Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

prmaven — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:25:47 GMT

MIDLIFE DENTISTRY

I forgot to add in my last post that the dentist in St Louis that I recommended is Dr. Peter Pagano. He's the guy at www.artisticsmiledoc.com who looks at the entire body. He's got a book coming out on dentistry for baby boomers. Very interesting stuff.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

prmaven — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 21:22:50 GMT

BEWARE QUACKERY IN ANY PROFESSION

True, your teeth are interrelated to your overall health. But who is to know whether having a root canal tooth extracted is less or more harmful than extracting a tooth that is connected to an internal organ and helping to hold together the structure of the jaw?

I've always been a fan of holistic medicine and in fact, have worked closely with many of the more stellar names in the industry. Problem is, there's quackery in the holistic arts as well.

I used to have a holistic dentist who subscribed to the "all root canals are bad" theory. It's not proven. I have friends with gaping holes in their mouths from root canal teeth being extracted. They were told those root canal teeth were causing illnesses. In all 5 friends, those illnesses remained afterward. So, I don't buy this root canal thing lock, stock and barrel. I even had a close friend who was diagnosed with prostate cancer by his urologist. He was told by his holistic MD that if he had all of his root canaled teeth extracted, the cancer might go away. He decided to not move ahead with that recommendation. Meanwhile, his biopsy had been sent to another hospital and came back negative! My only point is, we like to latch onto sweeping conclusions in health.

There's a dentist in Missouri who is a whole-body dentist -- uses all natural materials and performs all treatments based on the greatest good for the body in general. He's coming out with a book on the dentistry for middle-aged people. He used to treat jaw disorders and lecture to physical therapists. For anyone considering a major overhaul of their mouth, this guy is more trained than any dentist I've sought out. Check out www.artisticsmiledoc.com.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

sailor2 — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:18:22 GMT

A lot of people seem to think that the plastic tooth filling materials are so much safer than amalgam but do they know that the white fillings contain the same carcinogen that's in plastic water bottles?

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

Lissa — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:23:00 GMT

HELP! i went to the dentist on 1-9-08 to have my bottom wisdom tooth pulled but they said if i had it pulled my top teeth would cave in because there would be nothing to hold them up that i had to have a root canal they pretty much said it was my only choice. i don't know about this stuff does anyone know if it is true? if it's not i will make them pull it out I go back 2-22-08.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

Quarks — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 05:59:36 GMT

If you live anywhere near Baja California, Mexico, consider going here: www.americanbiodental.com. This clinic offers amazing services, emphasizing a 'holistic' approach, but at a fraction of the cost because they're located in, you got it, Tijuana! I had a new dentist where I live in California ask me repeatedly if I was bulimic (I am absolutely, positvely NOT!) because my teeth were so worn away (this was the first I had heard of this, and I go to the dentist regularly); this dentist also told me I had 'weak' areas in my enamel that should be drilled--three total, along with an acutal cavity. He quoted me $160 for each tooth, and his secretary called me repeatedly to schedule that oh-so-essential next appointment for all the work I needed. At the same time, my boyfriend needed his wisdom teeth removed because they were impacted, so we hightailed it for TJ, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear the dentists at American BioDental say that I actually SHOULDN'T get those 'weak' spots drilled because doing so would put me in a position to get those fillings refilled every couple of years, and that I should just brush my teeth more gently and switch to an electric toothbrush, if possible. I genuinely feel that new dentist I saw in California was a leech.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

insider — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:22:51 GMT

Here are two sites, which offer info on how to increase profits for dentists (obviously, info is not on a site for everybody to see)

dentistprofits.com

dentalprofitsystems.com

Did anybody try to pose as a dentist and find out which tricks they are selling?

Would be interesting to know

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

A Storm — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 23:07:52 GMT

I recently moved to Houston, TX and have found nothing but QUACKS in the dentistry here. I travel 13 hours to my old/still dentist in So. Illinois, who I truely value and appreciate, Dr. Main. Not all dentists are bad. He has a waiting list and my mom wanted my spot but I'm not giving him up!! You have to keep searching and searching til you find a good one. And then, HOLD ON FOR DEAR LIFE!!

When I have tried a new dentist, *** I make it a point to just have a cleaning (NO PROCEEDURES) and ***I ask questions that I already know the answer to. Like, 'what about my front teeth', etc. You would be surprised at the dentists who would be happy to veneer perfectly good teeth. My favorite dentist in Illinois would NEVER let me make such a foolish mistake like FILING down good teeth to veneer them. You can get a lot of information from them if you let them talk. What is the saying? Give them enough rope.... The shame is that if you let them, they will hang YOU!!

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

Lotusflower — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:51:16 GMT

Not only are dentists performing procedures you do not need and charging for it, they are charging for "phantom procedures." I currently have a complaint filed with the Oxford, Michigan Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau of Eastern Michigan regarding a dentist who charges his patients for "problem focused" which supposedly is some type of consultation regarding what treatment you need - $60.00. I went with a old root-canal tooth that had broken off and just needed to be recemented. No one even asked me how old the root canal was, how it happened, etc. Area was cleaned and irrigated, cement was applied and given 5 minutes to dry. I was in and out in 12 minutes and was charged $80.00 for recementing and $60.00 additional for what??? I thought that was what you went to the dentist for - a solution to your problem - now they seem to think they can charge for just deciding what to do. In my case, there was no decision to be made or alternatives to consider. He refused to refund my money, so I have filed complaints against him.

I am retired and do not have dental insurance, so I am questioning this charge. This dentist, who thinks he is a pillar of the community of the Town of Oxford on Main Street is contributing to the high cost of dental insurance and he needs to be exposed for the crook that he is.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

curious7 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:05:44 GMT

For the Love of Money. Of course not all dentists like not all doctors, or stock brokers are bad, but we must be on our Ps, and Qs. Get a second opinion, always.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

Jerry OReilly — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:57:59 GMT

There seems to be two sides to the Flouride issue.

Flouride is a natural mineral and not at all harmful to the body. The only conclusion I can come to is that it becomes harmful in exess quantities as would salt. This article explains by this highly acclaimed Scientist and nutritionist...

articlesofhealth.blogspot.com/.../is-fluordiation-of-water-good-or-bad.html

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

cowgirl7 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:07:25 GMT

Another cause of dental problems is the use of inhaled steroids. My husbands teeth were rotting quickly while he was using inhaled steroids for his severe asthma. We discovered some herbal products which got him off the steroids and now his teeth are no longer falling apart!

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

Dekalb — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 00:58:26 GMT

The "root" of this problem is Insurance companies. They have destroyed the health care system. Politicians all get applause when they say "Health insurance for everyone". What we need is No Insurance, and fair pricing by the practitioners. -no offense intended, Dr. Mercola

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

ET — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 23:45:09 GMT

albe,

Maybe you should have had the work done by a holistic dentist that follows the protocol for removing amalgam fillings, and root canals. There is a definite link to your health, from these type of teeth. I can tell you this from my own experience.

Each of my health problems could be tracked using this dental meridian chart. Each tooth is connected to certain organs, and body parts.

www.drwolfe.com/.../teeth_chart.html

If you in fact got rid of all the amalgam in those teeth you will be healthier in the long run.

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

stop the greed — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 22:11:39 GMT

I would like to know what recourse I have now as I am getting ready to sue some dentists for doing just that. They did unnecessary root canals 5 to be exact. I have been in more pain since then. I went in to the second dentist for just that, pain and of course he felt I needed a root canal. I succumbed after pulling a sugically altered tooth of many years didn't stop the pain. He did the second root canal after I specifically said I do not want another root canal until we see how the other one heals and while he was finishing the first one he went and disregaurded my wishes and did it anyways. I am mad as hell and know I have been taken advantage of. Oh he explained he would reduce the charge and suck up the rest of my 1000.00 I put down for dental work with him. I know this don't have a certain amount of money given to them in advance as this will put you at risk. I also want to take the other dentist down for doing the same thing. I went to the first dentist for mercury fillings to be replaced and he sensitized my teeth and performed root canals before I had a second chance to think. He did three root canals and even left guaze in my back molar for a year before I realized it was there, but oh I could taste it every single day and it made my mouth's breath stink. Since I have had this dental stuff I have had more pain everywhere in my body and I have aged 20 years in my face. What the hell is going on here in this world and what hope do I have when our own government is set up to help the greedy rich. There is no one to hold these bastards accountable. Who do you go to for a second opinion even. I need some real answers. Anybody out there who is angry as I am? I have beautiful teeth and they want to do caps on those root canaled teeth. Ha. I will let my teeth fall out of my head for another *** gets in my mouth. I talked to a lawyer and he said I dont have a very good case. What the is a good case? Please help me. Tired&wornout

re: Is Your Dentist Drilling for Dollars?

insider — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 21:29:41 GMT

There is an entire array of tricks, which an unscrupulous dentist can use to speed up a cavity preparation, and to see more patients on an average day.

There are also ways to make it difficult for "your" dentist to do it. You have to know the condition of your teeth in detail, do regular self-exams, buy selectively, demand estimates, itemized bills, do not allow any work to be done unless you give permission.

Lots of useful info is available on badDentist.net

Arm yourself with the knowledge and do not fall prey to some unscrupulous character who only cares about his bottom line

I had at least two teeth on which root canals appear to have been done fraudulently. Obviously, I can only furnish circumstantial evidence in support of that allegation.

I also had two teeth, which appeared intact and which have been drilled out by two dentists. When later I demanded to know how was it possible they drilled them, the answer was - enamel in those spots was "compromised". They were scratching and poking my teeth with dental probes to see it it would feel "tacky"

If you have a cleaning done, insist on a specified duration. In Canada the minimum duration is 30 min. Insist on that and not a minute longer. 20 min with cavitron and 10 min with manual scaling.

But hygienists routinely burn your teeth for an hour, after that you cannot breathe through your mouth for several days. They would not even tell you for how long you will have to endure that cleaning. And if you try to tell them you don't want this or that, the reply will be - "it is a part of the procedure!"

This is easy money if a patient is afraid to squeak for his rights.

Do not allow that! If you do not want polishing with rat poison (sodium fluoride) - say it in the most unambiguous terms, so that they would know that they would face a battery suit if they try.

If they behave as if they can afford to lose a patient, then walk right out, your teeth would be safer with a practitioner who respects your concerns.