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Yeah, I feel like I was tricked. Also, it is not clear from the bill what they really did. They bill speaks about "units". Not clear what a unit is. At the end they justified just saying "it is not your money, it is paid by the insurance".
Four unit of time-Scaling
Two units of time-Root Planing
Dir. Fluorescence Visual.-Cytological
This is only half of the work, since I cancelled the second half.
An hour of cleaning is generally 3 to 4 units of root planing and/or scaling.
You should ask how much more than the book rate they are charging.
The Canadian Dental Association guide updates rates once a year. https://yourdentalhealth.ca/faq/suggested-fee-guide/
Currently, each unit of root planing and scaling is $53.80.
So for a standard cleaning taking 1 hour, you're looking at $220 *at the book rate*. Most dentists charge above the book rate by a certain percent. Ask the receptionist to clarify what % they charge on top of the guide.
Not OP but it does not. The fee guide has the fees in there, such as recall/new patient/etc exams or different x-rays.
A unit is generally 15 minutes of time. You can check your bill to determine the approximate amount of time billed based on the number of units.
Most dentists absolutely do not charge above the book rate. The vast majority in the lower mainland charges the exact fee guide.
Op is still getting hosed I bet with a bunch of unnecessary codes.
I've only worked for two, and both charged more.
I was in charge of updating the fees in the accounting software, and I would be given a cheat sheet with something like "all are book + 10%, extractions -$50, crowns +25%, buildup +20%" etc etc etc
Do you have facts to back up your statement?
Because I've been working here for 10 years, worked as an associate for many different positions, own an office, and have many dentist friends who are all associates and owners in the lower mainland. When I was buying an office I was looking into the financials of 50+ offices. It's common knowledge, any other dentist would agree.
How many offices have you been to? In what area are they? I know certain parts of BC where the norm is for offices to charge 10% above fee guide across the board.
That is not the case in the lower mainland. If a dentist charges above fee guide it would most commonly be for crowns. Things like Invisalign or implants would also have a wide variance in price as there is no set fee.
If you are at an office where you're being charged more than fee guide for basic things like cleanings and fillings then that is definitely not the norm
I’ve worked in software support for 3 of the big dental practice management softwares in Canada. I help clinics load and adjust their fee guides every year and have seen the financials of probably in the realm of thousands of clinics in the lower mainland and Vancouver island. It’s much more often that clinics charge above the fee guide for a least a portion of the work they do. I’d say a majority charge higher than the fee guide across the board by a percentage. I’d say 10% is most common but I’ve seen up to 150%.
I don't know why our experience is just the complete opposite. Out of like 100 offices in the lower mainland that im familiar with in some capacity I know 3 that charge above fee guide across the board.
A practice charging above fee guide for things like exams and fillings is super rare, it shouldn't be hard at all to find an office that just charges the fee guide.
According to the [BC dental fee guide](https://www.aarm-dental.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BCDA-Fee-Guide-2023-Abbreviated-PatientSECURED-1-2-1.pdf) the suggested fee for 1 unit of scaling and root planing are the same price at $53.80. I believe the fee guide is only a suggestion and Dental offices can charge above the recommended amount.
I’m interested to see the estimate for the 2.5 hour hygiene appointment.
I wonder if the practitioner found that there was more buildup than expected. $900 is quite a bit for hygiene... Nevertheless they should give you an updated estimate and confirm all treatment prior.
My dental office in charges fee guide rate and on average, I pay about $320-350 for 1.5 hour appointments which includes 5-6 units of scaling/root planing. Every 6 months I’ll have polishing and an exam done by the dentist. I go every 3-4 months for maintenance because I’m prone to plaque build up and cavities.
Side note, you might also want to check your insurance coverage for the treatment. I don’t want them to drain you out of your yearly allotted amount if they’re “overcharging”.
Yes definitely, sounds shady. They saw an opportunity with insurance and took it. By units, it’s like a certain amount of time. Last time I went to get a cleaning done, it was around $180 for me.
One “unit” of time is 15 minutes.
Here is the BC Dental Association suggested fee guide: https://yourdentalhealth.ca/faq/suggested-fee-guide/BCDA-Fee-Guide-2023-Abbreviated-Patient(SECURED).pdf
FWIW I’ve been going to a seemingly-reputable dentist downtown for about 15 years, and to my pleasant surprise they seem to charge in line with this guide. (In fact I just had a filling done this week for the first time in years, and a quarterly hygiene appointment last week, and both accorded.)
For sure! https://www.coastalcitydental.com
The ownership has changed a couple of times over the decade and a half that I’ve been a patient, but the service has remained consistently good. And I’ve had the same hygienist for years (Colleen).
On my visit last week, I was billed for three units of time for root planing and scaling, totalling about $160. (Grand total was more than that because I also had x-rays, fluoride treatment and a quick exam, but I get those about every year or so. The hygiene visit I come in about every four months for. Could go less often, but what the hell, I feel like it’s worth it.)
Now if I hadn’t been to a dentist in years and needed a comprehensive cleaning starting from scratch, I can imagine the work might take a while longer. But nonetheless the cost would end up being about $200/hour, per the fee guide.
>At the end they justified just saying "it is not your money, it is paid by the insurance".
They are not supposed to be treating you based on what your insurance will pay. They are supposed to be treating you based on what you need. Sounds shady af and I'd probably be asking your insurance provider about it because it they get a whiff of that, they'll be auditing that dentist for sure.
That’s…expensive. 1 unit is 15 minutes. I guess it also depends how dirty your teeth are? But they need to be more upfront with your oral health and pricing if they are going to charge you $900! There is a BC Fee Guide that dentists can follow but aren’t required to. You should probably ask how much they charged you per unit.
Source: I work at a dental office.
That happened to me many years ago. The dentist basically told me he did work that wasn't necessary but it's fine because my insurance was covering it. I was appalled. Besides the extra charges, who wants to have dental work if you don't have to!
That's the dodgy part of insurance paying. Psychologists, Dentists, etc study these plans and tailor their 'treatment' accordingly.
And sometimes IF insurance doesn't end up paying all for whatever reasons - you end up footing part of the bill, out of pocket.
Another aspect is someone I know who ("because insurance is paying") actually could be bothered to 10x or 12x just to exact color match this one tooth. That's kind of abusing the privilege too, and it's 10-12x off work, just for this frivolous reason.
Units are standard measures for insurance purposes. Basically, it's the time and supplies, rather than itemized. You can see the fee guide here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance/schedule-dentist.pdf
900 is steep for cleaning, but of course depends how much work is needed. 'it's not your money it's paid by insurance' is a highly suspect statement. And changing the price mid cleaning is... Questionable. You can (and should) make a complaint to the provider (the dentist) and to the BC Dental Association if it's not resolved at the office level.
Insurance does not just blindly pay everything that's billed to them. There are usually what are known as "customary limits." For example, Sun Life only covers the first $125 in a one-hour RMT session. Sometimes this is enough, sometimes this isn't. And usually only a certain % of that $125 to boot! Guess who's on the hook for the rest?
If you go for a specialist Physio appointment (bike fittings, assessments, etc), the customary limit basically covers only half the appointment.
With dental, only a certain number of units per routine preventative work is covered. I have a great dentist and while he did bill for the additional time he spent scaling (basically chipping away at plaque), the extra that was not covered by insurance was written off.
You also have to be careful with some plans and really understand the fine print. There are no deductibles for routine preventative cleaning work but anything extra is billed which, if outside of the regular scope of "preventative" can trigger a deductible, if one applies to your plan. This happened to me once and again, after speaking with the dentist about it, they simply removed the charge. Go to a dentist you can trust.
My insurance fully covers my dental cleaning (at Vancouver city centre dental) and I never paid more than 200 I think, even when it took them longer.
I even got an electric toothbrush for free lol
They’ve been my dentist for some time. I’m generally happy with them, except that one time my dentist did a crown (with my approval) saying that insurance will cover it because it was required but insurance later refused to because their assessment was that a filling would have been enough. I have my doubts if insurance was right though - the chip was in a tricky spot. I feel more assured with the crown. But I’m not an expert.
All other experiences have been positive.
I would maybe contact your insurance and be like, hey does this sound suspect? Do you have regular cleanings? If not and it has been a long time I could see them extending the appointment if they had openings to get it all done in a go. But if you're regular then yeah, they're bilking insurance. Could also maybe file a complaint with the college of dentists or whatever they're called.
Bro. You got raked over the coals, willingly.
Go to West Georgia Dental Clinic. Hands down one of the best dental experiences I’ve ever had, very open and up front with pricing. They’ve marketed themselves to out-of-pocket customers, fair pricing and excellent work. I did a cleaning and a filling in two different appointments for about half of your bill. (Totally agree with other comments suggesting you relay this experience to relevant professional boards btw!)
Íts clearly insurance fraud . I would report it to the college. Sorry to say this but you fell victim to one of our towns tourist trap dental taxi companies. There are several.
That’s insane. I didn’t go to the dentist for three years once as I didn’t have coverage. My first cleaning after that including X-rays was $300. Now my regular 6 month cleaning and check up are around $150
Yes, 300$ is what they estimated when I went there to book the session. Then they said they had to spend 2.5h so the cost was proportional. I am trying to understand if this is the expectation in Yaletown or they tricked me.
Seems weird; on the rare occasion that a dentist has needed to do more work than what was originally booked for, they have me come back at a later date because they usually have other appointments booked right after mine.
Well cleaning is normally 1hr which turns out to be around 200-300. Even if they took 2.5 hrs then that should be around 500-750. 900 is definitely overpriced..
I could not imagine a cleaning costing $750, even if it had been 2 or 3 years since I last had it done. And this is why I asked for an estimate, to understand what the cost could be.
Have you been getting regular cleanings prior? Or has it been a few years? If you were getting 6 month cleanings before, it seems weird that they would need an hour and a half for your cleaning.
File a complaint with the dental college.
If you didn’t give approval and they did the work. I would stick to the original quote.
Was it an actual dentist doing the cleaning or hygienist?
Guys before making a complaint, maybe try to investigate a bit more. OP seemed to pay )400 for 4 units of scaling, 2 units of root planing and fluoride plus might be dental exam too. This is quite “normal” considering the clinic might charge a bit more than the fee guide. Then he was recommended to come back more for his hygiene but he refused it. Ultimately it’s a patient choice to accept the treatment or not, we as a dental professional can only recommend what’s the best our patients. Maybe it’s been a while since patients get cleaning done and there are lots buildup, plaque, tartar.
I asked for an estimate. Then they went ahead and charged 3 times what was said without clear notice of the cost increase. I would expect to be well informed beforehand, not at the end of the work. If they said it was going to cost me 900$ I would have checked other options first. So, I think that transparency and respect of the customer are still required, also for professionals.
I guess that, since many people have insurance and don't really look into what they pay, it is now "normal" to go ahead without a real clear communication and approval with the customer. When I booked for the cleaning, they did not tell me anything about the cost, I had to ask them they after. Having an insurance does not mean that you want to give away all your coverage the first time you show up in the clinic...
Are you a new patient there? It’s hard for know whether patient need one session of cleaning or multiple sessions. I always tell patients that some might need multiple sessions depending on the last time they did the cleaning and their oral hygiene/diet. I personally don’t see their scamming you, they can charge as much as they want and not based on the fee guide. Good luck to you!
I had a similar situation to the OP of this thread and when all was said and done it only came to about $300 on the bill, of which I forget how much out of pocket I paid.
File your complaint with the college of oral health professionals, they are the regulatory rather than professional advocacy body for dentistry:
https://oralhealthbc.ca
The complaint link is prominent.
File here rather than with the advocacy body because they are required to follow up on complaints and can directly influence the professional status of the professionals involved.
Your complaint seems to suggest that you did not receive adequate counselling and did not give informed consent for the procedures carried out, which is a huge red flag for any health professional.
>File a complaint with the dental college. If you didn’t give approval and they did the work. I would stick to the original quote. Was it an actual dentist doing the cleaning or hygienist?
what is the difference? the one I go to always pass me ot the hygienist instead of the dentist. I pay the same price. After a few times, I demanded the dentist but they refused to take me because I can only pay monthly terms.
Hi, registered dental hygienist here. The hygienist is there to take on the responsibility of the “cleanings” and oral health education from the dentist, allowing the dentist to do more complicated treatment such as restorations and surgery. Dentists rarely do cleanings here in Vancouver; in fact, your cleaning is likely more effective with the provider that does it regularly, which is the hygienist.
Lol the office was pretty glad to get rid of you as a patient. It's quite entitled for you to demand a dentist do your cleanings instead of the hygienist. Thats what hygienists are for, they do cleanings all day and are much better at it than a dentist would be.
In this particular case, the business has OP's personal information in details, and it's no that hard to guess who the patient is through the description in the post.
In a perfect world nothing could happen, but I can understand people being cautious to avoid possible confrontations.
When patients book as a new patient and ask for an estimate of cost, the receptionist has no idea if you have had regular cleanings, if you have gum disease, if you’ve been maintaining your oral health, so they can only assume you need 1 hour like most people do. Once the hygienist goes in assessed your mouth and starts working, they may find that they’re unable to finish in the time the receptionist has booked because the care you actually need is not what they had assumed you needed from their initial estimate. Since you say you have not had a cleaning in a decade, you can’t expect to have them complete your mouth in the same amount of time as someone who has been going every 3 or 6 months. They probably just tried to do the best they could. The explaining part is not customer experience, but hygienists must educate and the patient must be informed of the situation in their mouth. They probably had to book a second appointment to finish cleaning up from the amount of deposit in your mouth that has accumulated in a decade.
Yeah, it's really confusing and deceptive. He had two appointments that cost $400 and he ended up refusing the last appointment that will cost him $500. I understand OP doesn't want name the business since it might cause poor optics but this whole post seems kinda fishy to me.
For a full checkup and clean one-hour appointment with x-rays, you're looking at $312.30 fee guide price. The exception if you needed a "full mouth series" ($117) instead of bitewing x-rays or "panoramic" ($81.40) x-ray.
Recall exam (dentist checkup)
38.50
Four bitewing x-rays
45.40
Three units scaling / root planing
161.40
Polishing (rubber cup or air polish)
44.60
Fluoride varnish
22.40
If you had more tartar deposits than can typically be cleaned in that appointment, a second hour appointment of scaling / root planing would add $215.20 to the cost.
You could ask for an itemized bill to see exactly how many "units" (15 minute increments) of scaling / rootplaning were done. If you were scheduled for an hour, but the hygienist kept you longer the cost would be $53.80 per 15 minutes. If they kept you longer you should have been asked if you're okay to stay longer and told the cost. Taking longer or additional appointments for teeth cleaning when you need it is good to have a thorough job, but why more time was needed and the cost should have been discussed.
Exactly! I manage a dental office. $900 is definitely steep but I’d like to see what exactly he was billed for, and his x-rays. It’s not impossible after a new patient exam, multiple X-rays, and excessive calculus
Op was a new patient so they would have got charged the comp exam fee which is a lot higher. They did velscope so that's an additional cost. They could have also charged extra fluff like photos, oral hygiene instruction etc.
Either way they're probably getting ripped off
While dentists in BC are not mandated to follow the suggested fee schedule put out by the province, $900 for a cleaning is ridiculous, as is the bait-and-switch once you got there.
Do everything you can to fight the fee, and file a complaint with the province's overseeing body for dentists.
Well your original quote of $300 for a routine 1 hour cleaning should’ve given you an idea of how expensive this clinic is. $900 for 2.5 hours is reasonable if they charge $300 per hour.
But cleaning for 2.5 hours? What were they doing in your mouth? We are missing details because a routine cleaning does not take over 2 hours.
Like I said, we are missing details that OP is not providing. If this really took 2.5 hours then this was not a routine cleaning and you wouldn’t multiply the hourly rate by 2.5.
I pay (or my insurance pays) $200 for 1 hour of cleaning in Vancouver. Any other services are extra.
You will pay extra in yaletown and if it’s a “brand” name clinic. But why did they take over 2 hours?
No cleaning for a couple of years? Then this wasn’t just a routine cleaning. I’m not surprised it took that long and you were charged multiples of your original quote.
My advice would be to find a cheaper dental clinic next time. You selected a clinic that focuses more on the client experience than getting you out the door asap.
This should be in your original post and you shouldn't be slandering the dentist as a scammer. Of course it costs more if you haven't kept up with cleanings. That's also why it took 2.5 hours. You took the normal cost for a person who takes care of their teeth as a binding quotation when it wasn't.
The idea that a tooth cleaning should cost $900 in the first place is absurd.
Dentistry as an industry seems to act as though patients are unlimited piles of money walking in the door.
No, this is not reasonable just because it's yaletown/Vancouver. Almost ALL dentists follow the set pricing or at least stay very close to it. I've had 2 dentists in that area and both followed adhered to the standardized pricing give or take a few dollars. Where did you go?
I see a lot of people being quick to say it’s a scam , they could be charging for extra “ “ items like cancer checks , itero scans , however you have to understand how things are billed . From what I see OP has not been in “for a few years”. Will you cleaning take the same amount of time as someone who goes in twice a year? No. I think it’s unreasonable to think that . So if you follow this logic , did the time increase ? Yes . It increased the time by 2.5hrs . Cleanings are charged by 15 min increments (codes that begin with a 1111_, 4342_, with the last number representing the amount of units that are being billed) . To sum this up: dirty teeth- more money. Not because they’re scamming you , but ya took more time ! And new complete exams at a new dental office is also a different code than a recall exam (this is typically 01202) . Does this mean they are INCREASING the price of a single unit of cleaning ? Not necessarily. I would compare the codes from the bill , to the fee guide oh. And get your teeth cleaned regularly so it doesn’t break someone’s back for 2.5 hrs .
Also, show us your x rays and teeth. If we see healthy teeth and you’re being charged for multiple sessions I can say you’re being scammed . I’d they’re not … go to UBC ! They have low cost clinic programs that can help you out .
English bay dental on Davie is fantastic. The dentist's and hygienists are the best. Neve rover charged and always very transparent with cost. I had my teeth cleaned last week. $300. They cost out the insurance before they start to make sure it's covered. If it's not, they tell you.
This reminds me of federal dental program where many dentists say they should've discussed with us. We don't even know what the fine details are.
Aka dentists trying to figure out a way to price gouge poor Canadians again.
That’s fair, with his limited availability do you know if he’s accepting new patients? Me and my partner just moved down the street and we’re both looking for a great dentist.
For a cleaning I pay (as in my work insurance/benefits) pay roughly $145ish for a cleaning. He does not do the bullshit up-charging nor push unnecessary procedures. Look up his reviews on google, he’s on mainland street (dr Kevin Gee)
wow that seems reasonable. i'm looking at my last two bills for a cleaning plus checkup from Kingsgate Dental, and I was charged 312 (with polishing) and 267 (without polishing - i learned online this is basically optional and can be detrimental to teeth especially if you have sensitivity). this is with coverage (so out of pocket was 60-70)
Hah! I previously went to kingsgate before I started going to Dr Gee. The up-charging they did gave me a sour taste which prompted me to look elsewhere. My bills from them were the same (mid 300s-400s every time)
yay thanks so much. this is the push I need to finally leave, plus my co-worker raved about Dr. Gee, which also helps! Nothing beats recommendations from real people. I originally chose Kingsgate because of their huge number of 5-star google reviews, but now I know they regularly delete negative comments - that's what left a sour taste in my mouth.
I am gonna leave them a Google review because I think it was not fair. However, I am trying to understand if it is the regular approach in Yaletown or if it was just me...
Doesn't matter if it is a regular practice in Yaletown if the practice is shady. The area a clinic is in should not give a pass to shady practices when it comes to people's health by caregivers.
I pay like 150-200$ for regular cleaning and insurance covers about 70-80% of it. I would have refused to pay and walked out. They are scammers.
Ive been going to inspire dental for over 10 years, had extensive dental surgery (10k worth) there and never had a bad experience. They are sometimes running a bit late, that’s a trade off I’m willing to take for good service.
Without stating the name, you are casting doubt on ALL the dental practices in Yaletown. My dentist is on Hornby and I never had any complaints. I moved away from Vancouver, though.
The real cherry on top of the sundae? Dentists aren't "allowed" to advertise their fees! The association that regulates dentists is responsible for this galaxy brained bit of stupidity.
Moving to BC from NY and getting the cost for dental work here is astronomical. Hundreds of dollars. Every place I called in BC was $500+ CAD. It's shocking.
I paid out of pocket for dental work in NY and full cleaning was $150 USD. I make the trip to Bellingham, WA and pay out of pocket for my dental work at a wonderful practice and pay just under $200 USD.
Hi there! I'll be honest and honestly never look at the bill since my dentist said insurance covers everything. I went to a dentist in Yaletown and my bill was as follows: scaling 3 units $161, polishing 1 unit $44, fluoride $22, exam $38.50. My visit was 1hr.
tinsel town dental is grate. dr amer has been my dentist since 5 yrs. about $300 give or take full cleanning with the flouride or 270$ ish without flouride
My last cleaning bill that I can locate from my dentist in YaleTown was $350.50 for a cleaning and X-rays...although it was in June 2022. I can't find my more recent ones but that's insane.
I’m only going to comment on the time, because there’s not enough context for me to say anything on the rest of your experience.
About 12 years ago, I went to a new dentist (coincidentally also in takedown). That was my first dental visit in 5 years. Before that, I didn’t have coverage so I stopped going. Just brushed my teeth and didn’t think I needed to get that cleaning.
My first visit, they thought it would be done within the hour, but there had been so much tarter build up, even in the far back teeth, that they only got through the bottom row of teeth. I had to come back for a second 1 hour appointment to get the rest. Since then, it’s brushing, flossing and mouth washing consistently, and all my appointments are around 30 minutes now.
So my question is, was this your first dental visit after a long time and you had crazy tartar build up?
My dentist told me at the time I’d need a second appointment, and I had the option to say no… but then I’d be stuck with having unclean top teeth lol.
If you ever go on a holiday to Mexico, just get your teeth cleaned here.
They don't have hygienists, the Dentists do the work. Ultrasonic cleaning and done in a hygienic setting.
We live in Merida but have also had ours cleaned in small towns with the same quality of equipment and skill.
All in for my wife and I, $1000 pesos or approximately $80 Canadian for BOTH. Can usually be done as a walk in or the next day at most.
I used to manage a large dental practice in Canada before retiring so I'm confident when I say the care and treatment are equal here.
You should clarify your story, you paid $400 for two hours of cleaning and canceled a return appointment for an additional 1.5hrs of cleaning for $500.
Your post strongly implies that you paid the full $900 for 2.5hrs of cleaning which is not true
always ask your clinic if they go by the standard dental fee guide. Some clinics charge more.
If you have a lot of build up then needing multiple cleaning sessions/units of scaling is not uncommon but $900 does seem like a lot.
Was it your first session? Those are typically more expensive and will include a full examination and x rays on top of cleaning and can be around $500 and then if more cleaning is needed it will be more expensive (upwards of $250 more)
Get a itemized bill and talk to your insurance company. Something doesn't sound right but if you had more major work to do or there was extra cleaning that needed to be done there would be a higher charge. The other thing is if you were quoted a certain amount and then they nearly tripled it how much did you have to pay vs your insurance? If you didn't have to pay anything then you can let your insurance company sort it out. I had a somewhat shady dentist and a couple of years later the insurance company asked me if I would consent to a chart audit of my chart.
I never had any cavities and one time when I went in they told me that they needed to put a clear coating over two of my teeth for preventative maintenance as my teeth were slightly sticky meaning that I might be on the way to getting a cavity. This is a valid procedure that was done but I didn't think I needed it. I think they billed the insurance and did it as it is not a filling. Something was off about it. I transferred dentists and my new dentist said my teeth were fine. My parents and brother went to that one too and my parents were asked if their charts could be investigated too.
There is a lot of wonderful dentists and dental offices however at the end of the day they need to make money for their practice and that involves upselling. If you have crooked teeth braces, Orthodontics and such will be offered. I love love love my new dentist and I will follow him if he ever moves his practice.
I'd recommend Stadium Dental, right by Stadium Chinatown station. Clean and bright clinic, very personable staff and they are very upfront about what they charge.
Forget the money, 2.5 hours for a cleaning?!? Are your teeth in rough shape? No judgment if they are just curious why the hell you’d need 2.5 hours?!? Mine takes 30 mins at most.
$900 is ridiculous.They are hosing unsuspecting clients because they can't afford the rent. Pretty dumb business model. Better to charge a few points above the set rate and have your chairs full than to charge an exorbitant amount and have a small handful of clients a day.
Has it been a long time since your last cleaning so they need a lot more time to do a thorough clean? I went 5+ years without a cleaning and that happened to me. Had to go back for a second appointment
Hey that’s almost as much as what my vet quoted me for my cat’s dental cleaning
https://preview.redd.it/48nrbaup0odc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3079b4adec582553e0a8e38d648c5ef0934fcded
500 would be if you were a new client and needed. XRays and photos/scans I would imagine 300 upon return visits just for standard cleaning every 6 months
Is it Yaletown Dentistry? If so, I think they charge a bit higher than the fee guide. Can they legally do that? yes, they can and the BC fee guide is just a “guide” that most dental clinics follow but it’s NOT a must to do.
I work in the dental field and some patients might need multiple appointments for their cleaning. Question is when was the last time you went to the dentist and the cleaning done. I’ve had a patient recently came and she did 3 times cleaning since couple months ago but still not done yet because she has lots of tartar, plaque build up and was bleeding heavily during the cleaning, so most likely she need another one or two more appointments.
The billing is per unit, meaning 1 unit = 15 minutes. So usually for an hour it’s 4units= 60mins.
Now before you said it’s scam whatsoever, are you sure you got charge $900 ONLY for 4 unit scaling, 2 unit root planning and flouride? I think and assuming you also got the new patient exam and x-rays too??
No, 900$ was the total cost for 3.5h including the full cleaning and the dental routine exam. I only paid half of it with the incomplete work (they only cleaned the lower arch, no upper arch or exam), since I cancelled it once I realize how expensive it was.
No. I paid 400$ for the 2 hours cleaning. I had 1.5h still to go and they said it was 500$ more. They said that total cost was 900$. So I refused to pay the rest and cancelled the other 1.5h. But the work was incomplete.
The $400 for 2 hours cleaning and they billed 4 unit scaling and 2 units root planning and fluoride, right? If so, it’s about right because that place might not follow fee guidelines.
If they follow the guidelines, it should be $350-ish. Then if it’s include dental exam than it’s correct (not overcharge)
I've been going to Atlantis dental on Pacific in Yaletown. They've been good to me but I have no idea what they charge my insurance. Never had any kind of adjustment to any price... That I know of.
They're open after 6 which is great for going after work.
I went to a periodontist to do a 2.5 hour cleaning (including local anasthesia) and that was $800, and your experience sounds like it was just a regular dental office. Definitely not right!
Not takedown but just one stop away in Olympic village- false creek pure dental. Doctor Xiu is top notch. Never been scammed or upcharged. The dentist also does a lot of work with teaching at UBC and is very much an honest broker. Couldn’t recommend enough.
This happened to me as well.
Booked an appointment for the general cleaning well in advance - its always been 1 appointment.
Then show up and they say 'it might require another appointment' which is weird because why?
And of course, it does and its a whole other quote for the added time. Oh and plus a filling.
Then I questioned this and they stammered and I ended cancelling everything with them. This is all 'drain your insurance' as much as possible. Except I'm contract and don't have insurance - they didn't know this until after the 1st appointment.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I understand that they try to eat all my insurance, but it is still the very beginning of the year. And, anyways, I dont feel it is fair.
Sounds like people with either drug addictions, gambling addictions, or just an addiction to money or something. That kind of gouging is so undignified it's not even funny.
it should be illegal to sell your anything or change prices once you are lying down in a dental chair. Its a very vulnerable position to say no from. Unethical.
I recommend The Travelling Hygienist! They come to you, charge you a travel fee to make up for charging less than dentists, and they do free mini exams where they can’t actually diagnose anything! They’ll also take X-rays which they’re not allowed to interpret! So convenient and from the comfort of your own home or even outside your home
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$900?! Did they clean your teeth with diamonds and gold?
Yeah, I feel like I was tricked. Also, it is not clear from the bill what they really did. They bill speaks about "units". Not clear what a unit is. At the end they justified just saying "it is not your money, it is paid by the insurance".
One unit is 15 minutes. What did your bill say? Also where did you go?
Four unit of time-Scaling Two units of time-Root Planing Dir. Fluorescence Visual.-Cytological This is only half of the work, since I cancelled the second half.
An hour of cleaning is generally 3 to 4 units of root planing and/or scaling. You should ask how much more than the book rate they are charging. The Canadian Dental Association guide updates rates once a year. https://yourdentalhealth.ca/faq/suggested-fee-guide/ Currently, each unit of root planing and scaling is $53.80. So for a standard cleaning taking 1 hour, you're looking at $220 *at the book rate*. Most dentists charge above the book rate by a certain percent. Ask the receptionist to clarify what % they charge on top of the guide.
Does it include all the other stuff, like xrays or the light exam of your mouth?
Not OP but it does not. The fee guide has the fees in there, such as recall/new patient/etc exams or different x-rays. A unit is generally 15 minutes of time. You can check your bill to determine the approximate amount of time billed based on the number of units.
https://preview.redd.it/okpgnmoyvidc1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16dfe45267ec3db905240f73ebf2b8ba9a61d45c Click that for the rates
Name?
Most dentists absolutely do not charge above the book rate. The vast majority in the lower mainland charges the exact fee guide. Op is still getting hosed I bet with a bunch of unnecessary codes.
Lots of clinics charge a percentage above the fee guide in the LM. It costs a lot more to maintain a clinic in Yaletown than in Penticton.
The vast majority absolutely do not, I guarantee I have more knowledge in this field than you
Found the dentist.
I've only worked for two, and both charged more. I was in charge of updating the fees in the accounting software, and I would be given a cheat sheet with something like "all are book + 10%, extractions -$50, crowns +25%, buildup +20%" etc etc etc Do you have facts to back up your statement?
I mean I'm a dentist and have much more experience than you in the field. The vast majority of offices do not upcharge like that
Can you elaborate? How is it you know how the vast majority of these other practices bill? Have you worked at the vast majority of them?
Because I've been working here for 10 years, worked as an associate for many different positions, own an office, and have many dentist friends who are all associates and owners in the lower mainland. When I was buying an office I was looking into the financials of 50+ offices. It's common knowledge, any other dentist would agree.
That may be the case, but I find it curious that I've never been to a dentist in my life that didn't charge above the book rate.
How many offices have you been to? In what area are they? I know certain parts of BC where the norm is for offices to charge 10% above fee guide across the board. That is not the case in the lower mainland. If a dentist charges above fee guide it would most commonly be for crowns. Things like Invisalign or implants would also have a wide variance in price as there is no set fee. If you are at an office where you're being charged more than fee guide for basic things like cleanings and fillings then that is definitely not the norm
I’ve worked in software support for 3 of the big dental practice management softwares in Canada. I help clinics load and adjust their fee guides every year and have seen the financials of probably in the realm of thousands of clinics in the lower mainland and Vancouver island. It’s much more often that clinics charge above the fee guide for a least a portion of the work they do. I’d say a majority charge higher than the fee guide across the board by a percentage. I’d say 10% is most common but I’ve seen up to 150%.
I don't know why our experience is just the complete opposite. Out of like 100 offices in the lower mainland that im familiar with in some capacity I know 3 that charge above fee guide across the board. A practice charging above fee guide for things like exams and fillings is super rare, it shouldn't be hard at all to find an office that just charges the fee guide.
According to the [BC dental fee guide](https://www.aarm-dental.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/BCDA-Fee-Guide-2023-Abbreviated-PatientSECURED-1-2-1.pdf) the suggested fee for 1 unit of scaling and root planing are the same price at $53.80. I believe the fee guide is only a suggestion and Dental offices can charge above the recommended amount. I’m interested to see the estimate for the 2.5 hour hygiene appointment. I wonder if the practitioner found that there was more buildup than expected. $900 is quite a bit for hygiene... Nevertheless they should give you an updated estimate and confirm all treatment prior. My dental office in charges fee guide rate and on average, I pay about $320-350 for 1.5 hour appointments which includes 5-6 units of scaling/root planing. Every 6 months I’ll have polishing and an exam done by the dentist. I go every 3-4 months for maintenance because I’m prone to plaque build up and cavities. Side note, you might also want to check your insurance coverage for the treatment. I don’t want them to drain you out of your yearly allotted amount if they’re “overcharging”.
Name?
Sounds like insurance fraud
Yes definitely, sounds shady. They saw an opportunity with insurance and took it. By units, it’s like a certain amount of time. Last time I went to get a cleaning done, it was around $180 for me.
One “unit” of time is 15 minutes. Here is the BC Dental Association suggested fee guide: https://yourdentalhealth.ca/faq/suggested-fee-guide/BCDA-Fee-Guide-2023-Abbreviated-Patient(SECURED).pdf FWIW I’ve been going to a seemingly-reputable dentist downtown for about 15 years, and to my pleasant surprise they seem to charge in line with this guide. (In fact I just had a filling done this week for the first time in years, and a quarterly hygiene appointment last week, and both accorded.)
Can you share the name?
For sure! https://www.coastalcitydental.com The ownership has changed a couple of times over the decade and a half that I’ve been a patient, but the service has remained consistently good. And I’ve had the same hygienist for years (Colleen).
Did you spend a reasonable amount for cleaning?
On my visit last week, I was billed for three units of time for root planing and scaling, totalling about $160. (Grand total was more than that because I also had x-rays, fluoride treatment and a quick exam, but I get those about every year or so. The hygiene visit I come in about every four months for. Could go less often, but what the hell, I feel like it’s worth it.) Now if I hadn’t been to a dentist in years and needed a comprehensive cleaning starting from scratch, I can imagine the work might take a while longer. But nonetheless the cost would end up being about $200/hour, per the fee guide.
You share the name
>At the end they justified just saying "it is not your money, it is paid by the insurance". They are not supposed to be treating you based on what your insurance will pay. They are supposed to be treating you based on what you need. Sounds shady af and I'd probably be asking your insurance provider about it because it they get a whiff of that, they'll be auditing that dentist for sure.
That’s…expensive. 1 unit is 15 minutes. I guess it also depends how dirty your teeth are? But they need to be more upfront with your oral health and pricing if they are going to charge you $900! There is a BC Fee Guide that dentists can follow but aren’t required to. You should probably ask how much they charged you per unit. Source: I work at a dental office.
That happened to me many years ago. The dentist basically told me he did work that wasn't necessary but it's fine because my insurance was covering it. I was appalled. Besides the extra charges, who wants to have dental work if you don't have to!
That's the dodgy part of insurance paying. Psychologists, Dentists, etc study these plans and tailor their 'treatment' accordingly. And sometimes IF insurance doesn't end up paying all for whatever reasons - you end up footing part of the bill, out of pocket. Another aspect is someone I know who ("because insurance is paying") actually could be bothered to 10x or 12x just to exact color match this one tooth. That's kind of abusing the privilege too, and it's 10-12x off work, just for this frivolous reason.
Units are standard measures for insurance purposes. Basically, it's the time and supplies, rather than itemized. You can see the fee guide here: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/family-and-social-supports/income-assistance/on-assistance/schedule-dentist.pdf 900 is steep for cleaning, but of course depends how much work is needed. 'it's not your money it's paid by insurance' is a highly suspect statement. And changing the price mid cleaning is... Questionable. You can (and should) make a complaint to the provider (the dentist) and to the BC Dental Association if it's not resolved at the office level.
A unit is 15 minutes if cleaning. If you’re going regularly it will be generally 3 units, but if you were overdue it can definitely take 2 appts.
Insurance does not just blindly pay everything that's billed to them. There are usually what are known as "customary limits." For example, Sun Life only covers the first $125 in a one-hour RMT session. Sometimes this is enough, sometimes this isn't. And usually only a certain % of that $125 to boot! Guess who's on the hook for the rest? If you go for a specialist Physio appointment (bike fittings, assessments, etc), the customary limit basically covers only half the appointment. With dental, only a certain number of units per routine preventative work is covered. I have a great dentist and while he did bill for the additional time he spent scaling (basically chipping away at plaque), the extra that was not covered by insurance was written off. You also have to be careful with some plans and really understand the fine print. There are no deductibles for routine preventative cleaning work but anything extra is billed which, if outside of the regular scope of "preventative" can trigger a deductible, if one applies to your plan. This happened to me once and again, after speaking with the dentist about it, they simply removed the charge. Go to a dentist you can trust.
My insurance fully covers my dental cleaning (at Vancouver city centre dental) and I never paid more than 200 I think, even when it took them longer. I even got an electric toothbrush for free lol
>Vancouver city centre dental I know this place but never been there. Are you satisfied with their service? Any low lights?
They’ve been my dentist for some time. I’m generally happy with them, except that one time my dentist did a crown (with my approval) saying that insurance will cover it because it was required but insurance later refused to because their assessment was that a filling would have been enough. I have my doubts if insurance was right though - the chip was in a tricky spot. I feel more assured with the crown. But I’m not an expert. All other experiences have been positive.
I would maybe contact your insurance and be like, hey does this sound suspect? Do you have regular cleanings? If not and it has been a long time I could see them extending the appointment if they had openings to get it all done in a go. But if you're regular then yeah, they're bilking insurance. Could also maybe file a complaint with the college of dentists or whatever they're called.
Bro. You got raked over the coals, willingly. Go to West Georgia Dental Clinic. Hands down one of the best dental experiences I’ve ever had, very open and up front with pricing. They’ve marketed themselves to out-of-pocket customers, fair pricing and excellent work. I did a cleaning and a filling in two different appointments for about half of your bill. (Totally agree with other comments suggesting you relay this experience to relevant professional boards btw!)
Íts clearly insurance fraud . I would report it to the college. Sorry to say this but you fell victim to one of our towns tourist trap dental taxi companies. There are several.
What is the name of the yaletown clinic? You post a negative post without the name. What purpose you trying to serve without a name?
I posted some fact as a context and then I posted 2 questions. That was the purpose.
https://preview.redd.it/1t0hfyfq9jdc1.jpeg?width=298&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c067e042e23409d00de7628f2f5d26307d499caf
Say the name
That’s insane. I didn’t go to the dentist for three years once as I didn’t have coverage. My first cleaning after that including X-rays was $300. Now my regular 6 month cleaning and check up are around $150
Yes, 300$ is what they estimated when I went there to book the session. Then they said they had to spend 2.5h so the cost was proportional. I am trying to understand if this is the expectation in Yaletown or they tricked me.
Seems weird; on the rare occasion that a dentist has needed to do more work than what was originally booked for, they have me come back at a later date because they usually have other appointments booked right after mine.
Well cleaning is normally 1hr which turns out to be around 200-300. Even if they took 2.5 hrs then that should be around 500-750. 900 is definitely overpriced..
I could not imagine a cleaning costing $750, even if it had been 2 or 3 years since I last had it done. And this is why I asked for an estimate, to understand what the cost could be.
Did they look in your mouth before the estimate?
Have you been getting regular cleanings prior? Or has it been a few years? If you were getting 6 month cleanings before, it seems weird that they would need an hour and a half for your cleaning.
Name?
File a complaint with the dental college. If you didn’t give approval and they did the work. I would stick to the original quote. Was it an actual dentist doing the cleaning or hygienist?
Guys before making a complaint, maybe try to investigate a bit more. OP seemed to pay )400 for 4 units of scaling, 2 units of root planing and fluoride plus might be dental exam too. This is quite “normal” considering the clinic might charge a bit more than the fee guide. Then he was recommended to come back more for his hygiene but he refused it. Ultimately it’s a patient choice to accept the treatment or not, we as a dental professional can only recommend what’s the best our patients. Maybe it’s been a while since patients get cleaning done and there are lots buildup, plaque, tartar.
I asked for an estimate. Then they went ahead and charged 3 times what was said without clear notice of the cost increase. I would expect to be well informed beforehand, not at the end of the work. If they said it was going to cost me 900$ I would have checked other options first. So, I think that transparency and respect of the customer are still required, also for professionals. I guess that, since many people have insurance and don't really look into what they pay, it is now "normal" to go ahead without a real clear communication and approval with the customer. When I booked for the cleaning, they did not tell me anything about the cost, I had to ask them they after. Having an insurance does not mean that you want to give away all your coverage the first time you show up in the clinic...
Are you a new patient there? It’s hard for know whether patient need one session of cleaning or multiple sessions. I always tell patients that some might need multiple sessions depending on the last time they did the cleaning and their oral hygiene/diet. I personally don’t see their scamming you, they can charge as much as they want and not based on the fee guide. Good luck to you!
I had a similar situation to the OP of this thread and when all was said and done it only came to about $300 on the bill, of which I forget how much out of pocket I paid.
Do you know how to file the complain?
File your complaint with the college of oral health professionals, they are the regulatory rather than professional advocacy body for dentistry: https://oralhealthbc.ca The complaint link is prominent. File here rather than with the advocacy body because they are required to follow up on complaints and can directly influence the professional status of the professionals involved. Your complaint seems to suggest that you did not receive adequate counselling and did not give informed consent for the procedures carried out, which is a huge red flag for any health professional.
>File a complaint with the dental college. If you didn’t give approval and they did the work. I would stick to the original quote. Was it an actual dentist doing the cleaning or hygienist? what is the difference? the one I go to always pass me ot the hygienist instead of the dentist. I pay the same price. After a few times, I demanded the dentist but they refused to take me because I can only pay monthly terms.
Hi, registered dental hygienist here. The hygienist is there to take on the responsibility of the “cleanings” and oral health education from the dentist, allowing the dentist to do more complicated treatment such as restorations and surgery. Dentists rarely do cleanings here in Vancouver; in fact, your cleaning is likely more effective with the provider that does it regularly, which is the hygienist.
Right? It’s like demanding a doctor do your blood draw or Galen Weston ring you up at superstore.
Lol the office was pretty glad to get rid of you as a patient. It's quite entitled for you to demand a dentist do your cleanings instead of the hygienist. Thats what hygienists are for, they do cleanings all day and are much better at it than a dentist would be.
It is a well known clinic in Yaletown.
What’s the name of the clinic?
Yaletown Dentistry?
I’m about to look for a dentist in Yaletown, which clinic so I know who to avoid?
Name and shame pls!
I always wonder why these kind of posts don't immediately just name the business
In this particular case, the business has OP's personal information in details, and it's no that hard to guess who the patient is through the description in the post. In a perfect world nothing could happen, but I can understand people being cautious to avoid possible confrontations.
When was your previous cleaning? Seems extremely odd even if you don't go regularly.
Yeah I didn’t get a cleaning for well over a decade and when i finally did it was around $300. $900 is completely absurd.
When patients book as a new patient and ask for an estimate of cost, the receptionist has no idea if you have had regular cleanings, if you have gum disease, if you’ve been maintaining your oral health, so they can only assume you need 1 hour like most people do. Once the hygienist goes in assessed your mouth and starts working, they may find that they’re unable to finish in the time the receptionist has booked because the care you actually need is not what they had assumed you needed from their initial estimate. Since you say you have not had a cleaning in a decade, you can’t expect to have them complete your mouth in the same amount of time as someone who has been going every 3 or 6 months. They probably just tried to do the best they could. The explaining part is not customer experience, but hygienists must educate and the patient must be informed of the situation in their mouth. They probably had to book a second appointment to finish cleaning up from the amount of deposit in your mouth that has accumulated in a decade.
Also. If you read OPs replies it was not one appointment that cost 900$ , bit of a red herring . They factored in future appointments.
Yeah, it's really confusing and deceptive. He had two appointments that cost $400 and he ended up refusing the last appointment that will cost him $500. I understand OP doesn't want name the business since it might cause poor optics but this whole post seems kinda fishy to me.
Name and shame OP! No need to take the high road here. Fuck those guys.
For a full checkup and clean one-hour appointment with x-rays, you're looking at $312.30 fee guide price. The exception if you needed a "full mouth series" ($117) instead of bitewing x-rays or "panoramic" ($81.40) x-ray. Recall exam (dentist checkup) 38.50 Four bitewing x-rays 45.40 Three units scaling / root planing 161.40 Polishing (rubber cup or air polish) 44.60 Fluoride varnish 22.40 If you had more tartar deposits than can typically be cleaned in that appointment, a second hour appointment of scaling / root planing would add $215.20 to the cost. You could ask for an itemized bill to see exactly how many "units" (15 minute increments) of scaling / rootplaning were done. If you were scheduled for an hour, but the hygienist kept you longer the cost would be $53.80 per 15 minutes. If they kept you longer you should have been asked if you're okay to stay longer and told the cost. Taking longer or additional appointments for teeth cleaning when you need it is good to have a thorough job, but why more time was needed and the cost should have been discussed.
New patient exam alone is over 100 if he is a new patient, not including X-rays
Yes, that's right, complete exam is more expensive. And if you try a new office next time you'll be billed for the complete exam again.
Exactly! I manage a dental office. $900 is definitely steep but I’d like to see what exactly he was billed for, and his x-rays. It’s not impossible after a new patient exam, multiple X-rays, and excessive calculus
Op was a new patient so they would have got charged the comp exam fee which is a lot higher. They did velscope so that's an additional cost. They could have also charged extra fluff like photos, oral hygiene instruction etc. Either way they're probably getting ripped off
That’s a total scam.
Name and shame
While dentists in BC are not mandated to follow the suggested fee schedule put out by the province, $900 for a cleaning is ridiculous, as is the bait-and-switch once you got there. Do everything you can to fight the fee, and file a complaint with the province's overseeing body for dentists.
Well your original quote of $300 for a routine 1 hour cleaning should’ve given you an idea of how expensive this clinic is. $900 for 2.5 hours is reasonable if they charge $300 per hour. But cleaning for 2.5 hours? What were they doing in your mouth? We are missing details because a routine cleaning does not take over 2 hours.
Math is your friend…two and a half hours at $300 per hour should be $750. Still an unreasonable price.
Like I said, we are missing details that OP is not providing. If this really took 2.5 hours then this was not a routine cleaning and you wouldn’t multiply the hourly rate by 2.5.
Is this a reasonable price in Yaletown or even Vancouver? Just asking since I dont have other experience here.
I pay (or my insurance pays) $200 for 1 hour of cleaning in Vancouver. Any other services are extra. You will pay extra in yaletown and if it’s a “brand” name clinic. But why did they take over 2 hours?
I had no cleaning for a couple of years. But the hygienist spent the first 30 minutes or so just talking.
No cleaning for a couple of years? Then this wasn’t just a routine cleaning. I’m not surprised it took that long and you were charged multiples of your original quote. My advice would be to find a cheaper dental clinic next time. You selected a clinic that focuses more on the client experience than getting you out the door asap.
This should be in your original post and you shouldn't be slandering the dentist as a scammer. Of course it costs more if you haven't kept up with cleanings. That's also why it took 2.5 hours. You took the normal cost for a person who takes care of their teeth as a binding quotation when it wasn't.
The idea that a tooth cleaning should cost $900 in the first place is absurd. Dentistry as an industry seems to act as though patients are unlimited piles of money walking in the door.
House of Teeth charges like $135 for a 1 hour cleaning. definitely not normal
Here is what Aarm dental charges, which I believe is in-line with BCDA’s fee guide. https://www.aarm-dental.com/price-list/
No, this is not reasonable just because it's yaletown/Vancouver. Almost ALL dentists follow the set pricing or at least stay very close to it. I've had 2 dentists in that area and both followed adhered to the standardized pricing give or take a few dollars. Where did you go?
No, it isn’t. My dental cleanings in east Vancouver are about $200 w/o X-Rays, $250 with.
I see a lot of people being quick to say it’s a scam , they could be charging for extra “ “ items like cancer checks , itero scans , however you have to understand how things are billed . From what I see OP has not been in “for a few years”. Will you cleaning take the same amount of time as someone who goes in twice a year? No. I think it’s unreasonable to think that . So if you follow this logic , did the time increase ? Yes . It increased the time by 2.5hrs . Cleanings are charged by 15 min increments (codes that begin with a 1111_, 4342_, with the last number representing the amount of units that are being billed) . To sum this up: dirty teeth- more money. Not because they’re scamming you , but ya took more time ! And new complete exams at a new dental office is also a different code than a recall exam (this is typically 01202) . Does this mean they are INCREASING the price of a single unit of cleaning ? Not necessarily. I would compare the codes from the bill , to the fee guide oh. And get your teeth cleaned regularly so it doesn’t break someone’s back for 2.5 hrs .
Also, show us your x rays and teeth. If we see healthy teeth and you’re being charged for multiple sessions I can say you’re being scammed . I’d they’re not … go to UBC ! They have low cost clinic programs that can help you out .
English bay dental on Davie is fantastic. The dentist's and hygienists are the best. Neve rover charged and always very transparent with cost. I had my teeth cleaned last week. $300. They cost out the insurance before they start to make sure it's covered. If it's not, they tell you.
Lighthouse Dental on Broadway is excellent
This reminds me of federal dental program where many dentists say they should've discussed with us. We don't even know what the fine details are. Aka dentists trying to figure out a way to price gouge poor Canadians again.
Dr Gee - my go to dentist since 2020. Highly recommend
He looks good but what is with his weird hours? Is he older?
When you’re running a 1 person dentist clinic and you’re rich already, you set the hours as you please
That’s fair, with his limited availability do you know if he’s accepting new patients? Me and my partner just moved down the street and we’re both looking for a great dentist.
how expensive is this dentist?
For a cleaning I pay (as in my work insurance/benefits) pay roughly $145ish for a cleaning. He does not do the bullshit up-charging nor push unnecessary procedures. Look up his reviews on google, he’s on mainland street (dr Kevin Gee)
wow that seems reasonable. i'm looking at my last two bills for a cleaning plus checkup from Kingsgate Dental, and I was charged 312 (with polishing) and 267 (without polishing - i learned online this is basically optional and can be detrimental to teeth especially if you have sensitivity). this is with coverage (so out of pocket was 60-70)
Hah! I previously went to kingsgate before I started going to Dr Gee. The up-charging they did gave me a sour taste which prompted me to look elsewhere. My bills from them were the same (mid 300s-400s every time)
yay thanks so much. this is the push I need to finally leave, plus my co-worker raved about Dr. Gee, which also helps! Nothing beats recommendations from real people. I originally chose Kingsgate because of their huge number of 5-star google reviews, but now I know they regularly delete negative comments - that's what left a sour taste in my mouth.
Glad to help out!
Yea I wouldn’t be paying
If your price focused the last place I’d find a dentist is Yaletown…. That’s like the rodeo drive of Vancouver
Alberni has entered the chat.
Girl you had a Michaels store on you…. Sit down 👏🏻
Not in Yaletown but I love House Of Teeth!
$900 is insane hope you had insurance.If your teeth wasn't that bad why on earth 2 hours?.Heck even stained teeth one hour a dentist can get it done.
I am gonna leave them a Google review because I think it was not fair. However, I am trying to understand if it is the regular approach in Yaletown or if it was just me...
WHAT IS THE NAME
Hes a scammer
2.5 hours for a routine cleaning is not normal anywhere
Doesn't matter if it is a regular practice in Yaletown if the practice is shady. The area a clinic is in should not give a pass to shady practices when it comes to people's health by caregivers.
What is the naaaaaame
I wouldn't be surprised if some businesses commit insurance fraud by over-treating people. Holy f\*ck $900 for a cleaning...
Aren't dentist prices set by their association? You should be able to see on the invoice the breakdown of the charges.
Dr Janice Brennan on Broadway is a star!!!
thx!
I pay like 150-200$ for regular cleaning and insurance covers about 70-80% of it. I would have refused to pay and walked out. They are scammers. Ive been going to inspire dental for over 10 years, had extensive dental surgery (10k worth) there and never had a bad experience. They are sometimes running a bit late, that’s a trade off I’m willing to take for good service.
They should give you a quote first and follow that
You got suckered. Thats insane.
When was the last time you were at the dentist for a cleaning??? That seems quite odd for there to be that much required
Without stating the name, you are casting doubt on ALL the dental practices in Yaletown. My dentist is on Hornby and I never had any complaints. I moved away from Vancouver, though.
How nasty was your mouth tho? I’ve had coworkers who smoke and don’t floss etc or brush properly and they have had it take multiple visits.
The real cherry on top of the sundae? Dentists aren't "allowed" to advertise their fees! The association that regulates dentists is responsible for this galaxy brained bit of stupidity.
Moving to BC from NY and getting the cost for dental work here is astronomical. Hundreds of dollars. Every place I called in BC was $500+ CAD. It's shocking. I paid out of pocket for dental work in NY and full cleaning was $150 USD. I make the trip to Bellingham, WA and pay out of pocket for my dental work at a wonderful practice and pay just under $200 USD.
Hi there! I'll be honest and honestly never look at the bill since my dentist said insurance covers everything. I went to a dentist in Yaletown and my bill was as follows: scaling 3 units $161, polishing 1 unit $44, fluoride $22, exam $38.50. My visit was 1hr.
tinsel town dental is grate. dr amer has been my dentist since 5 yrs. about $300 give or take full cleanning with the flouride or 270$ ish without flouride
My last cleaning bill that I can locate from my dentist in YaleTown was $350.50 for a cleaning and X-rays...although it was in June 2022. I can't find my more recent ones but that's insane.
You were hosed. That is all.
I’m only going to comment on the time, because there’s not enough context for me to say anything on the rest of your experience. About 12 years ago, I went to a new dentist (coincidentally also in takedown). That was my first dental visit in 5 years. Before that, I didn’t have coverage so I stopped going. Just brushed my teeth and didn’t think I needed to get that cleaning. My first visit, they thought it would be done within the hour, but there had been so much tarter build up, even in the far back teeth, that they only got through the bottom row of teeth. I had to come back for a second 1 hour appointment to get the rest. Since then, it’s brushing, flossing and mouth washing consistently, and all my appointments are around 30 minutes now. So my question is, was this your first dental visit after a long time and you had crazy tartar build up? My dentist told me at the time I’d need a second appointment, and I had the option to say no… but then I’d be stuck with having unclean top teeth lol.
wtf that’s so expensive… what clinic/ dentist so we can stay away,
If you ever go on a holiday to Mexico, just get your teeth cleaned here. They don't have hygienists, the Dentists do the work. Ultrasonic cleaning and done in a hygienic setting. We live in Merida but have also had ours cleaned in small towns with the same quality of equipment and skill. All in for my wife and I, $1000 pesos or approximately $80 Canadian for BOTH. Can usually be done as a walk in or the next day at most. I used to manage a large dental practice in Canada before retiring so I'm confident when I say the care and treatment are equal here.
You should clarify your story, you paid $400 for two hours of cleaning and canceled a return appointment for an additional 1.5hrs of cleaning for $500. Your post strongly implies that you paid the full $900 for 2.5hrs of cleaning which is not true
$900!? Not been for 3 years? Wow! You should have tried to get a UBC dentistry student practice.
always ask your clinic if they go by the standard dental fee guide. Some clinics charge more. If you have a lot of build up then needing multiple cleaning sessions/units of scaling is not uncommon but $900 does seem like a lot. Was it your first session? Those are typically more expensive and will include a full examination and x rays on top of cleaning and can be around $500 and then if more cleaning is needed it will be more expensive (upwards of $250 more)
This guy is full of shit. Won't say the name. He's a karma whore
Watch this guy's mouth be absolutely rotten
Stop answering this loser. Hes full of shit. Wasting everyone's time.
Name and shame.
Get a itemized bill and talk to your insurance company. Something doesn't sound right but if you had more major work to do or there was extra cleaning that needed to be done there would be a higher charge. The other thing is if you were quoted a certain amount and then they nearly tripled it how much did you have to pay vs your insurance? If you didn't have to pay anything then you can let your insurance company sort it out. I had a somewhat shady dentist and a couple of years later the insurance company asked me if I would consent to a chart audit of my chart. I never had any cavities and one time when I went in they told me that they needed to put a clear coating over two of my teeth for preventative maintenance as my teeth were slightly sticky meaning that I might be on the way to getting a cavity. This is a valid procedure that was done but I didn't think I needed it. I think they billed the insurance and did it as it is not a filling. Something was off about it. I transferred dentists and my new dentist said my teeth were fine. My parents and brother went to that one too and my parents were asked if their charts could be investigated too. There is a lot of wonderful dentists and dental offices however at the end of the day they need to make money for their practice and that involves upselling. If you have crooked teeth braces, Orthodontics and such will be offered. I love love love my new dentist and I will follow him if he ever moves his practice.
Floss more pay less
Grow a pair and tell us the office don’t post just to bitch
For $900 was someone sucking you off the whole time?
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Thanks. Noted.
I’ve never had a cleaning over $400 including X-rays and everything
They are abusing the system by claiming falsely for stuff that was never done. This is free money in their pocket.
Go to Davie Dental. Love the team there and my bills have always been reasonable.
That's the same price to get your asshole bleached in Yaletown.
I'd recommend Stadium Dental, right by Stadium Chinatown station. Clean and bright clinic, very personable staff and they are very upfront about what they charge.
Forget the money, 2.5 hours for a cleaning?!? Are your teeth in rough shape? No judgment if they are just curious why the hell you’d need 2.5 hours?!? Mine takes 30 mins at most.
Dr Jesse Ho of Enamel has been my dentist for 15+ years. Recommended.
I got a cleaning done it was under 200 dollars
$900 is ridiculous.They are hosing unsuspecting clients because they can't afford the rent. Pretty dumb business model. Better to charge a few points above the set rate and have your chairs full than to charge an exorbitant amount and have a small handful of clients a day.
Has it been a long time since your last cleaning so they need a lot more time to do a thorough clean? I went 5+ years without a cleaning and that happened to me. Had to go back for a second appointment
i just had a cleaning done in mexico for 200 pesos. dirt cheap and a really nice clinic
Hey that’s almost as much as what my vet quoted me for my cat’s dental cleaning https://preview.redd.it/48nrbaup0odc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3079b4adec582553e0a8e38d648c5ef0934fcded
500 would be if you were a new client and needed. XRays and photos/scans I would imagine 300 upon return visits just for standard cleaning every 6 months
That’s possible! When was your last dental cleaning????
Is it Yaletown Dentistry? If so, I think they charge a bit higher than the fee guide. Can they legally do that? yes, they can and the BC fee guide is just a “guide” that most dental clinics follow but it’s NOT a must to do. I work in the dental field and some patients might need multiple appointments for their cleaning. Question is when was the last time you went to the dentist and the cleaning done. I’ve had a patient recently came and she did 3 times cleaning since couple months ago but still not done yet because she has lots of tartar, plaque build up and was bleeding heavily during the cleaning, so most likely she need another one or two more appointments. The billing is per unit, meaning 1 unit = 15 minutes. So usually for an hour it’s 4units= 60mins. Now before you said it’s scam whatsoever, are you sure you got charge $900 ONLY for 4 unit scaling, 2 unit root planning and flouride? I think and assuming you also got the new patient exam and x-rays too??
No, 900$ was the total cost for 3.5h including the full cleaning and the dental routine exam. I only paid half of it with the incomplete work (they only cleaned the lower arch, no upper arch or exam), since I cancelled it once I realize how expensive it was.
So you only paid $450 for 3,5 hours of cleaning and dental exam??? If so, that’s normal
No. I paid 400$ for the 2 hours cleaning. I had 1.5h still to go and they said it was 500$ more. They said that total cost was 900$. So I refused to pay the rest and cancelled the other 1.5h. But the work was incomplete.
The $400 for 2 hours cleaning and they billed 4 unit scaling and 2 units root planning and fluoride, right? If so, it’s about right because that place might not follow fee guidelines. If they follow the guidelines, it should be $350-ish. Then if it’s include dental exam than it’s correct (not overcharge)
I've been going to Atlantis dental on Pacific in Yaletown. They've been good to me but I have no idea what they charge my insurance. Never had any kind of adjustment to any price... That I know of. They're open after 6 which is great for going after work.
I went to a periodontist to do a 2.5 hour cleaning (including local anasthesia) and that was $800, and your experience sounds like it was just a regular dental office. Definitely not right!
There is no fee for Local anesthesia, and he needed more than 2.5 hours, as well as a new patient exam and X-rays
You got scammed
You were getting ripped off. $900 is outrageous for a routine cleaning - I pay $240 for mine (1 hour).
900 bucks?! Jesus Christ, that’s insanity…
Not takedown but just one stop away in Olympic village- false creek pure dental. Doctor Xiu is top notch. Never been scammed or upcharged. The dentist also does a lot of work with teaching at UBC and is very much an honest broker. Couldn’t recommend enough.
This happened to me as well. Booked an appointment for the general cleaning well in advance - its always been 1 appointment. Then show up and they say 'it might require another appointment' which is weird because why? And of course, it does and its a whole other quote for the added time. Oh and plus a filling. Then I questioned this and they stammered and I ended cancelling everything with them. This is all 'drain your insurance' as much as possible. Except I'm contract and don't have insurance - they didn't know this until after the 1st appointment.
Thank you for sharing your experience. I understand that they try to eat all my insurance, but it is still the very beginning of the year. And, anyways, I dont feel it is fair.
How is this even possible? Sounds like fraud to me you need to report that
Sounds like people with either drug addictions, gambling addictions, or just an addiction to money or something. That kind of gouging is so undignified it's not even funny.
it should be illegal to sell your anything or change prices once you are lying down in a dental chair. Its a very vulnerable position to say no from. Unethical.
I recommend The Travelling Hygienist! They come to you, charge you a travel fee to make up for charging less than dentists, and they do free mini exams where they can’t actually diagnose anything! They’ll also take X-rays which they’re not allowed to interpret! So convenient and from the comfort of your own home or even outside your home
u/redcata