I have avoided the dentist for years. They terrify me. I knew I needed to see one at some point but couldn’t bring myself to do it. I did some research about people like me with a phobia of dentists and learned about dental sedation. I thought I’d try it hoping it would be my solution. I had a consultation with the dentist and signed a consent form for the work I needed done. I felt like I may have stumbled onto something to get my oral health back in order. The day of the appointment came and everything was fine. Then, the next day I received a phone call. The dentist found some additional things he could work on while he was repairing what we agreed to and they’d like me to send the payment for the additional work. I was shocked. I told them I didn’t agree to that work so I certainly didn’t think I should be paying for it. They said if I didn’t remit payment by the time my permanent crowns were ready they wouldn’t be able to bond them on. Can they do this?
Amanda
Dear Amanda,
The Right Sedation Dentist Can Change Your Life
This is unacceptable. It’s also unethical. A dentist is never supposed to do work on a patient without their approval. You can’t give your approval while under the influence of dental sedation. Here’s my first suggestion. I want you to talk directly to the dentist. If he is an honest doc he’ll understand your concern and not bill you for the work done without approval. They should also bond your dental crowns on.
If they give you a problem with either one of those things, let them know you’ll be going to the dental board and a lawyer, if necessary. That should be enough to sober them.
Don’t Let this Sour You on Dentists
I think you were remarkably brave with your dental anxiety to take the steps you did to get treatment. Please don’t let this frighten you from continuing on the path of good dental health.
It sounds like the sedation itself was a success and you were able to get an anxiety free appointment. It was the next day that threw you for a loop. There’s bound to be a bad egg in every profession. You just happened to hit on one your first go back.
I don’t want you going back to that particular practice. They’ve already proven themselves untrustworthy. However, don’t give up on your health. Instead, I’d like you to look up some other sedation dentists in your area. But, don’t stop there. After that, I want you to check their reviews. You can often find reviews on sites such as Yelp! or Google Reviews.
This will allow you to see what other patient’s experiences have been with them.
This blog is brought to you by La Crescenta Implant Dentist Dr. Robert Thein.
