# Dentists and information **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 31, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064 "2022-03-31T20:19:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/1 "2022-03-31T20:19:54Z")
I called a new dentist to set up an appointment. After asking me my name, address, provider info, they asked me my SSN. Tell me I shouldn’t be worried, that that’s normal. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/2 "2022-03-31T20:29:13Z")
It’s either an insurance thing or a medical records database thing. Given that if I had your name and address I could get your SSN for $25, I wouldn’t worry about it. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/3 "2022-03-31T20:34:55Z")
Just an fyi … > **[If the Doctor Asks for Your Social Security Number, Do This - Consumer Reports](https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/personal-information/if-doctor-asks-for-social-security-number-a1084748956/)** > > Consumer Reports shows you how to protect your privacy and still get treatment if your doctor asks for your Social Security Number. > “So, when my healthcare provider asks for my Social Security number, I leave the line blank and recommend other patients do so as well," says Dena B. Mendelsohn, senior policy counsel for Consumer Reports. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/4 "2022-03-31T20:44:41Z")
At the very least, you could ask, “Why do you need my social security number?” ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/5 "2022-03-31T21:44:50Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > It’s either an insurance thing or a medical records database thing. Given that if I had your name and address I could get your SSN for $25, I wouldn’t worry about it. There is no reason for a medical provider to need your SSN. The numbers on your insurance card suffice for “insurance things.” I’ve been to a few who have asked for my SSN, but I leave it blank, and it’s never questioned. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/6 "2022-03-31T22:19:14Z")
It was over the phone. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/7 "2022-03-31T23:10:06Z")
Lots of medical offices use the last 4 digits of one’s SS number for confirmation purposes, but most I’ve been involved with (as MD and patient) don’t ask for the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/8 "2022-03-31T23:24:22Z")
In California, it’s illegal for a health care provider to ask for your SSN. About 10 years ago a law was passed prohibiting it, so I never provide it to any health care provider, even when asked or if it’s on a form. I would not give it to them, you should not have to. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/9 "2022-04-01T18:53:16Z")
It’s time for this antiquated collecting of superfluous data to go away. If you don’t need it, don’t ask for or collect it. I won’t go on a rant about the ridiculous amount of health data collection before routine health visits. Sorry, I just need my teeth cleaned, you don’t need to know about my hernia surgery or that my mom had breast cancer. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/10 "2022-04-01T19:35:04Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > I won’t go on a rant about the ridiculous amount of health data collection before routine health visits. Sorry, I just need my teeth cleaned, you don’t need to know about my hernia surgery or that my mom had breast cancer. How about when you carefully fill out those fifteen pages of paper forms (or finished twenty minutes fighting with the laggy tablet from the front desk that has a miserable user interface), then when you are finally seen by the medical professional, they ask you all of the same stuff? I heartily agree with you. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/11 "2022-04-01T19:42:18Z")
As a slight tangent from the OP, regarding your SSN - it can show up in unexpected places. For example, our financial advisor would occasionally email us scanned forms for us to complete, and sometimes it has our SSN right on there. I have asked them to remove or blank-out our SSN before emailing but it still happens. I just blank it out with a Sharpie before scanning and emailing back our signed forms. They have our SSN elsewhere, so it does not need to show up in unsecured email correspondence. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/12 "2022-04-01T19:45:40Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > then when you are finally seen by the medical professional, they ask you all of the same stuff? This is exactly what happens, and is the way _it should work_. “Oh, you have this going on…any of these related things in your own or family history?” I hate health onboarding to a new service provider, or even worse, the ones that require a review at each appt. We even have providers, from the same company, that all require their own onboarding. I’m looking at you Providence! And why can I not remember the term for filling out forms before a service (health, social service, etc)? Not data ingress, not onboarding…what is it!? ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/13 "2022-04-01T19:54:25Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > This is exactly what happens, and is the way _it should work_ . “Oh, you have this going on…any of these related things in your own or family history?” That wouldn’t bother me, as I agree that this what should happen. In my experience, they ask all of the questions, showing no evidence whatsoever of having glanced at the paper that you struggled to fill out. It’s kind of like filling out a paper job application at an interview: pointless. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/14 "2022-04-01T19:58:54Z")
Agree for the most part, but I suspect the filling out of these forms is a way to mitigate lawsuit risks. If someone did not submit any forms and the Dr gave them an aspirin, and they are allergic to aspirin, the Dr could be sued. If they ask you every health question under the sun, if something goes sideways later, they can refer to the forms you completed and say “Well, he never indicated he was allergic to aspirin”. Maybe that’s why the Dr only casually reviews the info before the first meeting. ---
**Author:** ![wguy123](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wguy123/32/3161_2.png) [@wguy123](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wguy123)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2022, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dentists-and-information/962064/15 "2022-04-06T19:22:41Z")
> [@wguy123](#): > > And why can I not remember the term for filling out forms before a service (health, social service, etc)? Not data ingress, not onboarding…what is it!? Just coming back to say “INTAKE”. 🤦‍♂️