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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
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can we talk dentist....
So I took my kids to the dentist today. It was DD's first visit (she is 4) and my DS annual visit (he is 6).
I walked out of there today having spent $900 for them both! 
We do not have insurance, we have a discount dental plan but most pediatric dentists don't take it.
So... DH is having a fit  DD is only 4 and had 2 "established" cavities and 2 that were forming. The dentist cleaned out what has to be done and sealed those 2 teeth. But we still have to go back to get the 2 cavities filled. And it will cost me another $425. DH is arguing with me that they are only baby teeth and I should just let them be since they will fall out within a few years. I tried to tell him that's not possible, but he just won't let up.
I don't know where I am going with this. I will take her back to get those cavities filled. She has teeth like me, I have a 10 Million Dollar crooked smile with all the work I have had done (and yet, never had braces so I have crooked buck teeth  ).
The good thing today was that DS has no cavities and things look fine for him. At least DS got the good genetic side. Poor DD.
I like the pediatric dental practice we go too, but do you think that with their next visits, I should take them to my regular dentist (who does take my discount dental plan, but honestly, it's not much of a discount!).
I just feel like they are young and I want to keep them at the pediatric practice.
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Posted 8/18/10 3:04 PM  |
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capricorn75
J-E-T-S
Member since 5/05 1645 total posts
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Re: can we talk dentist....
We started out at a pediatric dentist. Then they stopped taking our insurance. We had to switch, it just gets way too expensive. They are at a regular family practice now and we are very happy. The pediatric dentist is nice but insurance is nicer.
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| Posted 8/18/10 3:08 PM |
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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Posted by capricorn75
We started out at a pediatric dentist. Then they stopped taking our insurance. We had to switch, it just gets way too expensive. They are at a regular family practice now and we are very happy. The pediatric dentist is nice but insurance is nicer.
yep, insurance is nicer, I think I am leaning that way. How old were your kids when you stopped with the pediatric dentist?
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| Posted 8/18/10 3:16 PM |
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capricorn75
J-E-T-S
Member since 5/05 1645 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
They were probably 4 and 6 or so..similar to your kids' ages.
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| Posted 8/18/10 3:27 PM |
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rojerono
Happiest.
Member since 8/06 13803 total posts
Name:
Jeannie
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Our pediatric dentist does take insurance - and I think some discount plans. I think they also participate in a payment plan program.
I prefer using her for the kids because she really seems to take extra effort to make them comfortable, the waiting room is kid friendly and the staff is used to working with little ones.
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| Posted 8/18/10 4:08 PM |
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Re: can we talk dentist....
that seems soo expensive....dd (3) just had a baby root canal and crown put on plus I had to pay or the nitrous oxide and itwas around $400 at a pediatric dental office....look into the EDP program(eastern dental program)
its also a discount plan but its a big discount and its only $99 or$199 a year
EDP
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| Posted 8/18/10 4:22 PM |
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laurabora
LIF Adult
Member since 4/07 2712 total posts
Name:
Laura
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Re: can we talk dentist....
I agree with you that the dental work needs to get done...but I think I would strongly consider switching to a regular dentist to save some money. That is some serious cash to spend on a few dental visits! When I first took DS1 to the dentist I didn't use a pediatric practice and he did great, they knew just how to handle kids.
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| Posted 8/18/10 5:01 PM |
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PatsBrat
LIF Adult
Member since 10/06 2326 total posts
Name:
Ms. Brat
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Re: can we talk dentist....
I feel your pain and had a reverse experience. A. has 7 (yes, you read that right... *7*) cavities and was NOT letting the regular dentist fill them. He recommended we see a pediatric dentist who specializes in "anxious" patients, and the ped dentist takes MORE of our insurance. Go figure!!
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| Posted 8/18/10 5:34 PM |
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my3bugs
Mom of 2 Boys
Member since 5/05 4381 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Kevin has always gone to the family dentistry practice in my neighborhood and not a pediatric dentist. I honestly never even thought about a pediatric dentist for no other reason but it wasn't close to my house and I had the impression they were for kids with dental issues or very nervous children and most didn't accept most insurances so I didn't even bother looking into (even though we have decent dental insurance as far as dental insurances go). I took him to our dentist and have Alex's first appointment set up for a few months from now (he just turned three). Luckily so far so good and Kevin has no issues with the dentist. He has been going there every six months since he was 3.5 years old.
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| Posted 8/18/10 5:49 PM |
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LisaI
Momma's Little Beans
Member since 1/06 3923 total posts
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Trish, we started at a pediatric dentist and I will never go back (to the one I went to). It was like a factory and I hated it. I now take Lauren to a family dentist and love, love, love them. They treat Lauren like a special star and it's wonderful. She is never comfortable with things like this and you would never know it when she steps foot in that place.
When I was at the factory I was told Lauren had 2 pinhole cavities. I was nervous, told they are baby teeth, will fall out however if I didn't get them fix it would damage the root for the adult tooth. When I went to the other dentist he said hogwash! So... I put my daughter through a very tramatic visit to get them fiilled.
Honestly, if Dri was told she had the same I'm not sure I wouldn't do the same again. I just don't like messing with that stuff either. Definitely take her to your dentist.
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| Posted 8/18/10 6:01 PM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
As you know I'm an RDH so I can give you "my opinion" on pediatric dentists. Most children do not need them. If you see a general dentist with a good chairside manner(staff included) then your children should be fine there. I see patients as young as 2 in our general practice and I can honestly say in my 10 yrs of practice I have sent a handful of children to pediatric dentists because they were "problemed" either dentally or emotionally. In our office we are all parents and treat our patients how we would want our children treated. The cartoons go up on our flatscreens, the fun fluoride flavors come out and the toybox is always filled with fun stuff. You can always FM me if you have any questions 
Message edited 8/18/2010 10:21:05 PM.
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| Posted 8/18/10 10:13 PM |
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LSP2005
Bunny kisses are so cute!
Member since 5/05 19457 total posts
Name:
L
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Re: can we talk dentist....
When DS was two I took him to a pediatric dentist and my experience was awful. It was a "mill." I was disgusted and told my insurance how awful the practice was and that it needed to be investigated. I ended up taking DS to my dentist and he had a wonderful experience. I would get a second opinion about everything but if there are cavities I would not leave them in as they can do damage to the root and the bone if g-d forbid it got infected too. Good luck.
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| Posted 8/18/10 11:43 PM |
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ChrisDee
My Girls
Member since 11/06 9543 total posts
Name:
Christine
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Re: can we talk dentist....
We go to a regular Dentist. We tried a ped dentist 1st but DD#1 didnt like him. We switched to DH's dentist and its been a dream. When I was a kid I dont even think there was such a thing as a ped dentist
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| Posted 8/19/10 8:18 AM |
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Kris
LIF Adult
Member since 5/05 1051 total posts
Name:
Kristine
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Re: can we talk dentist....
We had this problem as well, finding a ped dentist in our plan. We ended up having to upgrade our dental plan so we could get a ped. dentist. In our area, many of the regular dentists don't take kids under age 7. Annoying!
I say- switch to your family dentist and you will be fine. No reason to spend that much $$$ again just for a few cavities!
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| Posted 8/19/10 8:35 AM |
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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
I think I made up my mind!! Thanks for all your input!
I am seeing my dentist sometime next week to get a cleaning and take care of an issue I have with my back molar. I will talk to him and see if he will see my 4 and 6 year old, and if he does, then from now on, they will see my dental practice. It's funny, I always thought my dental practice charged so much more for "north shore" prices, but looking at fees, they may come in better price wise than the pediatric dentist did!
It's totally ridiculous that I paid $500 for DS's visit and he had not 1 cavity!   and that I will be paying $200+ for each cavity to be filled for DD. Seriously
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| Posted 8/19/10 10:16 AM |
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jenny
L O V E
Member since 4/06 2784 total posts
Name:
Mommy
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Posted by chmlengr
I think I made up my mind!! Thanks for all your input!
I am seeing my dentist sometime next week to get a cleaning and take care of an issue I have with my back molar. I will talk to him and see if he will see my 4 and 6 year old, and if he does, then from now on, they will see my dental practice. It's funny, I always thought my dental practice charged so much more for "north shore" prices, but looking at fees, they may come in better price wise than the pediatric dentist did!
It's totally ridiculous that I paid $500 for DS's visit and he had not 1 cavity! and that I will be paying $200+ for each cavity to be filled for DD. Seriously
WOW $500 seems like a lot for DS...did he just have a cleaning?
After reading this post I feel so fortunate that I get "free dental" through my teacher's union. I have not paid anything in years and we go annually. I never realized how expensive it was.
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| Posted 8/19/10 10:21 AM |
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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Posted by jenny
WOW $500 seems like a lot for DS...did he just have a cleaning?
Here was DS breakdown:
comprehensive oral eval $65
Bitewings two films $50
Panoramic film $125
Prophy Child $105
Fluoride Child $30
Sealant on permanent molar $75
Intraoral-occlusal film $50
I get more aggravated that I paid this each time I look at it!
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| Posted 8/19/10 11:48 AM |
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Faithx2
All good things in 2016!!
Member since 8/05 20181 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Posted by chmlengr
Posted by jenny
WOW $500 seems like a lot for DS...did he just have a cleaning?
Here was DS breakdown:
comprehensive oral eval $65
Bitewings two films $50
Panoramic film $125
Prophy Child $105
Fluoride Child $30
Sealant on permanent molar $75
Intraoral-occlusal film $50
I get more aggravated that I paid this each time I look at it!
Definitely overpriced. Did they explain why they took a panorex?? We only do them if we question where the adult teeth are positioned &/or there is an orthodontic issue.
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| Posted 8/19/10 12:35 PM |
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CunningOne
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Member since 5/05 26975 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Posted by OneOfEach
Definitely overpriced. Did they explain why they took a panorex?? We only do them if we question where the adult teeth are positioned &/or there is an orthodontic issue.
I didn't question, they just said they routinely do one once they start to get their permanent molars in, which he has one through (which they did the sealant on). They wanted to check the see if all his teeth were there and if there were any issues.
(Part of the reason I probably didn't bat an eyelash was because as a kid, I had a 3rd set of teeth (molars) growing in next to my permanent ones, which were eventually pulled, AND I wasn't born with a second set of permanent teeth for 2 teeth on the top (of which I eventually got implants for when the baby molars fell out).
I told you I was a mess with my teeth and I was just curious about DS's teeth as well.
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| Posted 8/19/10 1:41 PM |
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Tango1
LIF Zygote
Member since 11/06 6 total posts
Name:
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Re: can we talk dentist....
Posted by chmlengr
I think I made up my mind!! Thanks for all your input!
I am seeing my dentist sometime next week to get a cleaning and take care of an issue I have with my back molar. I will talk to him and see if he will see my 4 and 6 year old, and if he does, then from now on, they will see my dental practice. It's funny, I always thought my dental practice charged so much more for "north shore" prices, but looking at fees, they may come in better price wise than the pediatric dentist did!
It's totally ridiculous that I paid $500 for DS's visit and he had not 1 cavity! and that I will be paying $200+ for each cavity to be filled for DD. Seriously
Your pediatric dentist sounds more expensive than mine. My DS just went last week, no cavities, did a panoramic xray and the bill was around $300
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| Posted 8/20/10 7:53 PM |
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Mistyloon
LIF Infant
Member since 9/06 79 total posts
Name:
Katie
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Re: can we talk dentist....
The office that my sister brings her children to is considered a multi-practice. They have a General dentist and a Pediactric dentist in the office. So the whole family is seen in one office. It's called Comfort Dental in Glen Cove.
She raves about how great the staff is. She said her kids love going there.
She has dental insurance and said she doesn't pay anything for cleanings & check-ups (even for the kids).When I went there during an appointment for my nephew the girl at the front told me they accept insurances as will as discount plans.
I plan on switching.
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| Posted 8/24/10 11:19 PM |
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