🚀 go-pugleaf

Dr. James Gardner (garner) in Laurel.  I have been to him every year for
the past three years.  He is quite good, tells you what you need, what is
optional, etc....

... can't quote the prices off hand but I am a pretty cheap student and
they didn't shock me!

robohen wrote:
> 
> Hi, I have a dentist who is charging $33 per tooth sealant.  Back in
> Pittsburgh, it was $13 per tooth.  Also, he wanted me to use some sort
> of bleaching treatment where I would have to wear a plate for 10 nights,
> at $400 - back in Pittsburgh, the dentist used baking soda spray during
> each cleaning instead.  He claims he has to do an "onlay", where he would
> take out a filling and replace it for $700.  The filling he showed me on
> the video monitor looked quite intact.  So:
> 
> 1. are these prices normal??
> 
> 2. what benefit would there be to this $400 bleaching treatment vs.
>    baking soda spray at cleanings?
> 
> 3. Are there any cheaper/more conscientious dentists in the Washington DC
> area?  I live in Greenbelt, MD.
> 
> E-mail replies appreciated.
> 
> Henry
1)In a free market society dentists can charge whatever they want it is
their responsibility to make patients aware of the value they are
offering. Cheap does not always mean a bargain when it comes to health
care or other things for that matter.
2) The baking soda that you are talking about takes care of any surface
staining which doesn't necessarily make your teeth whiter whereas
whitening uses a peroxide gel to actually whiten your teeth, do you want
only the stains removed or whiter teeth or both?
3) Onlays are restorations which have proven to be much more durable
than direct fillings as well as conserving the tooth. In many situations
onlays are the treatment of choice. You don't seem to trust this dentist
and trust is the most important element of a relationship like this, not
cost. Always ask questions and if you are still in doubt get a second
opinion.
K. Papadopoulos D.D.S.

In article <584ab4$di2@dynamic.umd.edu>,
Patricia R. DeLuca <deluca@Glue.umd.edu> wrote:
>Dr. James Gardner (garner) in Laurel.  I have been to him every year for
>the past three years.  He is quite good, tells you what you need, what is
>optional, etc....

I would second the recommendation.

Doug

In article <5882ha$ncs@eve.enteract.com>, davmich@enteract.com says...
>
>Certainly there is more than one dentist in Greenbelt, Md. If you feel
>the prices are out of line, go someplace else. You are the patient,
>not the hostage.
>

Unless you are the "Marathon Man". ;-)

pat

Certainly there is more than one dentist in Greenbelt, Md. If you feel
the prices are out of line, go someplace else. You are the patient,
not the hostage.

Dave


robohen <Robohen@concentric.net> wrote:

>Hi, I have a dentist who is charging $33 per tooth sealant.  Back in
>Pittsburgh, it was $13 per tooth.  Also, he wanted me to use some sort
>of bleaching treatment where I would have to wear a plate for 10 nights,
>at $400 - back in Pittsburgh, the dentist used baking soda spray during
>each cleaning instead.  He claims he has to do an "onlay", where he would
>take out a filling and replace it for $700.  The filling he showed me on
>the video monitor looked quite intact.  So:

>1. are these prices normal??

>2. what benefit would there be to this $400 bleaching treatment vs.
>   baking soda spray at cleanings?

>3. Are there any cheaper/more conscientious dentists in the Washington DC
>area?  I live in Greenbelt, MD.

>E-mail replies appreciated.

>Henry

pat wrote:
> 
> In article <5882ha$ncs@eve.enteract.com>, davmich@enteract.com says...
> >
> >Certainly there is more than one dentist in Greenbelt, Md. If you feel
> >the prices are out of line, go someplace else. You are the patient,
> >not the hostage.
> >
> 
> Unless you are the "Marathon Man". ;-)
> 
> pat

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