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Additional Costs for Dental Work

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  • 10-24-2008, 05:41 PM
    ansquest
    Additional Costs for Dental Work
    My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Maryland

    I recently had a root canal. The dentist office told me the cost would be $1,000. I paid the bill at that time. The dentist drilled the root and put in a temporary filling and told me to come back in two weeks for him to check it out and put in a permanent filling. Three days later the tooth was killing me and I went back to the dentist.

    He removed the temporary filling and said the tooth was still infected and filled with pus. He cleaned the hole and packed it with cotton to allow any additional pus to drain, and told me to come back at the time I had earlier scheduled for the permanent filling.

    When I went back for the permanent filling he decided to enlarge the canal. Then, he put in the permanent filling.

    Three days later I received a bill for an additional $190. I asked what the additional charge was for and was told it was for a filling the root canal opening and enlarging it. I questioned why I was being charged for a filling when I was told the root canal would be $1,000. I asked didn't my original payment didn't cover the cost of the root canal. I was told, normally yes, but the dentist decided additional work was needed and they were billing me for it. They said nothing about this additiona cost while I was at the office and when I left.

    My position is that I was told a root canal would cost $1,000 and I paid for it. I assumed I was getting a complete job.

    Can you tell me if I am obligated to pay this additional charge?

    Thanks.
  • 10-24-2008, 10:29 PM
    Betty3
    Re: Additional Costs for Dental Work
    Sometimes additional work is necessary. You had the work done, the dentist deserves payment.

    You can only ask if they will cancel your bill for this payment since they didn't tell you of any add'l. cost before the work was done. However; since the add'l. work was necessary, wouldn't you have had it done even if they had told you of the add'l. cost & not cancel your root cancel when it wasn't finished?
  • 10-25-2008, 08:20 AM
    ansquest
    Re: Additional Costs for Dental Work
    You are correct in stating I would have had to proceed with finishing the root canal at that point. However, I think the additional work would have not been necessary if the dentist had done the work properly in the first place. And, no one in the office told me initially that the cost for the root canal was a contingent price and it might cost more. Further, no one told me at the time they were doing additional work it was going to cost more. I stopped at the desk on my way out, as I normally do, and no one told me I owed more money.

    Further, I assumed, and was not told otherwise when they gave me the original price, it was for a complete root canal job, which included the permanent filling. Now, they are charging me on thier itemized bill $160 to do the filling and $30 in other costs. I think the filling should have been included in the original $1,000 they charged me.

    I am going to speak with the dentist on Monday. If I don't get some satisfaction he can kiss my family's business goodbye. Of course, he could care less.
  • 10-25-2008, 04:00 PM
    Betty3
    Re: Additional Costs for Dental Work
    Agree. Talk to your dentist's office & see what they might do for you since you weren't told of any additional cost/possible additional cost.
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