Your brain surgeon should be very well paid.
But why should a dentist be a millionaire?
by Sarah Lorge Butler for CBS MoneyWatch.com:
Cost of the (2) crowns: $1,395 apiece. Cost of foundation fillings, or “cores” to put the crowns on: $326 apiece. Total bill, if you’re scoring at home: $3,442.
His dentist sold him membership into an office savings plan for $319 for the year. So that saves him 20% on all dental procedures and gives him two free cleanings. Knock off 20% (but add back in the $319) and we’re down to $3072.60 on this bit of drilling.
When I look at this bill, I wonder why I obsess about the weekly price fluctuations of Cheerios or the shrinking size of a can of tuna. All the economical choices a family makes in a year can be wiped out by a trip to the dentist. No wonder people are going to Thailand and Mexico for dental work. …
Is $3000 over-priced for 2 crowns?
What is the cost for the materials?
How much are those working on your crowns paid?
How much does the dentist pocket?
If we knew those numbers, I’m guessing that we’d agree our dentist is ripping us off.
There are over 1000 comments on that post, most feeling ripped off.
A stranger recently contacted me for advice on my dentist, Dr. Lorenia Estrada, in La Paz, Mexico. I enthusiastically recommended her.
If you suspect your dentist is ripping you off, get a quote from Mexico. … The only down side is that you have very little recourse if unhappy with the work there.
Thanks Dana.
Rick McCharles 
I admire you for having the gumption to go to Mexico. I just can’t swing it for many reasons.
But when I reflect on what I am charged for work here in Vegas, my blood boils. I need to find a better alternative.
I had filling in my molars for 3+ decades. Never a problem until my dentist down here convinced me that they absolutely MUST be replaced but new fillings and crowns. Nothing but sensitivity issues, bite alignment issues and multiple inconvenient trips to the office to get an adjustment. Truly fed up, and absolutely sure I was hoodwinked into getting this work done…
I’m scared the injection but because i want my teeth clean..i go to destist.Dentists are so important.
I honestly think they like doctors deserve every penny they earn they do not have easy jobs and it takes a special person to do it!
My teeth have become yellow and I was going to the dentist. He asks me why you not care your teeth. He tells me to sit there comfortable and he cleans my teeth. Now I go there periodically.
October 2011
Special Investigating Unit
To Whom It May Concern:
My husband is a Los Angeles City Firefighter & our family’s dental insurance is United Concordia DHMO through the United Firefighters of Los Angeles City Local 112, which provides this dental insurance.
I write to you today to convey my concern at the matter in which patients are being misled by United Concordia DHMO Dental Providers and request an urgent investigation to protect all consumers.
The events detailed below (which are just a couple examples out of many to explain) have not only left me with needed dental work to be preformed, & disappointed but they are also incurring the patients an inconsiderable cost, time & stress.
On numerous visits to 5 different United Concordia DHMO Dental Providers when dental work was to be preformed the insurance managers, would come into the room to speak about cost of the procedures and what was covered by insurance and co-payments. The insurance managers would only give quotes on the procedures that the dental office was going to make money on. They never quoted what the insurance covered at 100% and/ or offered these services
Example (1) when I was told I needed a bridge on the top right I believe tooth #s 2, 3 & 4 the insurance manger told me that I had a co-payment of $1500.00. I asked if this is what their fee schedule said and was told “yes.”
I then proceeded to call the United Concordia Ins right from the dental chair and verify coverage and the customer service rep told me I was covered at 100% with no co-pay.
Example (#2) When I was told I need a crown on my bottom right tooth I believe tooth # 31 I was told that my co-pay was $300.00. Again I called the United Concordia customer service and the rep told me I was covered for porcelain to fuse metal crown, which is cover 100% with no co-pay. I was not even told of this option. Once again they told me that this wasn’t on their fee schedule. I at times even put the Ins. Manager’s from two of the five offices on my cell phone with the rep at United Concordia.
Knowing I was given incorrect information on every occasion I diligently called the insurance co. and had to check all coverage.
I was refused service at one dental office saying they could not guarantee their work after questioning the fees and was told and denied service at another dental office cause they weren’t making and losing money on me due to my insurance.
There are many more detailed & worse examples but too much to put in an email.
I find it amazing that dental offices that are listed as a provider from and insurance company that is supposedly a reputable company would sink to using the techniques of an overcharging operation. Therefore I can only draw the conclusion that the DHMO Dental providers are using a deceptive sales practice which is designed to lure potent ional patients into thinking that what they are offering is the only option so they can make money on what they want to sell you.
I am sure that many people instead of going through the hassle of questioning or don’t even know to question this type of discrepancy simply just let it slide. I am certainly not one of them.
I trust you will investigate and/all specific violations of the dental practice act concerning the DHMO dentist of CA. to the fullest to protect other consumers against this kind of fraud. Please advise me whether in fact it is the protocol to provide inaccurate information to patients so the dental office can benefit from profit.
I look forward to receiving acknowledgement of this letter. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need further information.