Is dentist pulling a fast one?

[ILoveMyMonkey]

So I had a check up this morning. Never ever had any problems always given gold star etc until today. Well apparently I’m now suffering from bone loss and I need to see the hygienist to get my teeth cleaned properly and given a list of what I need to do to help gums heal. She gave me the worst case scenario - your teeth will fall out and it’ll cost £2,500 to replace. So on my way out I booked a, £70 pay upfront, hygienist appointment as I was told to do (no appointments until end of October so clearly very busy).

Anyway, fast forward to this afternoon and DH goes along for his check up. Now he has had problems with his teeth, fillings etc. he’s put a lot of effort into taking care of his teeth, been doing all the things I was told I must ensure I’m doing. He was told exactly the same, bone loss, needs to see hygienist or else.

So what do we think 🤔 is it coincidental or are they trying to recoup their covid losses through very expensive hygienist appointments?

It sounds as if they are pushing the same message, but in the dental practices that I have used, the hygienists are always self employed. I guess the hygienist in these cases pay a flat rate to operate out of the practice and so the dentists themselves would not benefit

Cynic here : dentists do benefit from having a busy, self employed hygienist - it’s called rent.
I have been a victim of a dentist doing unnecessary work - hence my cynicism.
No advice op, except you could book an appointment for a check up at another practice, and see what’s said? The dentist patient relationship is based on trust unfortunately.

Some dentists outright lie & it's bloody outrageous. 20yrs ago my dentist who I loved, (she was just about to retire) told me I needed root canal work immediately. I was shocked & got 2 second opinions. Both said it wasn't necessary. 20yrs on and I still have no issues & don't need root canal work. I think she lied to boost her takings just before she retired. I was so pissed off because I'd trusted her & liked her up to that point.

Thanks guys. It’s so hard to trust when money is involved and I’m not entirely convinced it’s not just a ploy to grab some cash.

It’s interesting that you both, @Alphabet1spaghetti2 and @PissPotPourri, say hygienists are self employed and pay rent - that would totally fit.
@PinkGlassEye that’s awful, my dad had similar but way back in the 60s as a kid and his parents just took the word of the dentist and now he has a mouth full of metal - which he highly suspects was unnecessary.

I had a check up recently, was told to buy ok an hygienist appointment £40, not the £70 you quote.
When I went she told me I need to visit every 3 months rather than the 6 I am currently doing.
I haven't seen the hygienist for over 10 years, so I am very loathe to take their advice on this one.
It's a tough one, because we have no idea what is actually going on with our teeth, unless we have pain, or can feel a hole.

Book, not buy ok! Autocorrect going mad.

Not all dentists will profit from sending you to the hygienist. The owner will but associate dentists may or may not get a small fee for sending patients to the hygienist.

Remember though everyone hasn’t been to the dentist for about two years. It’s not impossible that you could have developed some problems in that time.

I would a) ask to see the X-rays and be shown where the bone loss is and b) get a second opinion.

This reminds me of when Kwik Fit used to tell everyone that they needed to replace their shock absorbers!

@Hadalifeonce we have no idea what is actually going on with our teeth

That’s the dilemma isn’t it.

@Illstartexercisingtomorrow
i totally appreciate that although I had a checkup last year as our dentist did reopen and I’d managed to have a checkup in 2020 in the Feb before everything kicked off so I’m up to date. The dentist I saw today is one of the owners (name on the door etc) - I’ve been moved to her as my previous dentist left.

She did show me the X-rays but I honestly had no clue what I was really looking at.

@HollowTalk anything to make money eh