Dental Appointment Experience

Today is my dentist appointment at 8:00 in the morning. It was a clear day and arrived at the dental office a few minutes early, checked in with the office clerk and found a chair near the door. Just in case, there is an emergency, it will be easier to escape. Just kidding. I notice there was an elderly guy sitting on the other side of the wall. He looked relaxed and patiently waiting for his turn. Although we are the first few appointments for the dentist, it is still best to be on time or rather a few minutes earlier before the appointment. The table in the center display a few different magazines available for anybody who is waiting, I guess. So, I grab one and started reading. A minute later, the attendant came to let the guy across me go in to see the dentist. I wonder, how long will I be waiting when my appointment was scheduled at 8:00 a.m. I like my appointments early in the morning because I kind of believe that mornings are full of freshly rested people and also to avoid those hot headed people who are grumpy.

Two minutes later, the attendant showed up like she knew me and ushered me to a room. She ask me a few questions like what the reason of my appointment. You know, those prep that they do before the real professional guy shows up. And told her what type of procedures I want to be done today. It was my crown that bothers me at the moment, must have bit something hard, it chipped the corner of my crowned molar. Since, I was already in for an appointment, having a thorough check up might be a good idea and told her to do a full dental x-ray. She agreed, of course. She came back with the tool for doing x-ray and preparing my open mouth for whatever you call that little thing that goes in before someone click a button to start the x-ray machine. She was so quick to run but I was wondering if that is what I want.

Stop! I said to her and took the thing off my mouth.

She said " what happened?".

How come this is very small? How could this accommodate a full mouth x-ray? I ask.

Oh, I am sorry. We don't have that machine anymore. We use to have that but not now. We have to take 4 films in order to do the full mouth. The attendant explained to me.

I decided to do only one x-ray for concerns regarding too much exposure. The dentist came in to checked me and advised to keep my crown as it is alright. That was a good advise, saving me from an expensive crown replacement which could cost me around $1000 for one. He did whittle it out so I no longer feel the sharp edges around it and  checked my mouth for any other problem that requires attention. With that saving, I decided to have a full cleaning.  Cleaning will take place in a different room and handled by the hygienist ( is that what you call them?). She poked, scrape, spray some water, sucked out some with the hose until she cracked one tiny speck out of my tooth. She was so calm, no reaction until she was done, asking if I feel any difference. No. It seemed like the same to me. She must have cleaned the areas my tongue can't feel. Then, my roaming tongue hit something sharp. Whoops! What is this? A crack? A chip or a broken tooth? Oh no! concern about more damage to my too much predicament teeth already. Something's wrong here, pointing with my tongue, I told her. Oh, yes, I accidentally broke a little piece of your filling and left. Hmmm... wondering where she went.

The attendant came to get me and took me to the other room, the first room I was in. the dentist came and said to me that he will fill one tooth and another one that the hygienist chip off my tooth. I was glad to hear that but not to pay for it. I wonder if saying the word FREE would make a difference.

After all the procedures done, it is time to pay. My bill came to $503.00 and it hurts with no insurance to cover some. They did gave me a 10% discount but that is still kind of expensive for me but still have to pay. I asked a few dental care questions while waiting for my printout receipt and the two ladies who were in the front desk shared some advice on what to do to keep my gums and teeth healthy. One of the ladies showed me a packet of flossing stick for convenient carry on when on the go. I paid for my bill less 10% discount and left the clinic.

Hours later, I have the inclination to take a look at the receipt before filing it on my dental records. Something caught my eye - 4 films. What was that?  My x-rays came out as 4 films? I wonder about the $80 charge for 4 films. That is a lot to pay for one x-ray I did.

I will be heading that way to run an errand this afternoon and decided to inquire about it. One of the ladies was on the phone and the other one tried to help me. I questioned about the x-ray charges and she told me that everything is correct. That 4 films is for the x-ray, she said. She went looking for my chart but seemed to be lost, can't find my chart. I was a little impatient and said it's okay, believing her explanation. The other lady tried to cut short her conversation on the phone as if she must have understood the error in the bill. She looked at my bill that was paid earlier and said that the attendant who was helping the dentist must have forgotten to write down how many x-rays were done and that there would be no way for her to know how many x-rays were done unless specified by the helping attendant. I understand that and own the fault for not checking the bill before paying. She handed me $46 something for the discrepancy and thanked her for correcting the mistake, handed me the correct bill of services rendered for the day.

It was an experience with a lesson to learn that day. Now I make sure to check the charges on the receipt before paying and leaving the premises. It is a must to correct any error that should have been spotted right there to avoid wasting time, gas and money. Oh, well, these things happened. I am just glad knowing the payment was for services done and no money thrown away for nothing. One more thing, I realized that asking the front desk staff about dental care issues are not worth much for they work in the office and probably doesn't have enough technicalities about dental care. I should have asked those questions directly to the dentist! I end up not checking the charges and have to go back for clarification that costs me time and gas.

My advice to myself - Check the bill at all times before paying. Ask questions if there is any confusion on any charges and ask the right person. 

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