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LoveGame · Nov 4th, 2009, 02:32 PM

So is it ok for a Dentist to always make you wait exactly a month between appointments and only perform one procedure during that appointment, for example if you have 3 fillings and they do one filling each appointment? And making someone wait 4-5 months to get wisdom teeth removed and to top it off saying that they will only take one tooth at a time, meaning that if you have 3 wisdom teeth to take out you had to go through that process 3 different times. I know it's shady but is it legal in any way for them to to that? If not where can I make a complain?

ShimmaPuff · Nov 4th, 2009, 03:40 PM

That sounds like something insurance-related to me. If you don't have insurance, I would just ask why, and come back and tell us what they say.

Irishgal · Nov 4th, 2009, 03:42 PM

Shimma is probably right. But there may be a clinical reason that they do this, like they only wish to do a specific amount of work per visit, not sure.
Call and speak with either the dentist or an assistant.

mdmc · Nov 4th, 2009, 04:05 PM

Never heard of such a thing. In the first place you generally go to an oral surgeon to get your wisdom teeth pulled. Is this a dentist you have gone to for a long time or is he or she new to you? I know several people who have had their wisdom teeth pulled and they do them all at once. Why would you put someone to sleep 3 or 4 times when you can do it all at once? I would ask specifically why then I think I would go somewhere else.

jwhitlock · Nov 4th, 2009, 04:19 PM

I agree... I think it may be an insurance thing.

eckertle · Nov 4th, 2009, 04:23 PM

It may be because of insurance. In my medical field, insurance will only cover a certain number of procedures for each patient per visit... maybe 1 major or 4 minor office procedures? It's probably different for each field and procedure, though.

LoveGame · Nov 4th, 2009, 04:46 PM

I have the same insurance I've always had and i can remeber back in the day when i was younger, at a different dentist, they usually did everyhing he same day as far as fillings go. So I don't think it can be the insurance thing (unless they changed things?). It's not my choice to do take my wisdom teeth one by one that's what my dentist told me that's how the oral surgeon does it and that I couldn't make an appointment for it I had to be put on the waiting list and it would take 4-5 months. All they said was that's how they do it and that's all.

karmenzsofia · Nov 4th, 2009, 04:56 PM

Find another dentist.

LoveGame · Nov 4th, 2009, 05:05 PM

^ yeah that's what I'm trying to do but I just wanted to know if what they are doing is legal because if not I would like to report them.

karmenzsofia · Nov 4th, 2009, 05:11 PM

I believe there are no laws that establish a dentist must do all the filings in one visit or take out all wisdom teeth in one procedure; however, I've never heard of what you're describing. I've had more than one filing worked on in one visit; I've never had to wait months to do this or the other; all four of my wisdom teeth were removed at once... Assuming that the insurance has nothing to do with the scheduling of these procedures, what your dentist is doing may not be illegal, but if you ask me, it's unethical kuz he's just milking his patients for every dollar he can get.

redney · Nov 4th, 2009, 05:26 PM

^^^I see it the other way; that the dentist is spacing procedures apart so that the patient's insurance will cover all of the procedures.

Some insurance companies may question a large number of procedures if done all at once.

To answer OP's question, no this is not illegal. I highly doubt there exist city, state, or federal statutes on timing of dental procedures.

karmenzsofia · Nov 4th, 2009, 05:30 PM

That's why I said "assuming that the insurance has nothing to do with it...," kuz when she asked, she was told "that's how we do it"; nothing about the insurance.

ShopGurlaholic · Nov 4th, 2009, 05:40 PM

I dont think whatever you are describing is illegal at all. From my experience with dental visits I would say either it is insurance related or your dentist has a busy schedule. When making your next appt I would suggest asking if you can have a couple of procedures done during one visit and explain how it is inconvenient for you to make multiple visits, usually they are pretty understanding. HTH.

LoveGame · Nov 4th, 2009, 05:55 PM

I have medicaid, I thought I mentioned this before but I guess I didn't. Does that factor into anything?

Btw thanks for all the help.

Vegas Long Legs · Nov 4th, 2009, 06:37 PM

^^^^ Think that is your answer. Medicaid dictates what the dentist does when.

Nov 4th, 2009, 02:32 PM	#1
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	Is this legal? (Dentist related) So is it ok for a Dentist to always make you wait exactly a month between appointments and only perform one procedure during that appointment, for example if you have 3 fillings and they do one filling each appointment? And making someone wait 4-5 months to get wisdom teeth removed and to top it off saying that they will only take one tooth at a time, meaning that if you have 3 wisdom teeth to take out you had to go through that process 3 different times. I know it's shady but is it legal in any way for them to to that? If not where can I make a complain?
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37

Nov 4th, 2009, 03:40 PM	#2
ShimmaPuff Sentient Post Whore Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Earth Posts: 9,626	That sounds like something insurance-related to me. If you don't have insurance, I would just ask why, and come back and tell us what they say.
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Nov 4th, 2009, 03:42 PM	#3
Irishgal Over and out... Joined: Apr 2006 Location: The intersection of bitter and sweet Posts: 10,960	Shimma is probably right. But there may be a clinical reason that they do this, like they only wish to do a specific amount of work per visit, not sure. Call and speak with either the dentist or an assistant.
	__________________ To think is to practice brain chemistry. Join me at the world's largest brain data base site www.brainnet.net

Nov 4th, 2009, 04:05 PM	#4
mdmc Member Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 231	Never heard of such a thing. In the first place you generally go to an oral surgeon to get your wisdom teeth pulled. Is this a dentist you have gone to for a long time or is he or she new to you? I know several people who have had their wisdom teeth pulled and they do them all at once. Why would you put someone to sleep 3 or 4 times when you can do it all at once? I would ask specifically why then I think I would go somewhere else.
mdmc Member Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 231

Nov 4th, 2009, 04:19 PM	#5
jwhitlock Delicious Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Southeast of Disorder, MD Posts: 509	I agree... I think it may be an insurance thing.
	__________________ Nobody puts GINGEY in a corner.

Nov 4th, 2009, 04:23 PM	#6
eckertle tPF addict Joined: Jun 2007 Location: the South Posts: 1,349	It may be because of insurance. In my medical field, insurance will only cover a certain number of procedures for each patient per visit... maybe 1 major or 4 minor office procedures? It's probably different for each field and procedure, though.

Nov 4th, 2009, 04:46 PM	#7
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	I have the same insurance I've always had and i can remeber back in the day when i was younger, at a different dentist, they usually did everyhing he same day as far as fillings go. So I don't think it can be the insurance thing (unless they changed things?). It's not my choice to do take my wisdom teeth one by one that's what my dentist told me that's how the oral surgeon does it and that I couldn't make an appointment for it I had to be put on the waiting list and it would take 4-5 months. All they said was that's how they do it and that's all.
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37

Nov 4th, 2009, 04:56 PM	#8
karmenzsofia Life is Plan Z Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Tarot Card Posts: 14,888	Find another dentist.
	__________________ Satisfied but wishing 4 a WTM Mini and an AP ~~* Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Or, more importantly, is it funny?

Nov 4th, 2009, 05:05 PM	#9
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	^ yeah that's what I'm trying to do but I just wanted to know if what they are doing is legal because if not I would like to report them.
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37

Nov 4th, 2009, 05:11 PM	#10
karmenzsofia Life is Plan Z Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Tarot Card Posts: 14,888	I believe there are no laws that establish a dentist must do all the filings in one visit or take out all wisdom teeth in one procedure; however, I've never heard of what you're describing. I've had more than one filing worked on in one visit; I've never had to wait months to do this or the other; all four of my wisdom teeth were removed at once... Assuming that the insurance has nothing to do with the scheduling of these procedures, what your dentist is doing may not be illegal, but if you ask me, it's unethical kuz he's just milking his patients for every dollar he can get.
	__________________ Satisfied but wishing 4 a WTM Mini and an AP ~~* Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Or, more importantly, is it funny?

Nov 4th, 2009, 05:26 PM	#11
redney Lovin' Life! Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,754	^^^I see it the other way; that the dentist is spacing procedures apart so that the patient's insurance will cover all of the procedures. Some insurance companies may question a large number of procedures if done all at once. To answer OP's question, no this is not illegal. I highly doubt there exist city, state, or federal statutes on timing of dental procedures.
redney Lovin' Life! Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,754

Nov 4th, 2009, 05:30 PM	#12
karmenzsofia Life is Plan Z Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Tarot Card Posts: 14,888	That's why I said "assuming that the insurance has nothing to do with it...," kuz when she asked, she was told "that's how we do it"; nothing about the insurance.
	__________________ Satisfied but wishing 4 a WTM Mini and an AP ~~* Is it true? Is it helpful? Is it necessary? Is it kind? Or, more importantly, is it funny?

Nov 4th, 2009, 05:40 PM	#13
ShopGurlaholic Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 148	I dont think whatever you are describing is illegal at all. From my experience with dental visits I would say either it is insurance related or your dentist has a busy schedule. When making your next appt I would suggest asking if you can have a couple of procedures done during one visit and explain how it is inconvenient for you to make multiple visits, usually they are pretty understanding. HTH.
ShopGurlaholic Member Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 148

Nov 4th, 2009, 05:55 PM	#14
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37	I have medicaid, I thought I mentioned this before but I guess I didn't. Does that factor into anything? Btw thanks for all the help.
LoveGame OP Member Joined: Mar 2009 Posts: 37

Nov 4th, 2009, 06:37 PM	#15
Vegas Long Legs In an Italian Villa Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 6,097	^^^^ Think that is your answer. Medicaid dictates what the dentist does when.
	__________________ If we weren't meant to eat animals, why are they made out of meat? Tom Snyder 1936 -2007 Jane is an oil painting. Her & friends can be found at www.donaldrollerwilson.com

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