Yikes -- My insurance won't cover "anesthesia"!!!

[Flosser47]

I am scared to death of having my gums scraped so I always need novacaine and nitrous. I have an appointment for this Saturday am first thing.

I just read in my Delta insurance booklet that Anesthesia is EXCLUDED unless it is for oral surgery!!!! I can't do this without the nitrous!!!

Anyone have any idea how much nitrous costs???!!! I'm SCARED!!!!

[AnonymousKeith 2]

My guess, based on prior experience( not necessarily positive) for that deep cleaning ...scaling, ,,,whatever they call it...would be between 60 to 80 (USD) per hr for nitrous. However - i think one of the resident dentists could give a fairly accurate estimate. BTW-excluding nitrous from coverage seems to be a universal practice in the US........Best of luck to you on Sat....K

[letsconnect]

It really varies from office to office, but I've seen the following quotes:

*nothing
* $33
* $35
* $35
* $40 per half hour
* $29
* $55
* $70

What about ringing the office to find out ?

[Flosser47]

Thanks so much, everybody, for responding with numbers.

I'm a little afraid to call this dentist's office to ask him. I think this may be the only time I'll go to him. I haven't been to a dentist since '94. I tried this guy because he adverstised he caters to dental chickens.

I went for a first appointment for x-rays, etc. last week. The guy is obsessed with money. While I was in the waiting room, I heard him all hyper with his receptionist about how much money he was getting from some insurance for a procedure he did. He said, "I should be getting a GRAND for that work!" The first thing he talked about with me when I met him was my insurance limit for the year and how much I'm responsible for. The last thing he said to me was, "We need your $50 deductible".

Ok, I shouldn't be going back at all to this guy. And I wouldn't if not for this painful gum area I have that has to be cleaned out so I can go back to eating again. I already had the appointment for that. I just want to get out of pain. But I don't trust this guy in regards to money at all so I won't be having any remaining work done with him.

I'm just doubtful that he'll charge me a fair fee for nitrous. So thank you everyone for the ranges that I should expect..

[letsconnect]

What a bummer - personally, I greatly dislike the "cater to chickens" crowd, but it seems to get the punters in... up until now, I always put it down to an "Americanism", but maybe it's not

Anyway - I hope that your appointment this Saturday goes really well regardless

[Keith2]

I wouldbe very careful here.......something is definitely not right here at all.......if i were in your shoes - id recheck this guys credentials thoroughly-as well as inquire as to whether this guy has any disciplinary action on his liscence.....itseems his only intent is to make a buck -at your exp[ense. I , myself , would be concerned about the possibility of substandard care from this dentist and , IMO, you m,ay need/wish to enquire thru whatever govermental body(UK or US) governs liscensure/disciplinary complaints involving dentists......whether this dentist has a history ......rather than go ahead . a dental care professional who is on the square wont fear such inquiry.........good luck on this.......and LC...feel free to edit -or question my line of thinking here....my point is to note that this might not be a "kosher" situation.......and to be thorough in ones approach....better safe than sorry !!!!!!!they say........hindsight is 20/20...right? let us know how it goes...ok?

[letsconnect]

True, actually. You can find more info here:

www.dentalfearcentral.com/dentist_license.html

[Flosser47]

Thank you, Keith. I checked in with the Better Business Bureau, and they said there were no complaints about him. But I suppose checking with some state dental association would be a better way to check.

I've been learning something, too, about these dentists who advertise they cater to dental chickens, as someone mentioned. Most times they want to get the 'scaredy-cats' in there to gain their trust. They figure they are easy targets. Once they gain that trust, they charge alot of money so you have to really keep your wits about you and not trust these people 100% when they are advertising that you should trust them.

I actually had the best root planing done (for my gum condition) by a dentist who didn't advertise catering to chickens. Yet, he was gentle, thoughtful, and gave me plenty of anesthesia. It was SO long ago, though, that I don't remember his name and I don't live in that area anymore or I would go back there.

I'm going to go for this gum cleaning tomorrow, though, so I'll let everyone know how it goes. It's great to have a place to tell these things to. After this, though, I have a much better referral from a co-worker who has a very gentle and thoughtful dentist he goes to who he trusts.

[Flosser47]

Thanks, also, Lets Connect!! I appreciate the help.

[letsconnect]

Best of luck for tomorrow, in spite of the circumstances !!

It's great you have a referral from a co-worker now, that sounds very promising indeed. If you ever feel like sharing the details once you've met that dentist, feel free to contact me in private at [e-mail]. I will only pass on the name if I reckon that anyone looking for a dentist in your area and the dentist you're suggesting will be a match. Alternatively, you can always post the details on the "find or recommend a dentist" board .

Again, all the best for tomorrow, and please let us know how it went - sending good vibes your way !

[jamesy]

Flosser47 said:

I've been learning something, too, about these dentists who advertise they cater to dental chickens, as someone mentioned. Most times they want to get the 'scaredy-cats' in there to gain their trust. They figure they are easy targets. Once they gain that trust, they charge alot of money so you have to really keep your wits about you and not trust these people 100% when they are advertising that you should trust them.

Bleh, the "caters to cowards" dentist was one of the first ones I crossed off my list when I was doing my "scientific" phone book search. I'm sure there are some good ones out there, but it just seemed odd to me that they would need a tag-line like that just to get people in the door. It makes me wonder if they want the people who, once they are in, will simply stay with that dentist because that is all that they know. For somebody with a phobia, it may be easier to stay with the "devil they know" than to go through the trouble of researching and looking for a new dentist.

And I would be extremely put-off if my dentist started talking about how much money he was making off his patients in an area where his patients could hear him. I certainly don't begrudge whatever money a dentist makes, but it seems tacky to be talking dollars in public.

(Ok, not sure what kind of mood I am in today. I will get off the soapbox now. )

Hope everything went well for you today, flosser.
Also, good luck in the future with your new dentist!

-James

[Flosser47]

Thank you LetsConnect and James!

Whew, I survived this morning. I'm so relieved its over. I needed that nitrous badly and was glad I took it. It's such a life-saver. Some guy came in and did the deep scaling. He didn't introduce hiimself or anything, but he was meticuous in his work, and I was glad he was so thorough. One thing that bugs me when you go through that is when a bit of plaque is left, and then that just sets it all up again to collect more plaque over that plaque.

I'm going to get the other side of my mouth done in 2 weeks, but then I'm going to try the referral from my co-worker for the root canal that this current guy says he thinks I need. I'll have to wait until January, though, to renew my dental insurance limit which isn't very much. I'll let you know if I think the referral is a good one, LetsConnect! Thanks for all your help!!!

[letsconnect]

Flosser47 said:

Some guy came in and did the deep scaling. He didn't introduce hiimself or anything,

My God... and that's in a place which "caters to chickens" That's mad stuff...

Flosser47 said:

I'll let you know if I think the referral is a good one, LetsConnect!

Please do !! I'm glad it went sort of semi-well, I cannot see how someone with a "proper" dental phobia (LOL) would have dealt with this situation, but WELL DONE for making it !!!! Give yourself a pat on the back!

[Flosser47]

Thanks, LetsConnect - back patted!

After I came off the euphoria of having survived the ordeal, so many things were just not right that day. For one, whenever I have had nitrous and novacaine for deep scaling, the dentist has done the work. But in this case, a hygienist came in. Not only that, I told the hygienist I was NOT numb at a point in my upper jaw. But he started working anyway. When he hit that point, I hit the ceiling. The dentist is so nasty to his staff, that they are afraid to ask him for anything so I think the hygienist was afraid to tell him I needed more novacaine. In the past, dentists have given more novacaine when needed, and I've gotten completely numb.

Plus, the next day, I noticed, when I flossed, that alot of plaque was left between the two teeth where the deep pocket was --- which was the whole reason that sent me to a dentist after 11 years. I e-mailed the dentist that plaque was left and he told me to just come in and they would re-do that area when I get the other side of my mouth done. No talk about anesthesia for that area either and I KNOW the whole lower jaw can't be numbed because you could choke. You can only numb half at a time.

Plus, they had me pay $221, which I told them I thought was high. My insurance is supposed to pay 80%. But they told me Dr. N likes to overcharge and then reimburse LATER. Like I'm supposed to trust HIM more than he trusts me! I had another appointment for this Saturday, but I cancelled it. Just way too many red flags with his guy.

So I'm still searching for a Delta Dentist that uses nitrous. I got a couple good referrals, but neither dentist uses nitrous. I really NEED the nitrous.

[letsconnect]

Flosser47 said:

For one, whenever I have had nitrous and novacaine for deep scaling, the dentist has done the work. But in this case, a hygienist came in.

I don't think that's unusual in the US these days. Some dentists are still doing things like cleaning, but increasingly, cleaning (incl. deep cleaning) is deferred to a hygienist.

Flosser47 said:

The dentist is so nasty to his staff

One of those "red flags"... RUN if at all possible...

Flosser47 said:

No talk about anesthesia for that area either and I KNOW the whole lower jaw can't be numbed because you could choke. You can only numb half at a time.

Actually, no, you can numb the whole lower jaw. It's not dangerous (though I might imagine it would increase the risk of inadvertently biting your tongue, but I'mm not a dentist). But for people who have a fear of choking or not being able to breathe, it can be comforting for them to know that only one side of their jaw/lips/etc. will be numb.

Flosser47 said:

I had another appointment for this Saturday, but I cancelled it. Just way too many red flags with his guy.

Good decision ;D!

Flosser47 said:

So I'm still searching for a Delta Dentist that uses nitrous. I got a couple good referrals, but neither dentist uses nitrous. I really NEED the nitrous.

Are you stuck with a Delta Dentist? I've heard that on some plans, it's possible to choose any dentist - you may just be reimbursed slightly less (or something along those lines). Is this a PPO plan?

[Flosser47]

"Are you stuck with a Delta Dentist? I've heard that on some plans, it's possible to choose any dentist - you may just be reimbursed slightly less (or something along those lines). Is this a PPO plan?"

(I don't know how to do the 'box' thing)

Thanks for bringing that up. I don't know. I'll need to find that out. I think it's sort of a PPO plan. I'll try and find out if I can go to non-Delta dentists and just get reimbursed less. I know it's that way with our medical plan. I'll look into that.

[letsconnect]

Might be a good idea to find out .

For the box thing: when you reply to a post, instead of hitting "reply", click on "quote" (top right corner of the post you wish to quote). You can then remove bits of text you don't want to quote etc.

[keith]

Hey flosser,

Im not keith2 but i will say dont worry about cleaning since i had plaque etc. the hygentist did my without any navocine since i said not need it yet. but she wasnt going the shots but its a gel way. she was so nice doing my scraping the plaque and she saw a bone chip or piece of old tooth he remove but she told the dentist on my record to look at it next visit since i having top full denture and i keeping my bottom teeth. My dentist didnt do cleaning since his hygentist do it and he very support all his staff even allow them point things out.

sound like your dentist is bad apple and ya should find one who will respect all his staff and paitence

[Flosser47]

Things have gotten worse with this dentist. I'm so glad I cancelled my 2nd appointment.

He's on the Delta Dentist plan, but he is not adhering to their price scale. He overcharged me for the work, and I just got my Delta statement last week, which says I only should have paid $80 (not $270). I called the dentist's office, and they told me I would be reimbursed for the difference.

However, instead of a reimbursement, this dentist sent me another BILL saying I owe another $102!! And no reimbursement for me! I am filing a complaint against him with Delta Dental. They are sending me the paperwork.

I'm learning that many of these dentists who claim to cater to dental chickens to do because they pray on the fears of these people. They think we are easily manipulated. THEY ARE WRONG.

[jamesy]

Sorry you ended up with such a bum dentist . But good for you for getting out before too much was done. Hopefully you'll find a dentist who will be more what you need. Good luck!