t clean our teeth at this first appointment. We left with the referral and an appointment for our teeth cleaning the next week.
The insurance paid for my cleaning completely, but Phil was charged $230.00 for debridement. Apparently, debridement is different from cleaning, even though Phil thought the hygienist used the same tools that hygienists always use and it seemed like the same procedure as any other cleaning he’d had in the past. He was scheduled for another appointment later for the cleaning.
After my teeth were cleaned, I was presented me with a Proposed Treatment Plan totaling $6,399.75! I don’t know if they thought that was my walking around money, but, unfortunately, it is not. I do have two missing fillings and, apparently, those two teeth are cracked, but I am not having any trouble with them. The dentist was recommending two crowns but I fail to understand why he can’t just fill the teeth. If that is impossible, $6,399.75 is an insane price to pay to fix two teeth. I told them we couldn’t afford it.
Phil saw the surgeon who presented him with a Proposed Treatment Plan totaling $10,470.00. He did not pull Phil’s tooth or schedule him for the extraction. At this point, Phil’s tooth had been aching for a few weeks. I called around to see if we could get his dental work done somewhere else for a lesser amount, or find an emergency dental service to pull his tooth, with no success
I called the ten thousand dollar oral surgeon to ask him if he could simply pull Phil’s aching tooth. I received an appointment for Phil, but it was not to pull the tooth. It was simply an appointment to sign papers about the surgery. At the paper signing appointment, Phil was scheduled to have the tooth extracted on October 2nd for a cost of $430.00. Here he’s had a bad tooth for two months, it’s been aching for at least a month, and he can’t get it pulled for two more weeks. He wasn’t given any antibiotics or anything. I guess they were just waiting for it to abscess.
I received a call from the regular dentist on Tuesday of this week, which I thought was a reminder call for Phil’s appointment the next day for his cleaning. I was informed that the call was for me because they were supposedly concerned that I hadn’t made an appointment to begin the work for my $6,400.00 treatment plan. I was quite surprised since I made it very clear when they gave me their big plan that I was in no position to start running up a bill for $6,400.00 right now and I reiterated that fact to them. We discussed Phil’s appointment and I was quite annoyed that he was not having his teeth cleaned the next day. The appointment was to decide what kind of cleaning he would need. At that time, I was told they would schedule his appointment for the actual cleaning! I tried to get out of them whether there would be a charge for either of those appointments and the amount we’d be charged with no success, so I cancelled Phil’s Wednesday appointment.
I’ve been stewing about this, so I called the surgeon today and, finally, they are going to get Phil in sooner to pull the tooth–next Thursday, the 26th. It’s just a week sooner, but still sooner. They started Phil on an antibiotic, pain pills, and a special mouth rinse today, which, hopefully, will kill any infection and in turn relieve his pain. Who’d think you’d have to prostrate yourself before a dentist to plead with them to pull your tooth!
Jeez! I sure do miss the dentist we used to go to in Erie, PA. I’d mention his name here, but I don’t want to connect his name in any way, shape, or form to this narrative. Fair warning to anyone moving to Florida from the north: If you plan to visit your hometown frequently, schedule your dental visits when you’re visiting home. Dentists down here are out to raid retirees’ bank accounts.