OT: dentist

[Larry Blanchard]

My wife went to the dentist today. $150 for a simple cleaning plus a few pictures (not X-rays). Told her she needed two fillings - $525 each. Plus a crown - $1050.

Doesn't this seem a bit steep? I know medical inflation has been high, but really. Note that her old dentist retired. A young guy took over his practice and raised all the prices. Maybe he's trying to recoup his med school costs and the cost of the practice all in the first year or two.

Or I might just be out of touch. I got dentures 36 years ago. I'm now on my 4th set. Almost no problems - much less than folks with real teeth. As far as cost, it has averaged out about $100 a year - latest set was $800.

But it sure seems to me that her dentist is overcharging.

[Bill]

$525 seems a lot for a filling. Maybe he has more work than he has time for? I wouldn't go with a dentist that was not recommended by someone. Once I did, and I was very disappointed.

Bill

[Leon]

Sounds high for fillings but a crown can be in that price range and has been for some time. You might inquire as to what kind of crown, gold or porcelain. At one time the more natural apearing porcelain crown was more expensive than gold. These days the gold is probably more expensive.

Now you say you have almost no problems with your dentures and yet you are on your 5 set of teeth. I'm still on my first set. ;~)

You do know that we, those that still have our originals, like to go to the dentist for the gas. Huh?

[Keith Nuttle]

The first thing you need to look at is the 2.3% tax that obama care placed on medical devices. Medical devices are just about everything you see in the doctor's office. from band aids, to x-ray machines, to the medical computer on his desk.

You also have to figure in the cost required by obamacare to computerize medical records, so it is easier for the NSA to snoop.

[woodchucker]

Easier, it gives the feds your records. It's required. They will centralize your info so they can share it supposedly with the doctors.

My Dr's hate obamacare. I hear it each time I walk in.

[Ed Pawlowski]

My daughter manages a dental office. It was bought by the present owner for over $1million. You can be sure this guy has a big nut every month too. She just left for vacation so I can't verify the prices right now. Fillings seem high though.

[none]

On Thu, 19 Dec 2013 20:15:57 -0500, Keith Nuttle

Sure, it would be easier for *anybody* to snoop, but how about putting aside your paranoid tendencies for one minute and consider some of the advantages. Records get transferred faster between medical professionals, they get updated faster, administration is easier and cheaper, symptoms get tracked easier, research is more efficient, the list goes on and on.

[Dave Farmer]

my dentist charges $750 for a crown

[dadiOH]

Prices vary. I went to one guy for cleaning. He wasn't my usual dentist but she is a considerable distance away. He advised me I needed to have "deep cleaning". I don't recall the price but it was in four figures. I declined and checked with my regular dentist...her price was 1/4 his.

Your prices do seem high but I've had very little contact with dentists. I only have two small fillings and I didn't have any until I was about 75. I don't recall the price for them but I guarantee that the cost for both was well under $525.

Check around...call and ask price info for fillings and crowns.

Here's a site saying $75-$150 for silver fillings.

[Keith Nuttle]

About two years ago, I went to a dentist who recomended a deep cleaning. Within a week I had an infected tooth which I lost a couple of months later.

I am nearly 70 and have never had problems with my teeth, and only have about a half dozen minor filling. So the net results of the deep clean I was up about 1000 for the cleaning plus the cost of the dentist associated with the removal of the tooth.

[none]

On Fri, 20 Dec 2013 06:24:14 -0500, "Mike Marlow"

Really??? That's one of the most shortsighted comments I've ever seen you make. I wonder how quickly you'd change your opinion if the medical communications technology of this day and age was suddenly dialed back to that of thirty years ago?

Sure, everybody likes their privacy, no argument. However, the US faces many levels of terrorism both foreign and domestic. I also have to wonder how many home grown domestic acts of terrorism have been caught and dealt with because of that invasion of your privacy? I certainly don't like or approve of governments spying on their citizens, but in this day and age, it's become a very necessary evil if you value your health and safety.

[Keith Nuttle]

I see no problem in an individual doctor computerizing his medical records, BUT there is no need for the government to be involved except to monitor the accuracy of these systems handling those records. Most people live and die within one locality and toward the end of their lives go to one or two doctors.

WHY is it necessary for a doctor a thousand miles away have access to those records. If the person is traveling, the family doctor should be involved in any medical decision the other doctor makes, if necessary records can be a transmitted at that time.

Government computerized medical records have no bearing on the quality of medicine as a person is not getting his dental work in California, blood checked in Maine and his heart work in Florida. Also talking about the quality of medicine 30 years ago has no bearing on the government controlling and nationalizing of medical records.

WHAT does a person's medical records have to do with preventing terrorism. The last thing a person who is planning a massacre or blowing up a building is thinking about is his heart condition. BASED ON HISTORY, the only thing he is thinking about is serving Allah.

[jo4hn]

Part of the cost goes toward combating the overweening sadness inherent in the profession. On your next visit, note that the dentist is forever looking down in the mouth. mahalo, jo4hn [nyuk]

[none]

On Fri, 20 Dec 2013 09:30:33 -0500, Keith Nuttle

Yes, I agree with this. As you said, other than ensuring the accuracy and universality of the record keeping, government shouldn't need to know the content of those records.

[Leon]

Not to mention that the government has been spying on us for decades. Like seasonal changes it is in the open and the general public is now aware of it because of the easy pick'ins news coverage.

[Just Wondering]

Where in the United States Constitution does it say that Congress shall have the power to enact laws regulating the accuracy and universality of medical record keeping?

[Keith Nuttle]

Medical computer systems are consider Medical Devices and subject to the

2.3% obamacare tax.

The FDA has been given the responsibilty to insure that all medical device and drugs are safe and effective.

In this case it would be the FDA's responsibilty to insure that the medical records went into the system, were stored in the system without being altered, could be retrive as originally written from the system. and that there was an effective protection system to prevent tampering with those records.

The FDA has been in existance for over 100 years and people complain bitterly if it does not do its job. Remember the tylenol scare, the drug that created birth defects, etc

[Just Wondering]

Where in that response is my question answered?

[Gordon Shumway]

LOL

[Larry Blanchard]

Because, after 8-10 years, the plastic teeth are worn down. There are harder materials available, but people I know whose had those said they chipped easily.