Dental fraud scams

Tip 1 - Localized antibiotics depending on the charges could be a scam

What we weren't prepared for was the bill for optional localized antibiotic treatment exceeding $300.00. Everything seemed pretty kosher until this last element. First off, localized antibiotics are great in select instances and are used in help reform disease. It's not a cure. The cost is about $30 - $40 a site. Secondly, if you have such a generalized problem, requiring over ten sites of antibiotic delivery, a referral to the periodontist should probably be made. She had been taken advantage of.

I asked her if she remembered her probing or pocket depths (this is where the hygienist measures the gums and calls out numbers to help determine treatment) and she thought she had two 5mm sites and a few 4mm sites (1-3 mm is normal, higher numbers indicate gum problems) . I think most dental professionals would agree Natalie had been scammed.

Tip 2 - Getting dental x-rays done when you don't need them

Your dentist may recommend that you have dental x-rays done more frequently than you need them. Beyond the unnecessary exposure to radiation, dental x-rays can also be costly. As a guideline dental x-rays are required during your first dental visit with a new dentist as well as:

Children who are not at risk of cavities should get a dental x-ray once every one or two years, low-risk teens every one and a half years to three years and low-risk adults every two to three years.