"The most common type of dental fraud is performing treatment that is unnecessary or overdone," says California dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of Ask the Dentist. Dentists can overdo it on X-rays, drill for fictitious cavities or extract perfectly good teeth.
Is your dentist scamming you Out of money?
True tales of fraud in dental practices just like yours By Lisa Horton and Tehra Peace Dentists Management Corporation 10 Ways to Scam a Dentist And How You Can Avoid Them by Lisa Horton is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License. Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at:
What are the top 5 most common dental scams?
1. Causing damage to teeth and gums in one procedure that later requires further work later. This may be done... 2. Replacing silver fillings. This is a controversial subject. Silver-looking "amalgam" fillings contain tiny amounts of... 3. Upselling. In this case, the dentist outlines the procedure ...
What is the most common type of dental fraud?
Dec 08, 2017 · Separating dental services into component parts and charging for each part – in a way that’s greater than the cost of a single, bundled service – is fraud. For example, in a tooth extraction, a dentist may have to extract the tooth, elevate the flap, curettage the periapical tissue, make an incision, drain the site, and suture the socket.
What to do if you suspect dental fraud?
Jan 21, 2020 · 1. Useless treatments. Romaset / Shutterstock. "The most common type of dental fraud is performing treatment that is unnecessary or overdone," says California dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of Ask the Dentist. Dentists can overdo it on X-rays, drill for fictitious cavities or extract perfectly good teeth.
How Common Is Fraudulent Dentistry?
The vast majority of dentists are honest; for one thing, building a successful practice takes years of hard work, and it’s exceedingly foolish to r...
Why Is Dentistry Vulnerable to Fraud?
There are certain aspects of dentistry that leave the profession more vulnerable to fraud than, say, the medical profession:
What Are The Warning Signs of A Fraudulent Dentist?
If your dentist tells you that you need to have a procedure done immediately, ask why. A dentist who is vague about this could be pressuring you in...
How Can I Protect Myself Against Dentistry Fraud?
Insurance plans put perverse incentives in place for in-network dentists. When dentists become part of these networks, they agree to extremely low...
Why is it important to have a dentist?
The right dentist understands the mouth-body connection and enables you to have a healthier, longer life by maximizing your oral health. Do not underestimate the value of a dentist who is your partner in health—it will extend your and your family’s lifespan, quality of life, and well-being.
What is a good dentist?
A good dentist is your partner in health who works with you to optimize your well-being and prevent disease. The right dental health partner for you is the dentist who is wholly concerned with your overall health and not the health of her pocketbook. The wrong dentist can wreak havoc on your mouth and do permanent damage with too much work you ...
How does dental care work?
The reality of how dental care works is that it’s up to the patient and the insurance company to make sure the right treatment plan is prescribed and implemented. With lower “dental IQ” than dental staff and providers, both you and your insurance company aren’t in a great place to make sure everything is above board.
Is dental insurance a scam?
For some, this could result in the “development” of many dental problems that don’t actually exist. In general, some types of dental insurance are a bit of a scam to many of the people who have it. It’s great for prevention, but don’t expect it to cover much of your major work.
What do dentists do before they come to the office?
Before a patient first comes to a dental office, a member of the office staff will contact their dental insurance company to find out what’s covered under the dental plan. So before you walk in the room, a dentist has a list of everything he can bill for during your dental visit.
How long should a new patient appointment take?
New patient appointments should take at least an hour and fifteen minutes to an hour and a half . Offices trying to cram in more patients than they can take might only keep you in the office 45 minutes.
Is tooth pain a motivator?
Tooth pain is a great motivator. When you’re in pain, you’re often willing to fork over any sum to find relief. But take steps to make sure you’re paying market rate.
1. Useless treatments
"The most common type of dental fraud is performing treatment that is unnecessary or overdone," says California dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of Ask the Dentist.
2. Shoddy work
Bad dentistry can result in loose fillings or poorly fitting crowns — and that's just the start, especially when surgery is involved.
3. Phantom treatments
Unscrupulous dentists make easy money by inventing office visits and treatments that patients never had.
What is dental fraud?
Dental fraud is any act of intentional deception or misrepresentation of dental treatments in order to gain unauthorized benefits. Dental fraud has three key features: intent, deception, and unlawful gain.
What does it mean when a dentist merely saw the patient for five minutes?
Billing for services not rendered: a patient may be billed for a check-up from the dentist, fluoride, and sealants when a dentist merely saw the patient for five minutes, which means that the patient was billed for services not received.
1. Useless treatments
"The most common type of dental fraud is performing treatment that is unnecessary or overdone," says California dentist Dr. Mark Burhenne, founder of Ask the Dentist.
2. Shoddy work
Bad dentistry can result in loose fillings or poorly fitting crowns — and that's just the start, especially when surgery is involved.
3. Phantom treatments
Unscrupulous dentists make easy money by inventing office visits and treatments that patients never had.
4. The silver filling ploy
There is no evidence that amalgam fillings, which are silver in appearance, are hazardous to your health. They do contain mercury, but levels are extremely low.
5. Unlicensed dentists and employees
Precise licensing requirements vary from state to state, but all dentists and hygienists must be thoroughly trained and licensed to practice in the U.S.
6. Inflated bills
Charging for a more expensive procedure than the one actually performed is known as upcoding.
7. Unbundled claims
Most dentists operate sort of like cable TV companies. Products and services are bundled into one package and sold at a reasonable price.
What is a night guard?
Mouth Guards. It's common for dentists to prescribe night guards to patients who suffer from Temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMJ) or grind their teeth excessively during sleep. These guards can be costly, but they help prevent further pain and wear to those suffering from the condition.
How many wisdom teeth were removed in 2011?
Wisdom Teeth Surgery. Ten million wisdom teeth were surgically removed in 2011, and some medical professionals believe the procedure isn't always wise or necessary. While ingrown or impacted wisdom teeth can lead to pain and infections, it's become commonplace to get wisdom teeth removed as a precautionary measure.
Do dentists recommend night guards?
Some dentists recommend night guards over zealously, though. All teeth are gradually worn down over the course of a human life, but that doesn't mean everyone needs a guard. "I had one from my dentist, which cost me $500," a commenter on a D.C. Urban Moms forum said. "It worked fine.
What is cone beam xray?
The cone-beam x-ray is a new x-ray which takes a 3-D picture of your mouth. Although it is FDA approved, it delivers up to 18 times the amount of radiation that traditional dental x-rays deliver.
Can you remove silver fillings?
Some dentists insist on replacing all your old fillings especially if silver fillings were used. According to the FDA , these fill ing are not dangerous and should not be removed unless they have begun to corrode or shrink away from the surface of the tooth which would allow bacteria to settle in.
What is dental fraud?
The most common pattern of dental fraud is a new dentist telling a patient, with little to no history of dental problems, that they need an extensive amount of work.
Can you see cavities in a mirror?
If you have no pain or think your dentist might be scamming you, ask to see the cavities in a mirror or on an x-ray. Also, don’t let your dentist pressure you into getting a procedure done right away as you can always get a second opinion. Microcavity benefits.
What is a phantom treatment?
Phantom treatments are treatments which were never performed in the first place but you are billed for them anyway. Always ask for a breakdown of the bill and check what services you are being billed for. – SP.
Can a broken tooth be fixed?
Less invasive treatments are usually best. A broken, cracked or decayed tooth can usually be fixed without using expensive caps or crowns. If at least 50% of the tooth is still there, a bonded restoration which molds a composite to the affected tooth can be used. Say “no” to sales gimmicks.