# To my kids new (yet already former) dentist **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 3, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777 "2005-03-03T18:05:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/1 "2005-03-03T18:05:29Z")
Your staff was very professional and good with my two daughters this morning. Don’t get used to the compliments, because that was the last of them. It’s amazing that you can’t tell me exactly how much work my daughter’s teeth need, yet you can tell me that you’ll need $XXXX.XX dollars, up front, to do it. This, despite the excellent medical, vision, **and dental** insurance my company provides and that you were made aware of. Um, no. I prefer to be taken to dinner before I’m screwed that badly. And saying that it’s the law that you have to contact child protection if we don’t have the work done borders on extortion, especially since both the State board of Dentistry and Child Protection Services (both of whom I just got off the phone with) say **there is no such law**. So, you plaque-licking, gingivitis-sniffing, son-of-a failed hygienist turned street-walker, where does that leave us? Simple. As soon as I make sure all my t’s are crossed and my i’s are dotted, that leaves me with the task of sending letters to the State Board of Dentistry, my dental insurance company, my wife’s dental insurance company, and anybody else I can think of. It hopefully will leave you with the feeling that a probe (Ford, not dental) got rammed down your throat. For trying to fuck with me about my kids and child protection, you used piece of floss, I’ll be the one telling you whether to spit or swallow by the time we’re done. By the way, a coworker gave me the name of her pediatric dentist. Consider this morning the last you’ve seen of my girls. -DESK ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/2 "2005-03-03T18:09:20Z")
So did you actually let him see the kids? And are you going to pay? ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/3 "2005-03-03T18:18:11Z")
Bad professionals are the scum of society. I hope you nail this fucking asshole to the wall. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/4 "2005-03-03T18:28:56Z")
The D.E.S.K.Kids were just there for an exam today. The rest of it came after the exams, when they were telling us what had to be done. As for paying, I’ll pay another pediatric dentist office to do the work. Peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/5 "2005-03-03T18:32:49Z")
Jerks like this thrive on ignorance. Most people probably figure, “He’s a professional, so he must know what he’s talking about.” Like **neuroman** said, nail his ass to the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/6 "2005-03-03T18:36:58Z")
Where are you located, **DESK**? My old man knows some people… ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/7 "2005-03-03T18:42:15Z")
How the hell did child services get involved? 1. take kids to exam 2. after exam, the dentist says kids need work 3. demands all money up front 4. you tell him to shove it 5. he threatens you with child services? 😕 I would have been rolling in the floor in hysterics after he pulled that stunt on me. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/8 "2005-03-03T19:00:06Z")
My opinion of dentists keeps falling lower and lower. The threat to call child protection is _incredible._ I recently switched dentists – I thought my old one was a crook, and my suspicions were confirmed upon being examined by the new one – there are some honest ones. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/9 "2005-03-03T19:15:02Z")
> [@D.E.S.K.Top668](#): > > And saying that it’s the law that you have to contact child protection if we don’t have the work done borders on extortion, especially since both the State board of Dentistry and Child Protection Services (both of whom I just got off the phone with) say **there is no such law**. 😕 :eek: :mad: Go get 'em, **DESK**. What an ass. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/10 "2005-03-03T19:22:15Z")
By the time I’m done, he’ll be lucky to have a wall to be nailed to. I hate to think how many people have probably gone to paycheck advances and auto title loan places because of this asshole’s threats. And besides, commandment one in the Book of DESK is _thou shalt not fuck with me, nor my wife, by using veiled threats involving our kids in any way…motherfucker_ Oh, and thanks for the offer, **Bosda** , but I think I’ve got it covered. I’m thinking lawyer (and with his approval), ads looking for other clients, maybe class-action suit. Peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/11 "2005-03-03T19:31:03Z")
He sounds like a jerk for threatening to get CPS involved, but its always been my experience that the dentist requires payment at the time of service, regardless of the extent of insurance. The office staff usually work with you to submit the claim and the insurance company sends you a check to cover the expenses. Not certain why it works that way in the dental world as opposed to the insurance companies paying the dentist directly. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/12 "2005-03-03T19:31:59Z")
“And saying that it’s the law that you have to contact child protection if we don’t have the work done . . .” Unbelivable. Here our local evening news carries segments about dentists and doctors who failed to make the grade, why, and what their sentence/fine is. I hope your locale has the same and that he’s soon on it so others don’t have to be subjected to this kind of crap. What a lowlife. ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/13 "2005-03-03T19:32:15Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > (bolding mine) > How the hell did child services get involved? > > 1. take kids to exam > 2. after exam, the dentist says kids need work > 3. demands all money up front > **4. you tell him to shove it** > 4. he threatens you with child services? > > 😕 > > I would have been rolling in the floor in hysterics after he pulled that stunt on me. Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Just replace the bolded with “look on face normally reserved for Bigfoot sightings” and add “if we don’t get the work done” to #5. I was so pissed, I just walked out before I decided to do something that would require him to seek dental services so I didn’t have the time or inclination to ROFL. And for the record, I prefer to tell people to go forth and multiply on a singular basis rather then shove it. It adds that little extra touch of class, dontcha know. 😉 Peace - DESK ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/14 "2005-03-03T20:00:39Z")
> [@World Eater](#): > > How the hell did child services get involved? > > 1. take kids to exam > 2. after exam, the dentist says kids need work > 3. demands all money up front > 4. you tell him to shove it > 5. he threatens you with child services? > > 😕 > > I would have been rolling in the floor in hysterics after he pulled that stunt on me. You forgot # 6: Profit. Seriously, what the fuck? What kind of crazy guy does htis? I hope he gets put out of business, how many naive people may he have ripped off. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/15 "2005-03-03T20:04:42Z")
> [@pipper](#): > > . . .but its always been my experience that the dentist requires payment at the time of service, regardless of the extent of insurance. The office staff usually work with you to submit the claim and the insurance company sends you a check to cover the expenses. Not certain why it works that way in the dental world as opposed to the insurance companies paying the dentist directly. Never head of this before, and I’ve been going to dentists on my own for 40 years. Where are you located that this is common? I go, get my work done, pay any co-payment, and leave. They collect the rest from the insurance company. ---
**Author:** ![pipper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c2a13f/32.png) [@pipper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pipper)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/16 "2005-03-03T20:12:59Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Where are you located that this is common? In Chicago. Been like that for all of the 3 dentists that I’ve used over the years. The only exception was for the oral surgeon (so I’m not certain if he counts as a ‘Dentis’) that removed my wisdom teeth. That procedure was ‘pre-approved’ by the insurance company and the claim was submitted by and paid to the surgeon directly without my involvement. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/17 "2005-03-03T20:14:49Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Never head of this before, and I’ve been going to dentists on my own for 40 years. Where are you located that this is common? > > I go, get my work done, pay any co-payment, and leave. They collect the rest from the insurance company. I don’t even do _that_ much. I go, get my work done, make my next appointment on the way out, and leave. They submit the bill to my insurance company, wait for reimbursement, then send me a bill for the uncovered portion. And good on you, **D.E.S.K.** , for following through with filing complaints against this asshole. If more people did what you’re doing, we’d have far fewer ripoff artists frightening and taking advantage of patients. Good luck and let us know how it all turns out! ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/18 "2005-03-03T20:15:10Z")
Well, I’ve been in St. Louis for 38.5 years. Maybe we’re more trusting? Not that it’s deserved of course! Just cause this is the pit; Fuck the insurance companys! ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/19 "2005-03-03T20:15:34Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Never head of this before, and I’ve been going to dentists on my own for 40 years. Where are you located that this is common? > > I go, get my work done, pay any co-payment, and leave. They collect the rest from the insurance company. Not only, that, but i got the impression from the OP that this particular dentist wanted payment up-front, before the work is even done and before the exact amount of the charge is actually determined. If i’ve read it wrong, maybe **D.E.S.K.** can correct me. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2005, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777/20 "2005-03-03T20:16:45Z")
Right you are, Gary M. I’ve never (with insuranance) had to pay up front. And certainly not BEFORE the work is even scheduled. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-my-kids-new-yet-already-former-dentist/292777.md?page=2)