OT: how much is a dental “deep cleaning”

[scaredyclassic]

There’s medication they sell at like 50 bucks a tooth. Antibiotics … Probably a ripoff. But my mom has periodontal problems beyond belief so I’ll pay anything.

Still I am doomed

[scaredyclassic]

This mightvsound weird but I love getting my teeth cleaned. Do it 4x a year. I love having this woman pick away at all this crud for so long. I like the feeling of healthiness afterward. I just live getting my teeth cleaned. Sure it hurts a little … I even like that.

It’s my main medical thing.

[Coronita]

For me. My question I guess was misdirected, because it wasn’t strictly about cost. I guess the way
I should have asked it is is it absolutely necessary.

I posed this very question to the dentist, because I explained to her that I am on chemo every week, and my red/white counts are all over the map…

If my red count is low, I might not clot that easily. And if my white is low, I might end up getting into serious problems if I get an infection.

Dentist tells me that I should do it anyway, and that she could give me antibiotics.

I guess I asked the dentist to try to get a feel for whether dentist really felt it was that important to do it…

I checked with my oncologist who said it probably is fine, but wanted me to do a blood test the day before.

Hence why I’m weighing whether this is absolutely necessary or not…And whether this was just another attempt at an upsell.

When I got the estimated bill, in which $250 would be my porition along with a $50 deductible and that my portion represented 20% of the cost..I was like, wow..Doing this deep cleaning is expensive. Wondering if it’s needed. At the same time, dentist was trying to sell me to apply sealant to my remaining molars too…

[Raybyrnes]

Typically a deep cleaning is charged per quadrant so you may want to find out if that is for the whole mouth or per quadrant.

You gum pockets would need to be over 4 millimeters to necessitates a deep cleaning

Sealants may be applicable for children but are an unnecessary up-sell for an adult.

Hope this helps. Wife is a dentist.

[ocrenter]

[quote=flu]For me. My question I guess was misdirected, because it wasn’t strictly about cost. I guess the way
I should have asked it is is it absolutely necessary.

I posed this very question to the dentist, because I explained to her that I am on chemo every week, and my red/white counts are all over the map…

If my red count is low, I might not clot that easily. And if my white is low, I might end up getting into serious problems if I get an infection.

Dentist tells me that I should do it anyway, and that she could give me antibiotics.

I guess I asked the dentist to try to get a feel for whether dentist really felt it was that important to do it…

I checked with my oncologist who said it probably is fine, but wanted me to do a blood test the day before.

Hence why I’m weighing whether this is absolutely necessary or not…And whether this was just another attempt at an upsell.

When I got the estimated bill, in which $250 would be my porition along with a $50 deductible and that my portion represented 20% of the cost..I was like, wow..Doing this deep cleaning is expensive. Wondering if it’s needed. At the same time, dentist was trying to sell me to apply sealant to my remaining molars too…[/quote]

That is now a different spin to things.

Deep cleaning is a purely preventive measure against peridontal disease. So not absolutely necessary. Especially if you have been getting routine cleaning couple of times a year, which is standard of practice and covered by most dental insurance plans completely. If you have not been getting routine cleaning over the last couple of years, that may be why your dentist is inclined to do the deep cleaning. other option may simply be more frequent routine cleaning, ie every 3 month instead of every 6 month.

[Anonymous]

Certain dental procedures are high-margin and “scalable” because the dentist doesn’t have to perform the work themselves.

These procedures have low material costs and they can be delegated to a $25/hour hygienist, but they still charge the full rate of a highly-educated professional.

It’s like a lawyer delegating the work to a paralegal, but still charging the full attorney rate (which I believe is illegal in the law profession.)

[LesBaer45]

My oldest is finishing a degree in “dental hygiene” before deciding if she wants to pursue being a dentist (gulp!) or some other job that DH will let her get a foot in the door with. Plus it’s a skill sort of like plumbing/welding/HVAC.

Try scoping out any local dental schools or DH classes at a local Community College. They always need “patients” and you can either get ‘free’ or very low fee ($20) cleanings/evaluations.

As a victim / patient of my oldest I should warn you it can take longer than a normal visit since they work in stages and have to have the attending ‘verify’ their work as they go along.

It was a bit awkward and I tried to avoid it but her previously scheduled patient backed out on her. They show no mercy if your patients back out and the “patients” have no compunction at all about just not showing up after promising to be there. Miss enough clinic hours because of this and you flunk. No returns, no refunds. Thanks for playing.

I’ve actually PAID strangers just to show up. The school shes in takes no action at all in finding patients it’s totally up to the student which sucks IMHO. And yes, I’ve PAID for translators for the ones that don’t speak/write English. Please lord, just let her pass. :-/

[CA renter]

[quote=LesBaer45]My oldest is finishing a degree in “dental hygiene” before deciding if she wants to pursue being a dentist (gulp!) or some other job that DH will let her get a foot in the door with. Plus it’s a skill sort of like plumbing/welding/HVAC.

Try scoping out any local dental schools or DH classes at a local Community College. They always need “patients” and you can either get ‘free’ or very low fee ($20) cleanings/evaluations.

As a victim / patient of my oldest I should warn you it can take longer than a normal visit since they work in stages and have to have the attending ‘verify’ their work as they go along.

It was a bit awkward and I tried to avoid it but her previously scheduled patient backed out on her. They show no mercy if your patients back out and the “patients” have no compunction at all about just not showing up after promising to be there. Miss enough clinic hours because of this and you flunk. No returns, no refunds. Thanks for playing.

I’ve actually PAID strangers just to show up. The school shes in takes no action at all in finding patients it’s totally up to the student which sucks IMHO. And yes, I’ve PAID for translators for the ones that don’t speak/write English. Please lord, just let her pass. :-/[/quote]

That sounds like a horrible program. 🙁

Best of luck to you and your daughter. I hope she graduates soon!

[CA renter]

As for the “deep cleaning,” Mr. CAR and I have decided that it’s basically a scam. We’ve gone to a couple of dentists who tried to sell us all sorts of services, but when we got a second opinion, they said we didn’t need any of it. On the next visit to the dentist who seemed honest, they were trying to sell us on the scaling/deep cleaning, too.

I really miss the days when dentists simply made sure your teeth and gums were healthy.

[svelte]

[quote=CA renter]
I really miss the days when dentists simply made sure your teeth and gums were healthy.[/quote]

They still exist. Our dentist hasn’t upsold us on anything and we’ve been with their office for well over a decade.

This thread makes me appreciate them even more. 🙂

[CA renter]

[quote=svelte][quote=CA renter]
I really miss the days when dentists simply made sure your teeth and gums were healthy.[/quote]

They still exist. Our dentist hasn’t upsold us on anything and we’ve been with their office for well over a decade.

This thread makes me appreciate them even more. :-)[/quote]

Would you mind PM’ing me their info, please? We’re desperate to find a dentist like this.

[sdduuuude]

Two words:

Water Pick

[svelte]

[quote=CA renter]
Would you mind PM’ing me their info, please? We’re desperate to find a dentist like this.[/quote]

Comin’ atcha

[Author]

Posts