Recommendtion for a dentist who doesn't insist on x-ray? (Alexandria: school, moving)

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by homebeyer2013

frequent x-rays are a rip-off. My dentist does the cleaning herself, it's 16 usd. She is so thorough that she will spot a cavity visually and with the ice pick thing. If you have pain, they will do an x-ray of that tooth for 6 usd. If you need an implant, they will send you to either the University Dental School or a private lab for a 360 degree mouth x-ray with the German equipment. That cost 9.25 usd. Sorry that won't help you much, but will give you an idea of the magnitude of the dental ripoff in NoVa. It must be working; because they call the country, the "Land of Smiles."

Do you go back to Thailand for all cleanings and dental work? I would imagine the airfare makes up for the $16 cleaning.

[homebeyer2013]

Originally Posted by spencgr

Do you go back to Thailand for all cleanings and dental work? I would imagine the airfare makes up for the $16 cleaning.

I stay here approx. half the year, so I get one when I arrive and one before I leave. Had deep cleaning/root planing in 2010, that was 60 usd, done by the periodontist. Airfare can be had for about 1000 usd, but I generally use miles, which were 65000 for rt, but are now 80000.

In the States; I would go to www.nogalesdentallaser.com They have the CEREC crown technology, and the local school district allows its employees to go with zero deductible. I've seen better results and lower costs in Thailand, though. www.gracedental.com, which is one of the more expensive places here...prices are on their website, as are the credentials of the DDSs .

[ShiShisHouse]

Whoa everybody, I'm confused here. NO ONE CAN DO ANYTHING w/o your CONSENT! The dental x-ray thing is the biggest scam going!! Those doctors have to pay for that expensive equipment that is why they are insisting on it. Just say NO. Make it clear when you make the appointment (that's what I do), and remember your insurance company will surely refuse to pay if it is not necessary. Just say "my insurance company will not pay for any more this year." Please please please remember not to allow a doctor or worse an office staff intimidate you into a service. They are not allowed to do that. On the record, they will just make a note "pt refused" If you cave-in make sure you take a copy of that image on that CD the fancy new software generates (don't leave the office w/o one, you paid for it!)

[kutra11]

You are blowing this way out of proportion. The amount of radiation you are exposed to for a bitewing x-ray once a year is not dangerous. If you want to be paranoid, focus your energies on your cell phone radiation.

[homebeyer2013]

Originally Posted by ShiShisHouse

Please please please remember not to allow a doctor or worse an office staff intimidate you into a service.

Bingo! This is how they operate, and unfortunately, the eye doctors have resorted to this, as many refuse to pay triple for the eyeglasses they sell and take their prescriptions online. I had a 30 Dollar eye exam included with Blue Cross. I called one of their providers, and flat out told them, I was only bringing 30 bucks. I wasn't there for five minutes before they told me they needed to do an extra test. I read them the riot act, then they assured me my insurance would pay. BC said it was unnecessary, I threw the bill in the garbage and never heard from them about it.

Regarding Thailand, if all you needed was the deep cleaning; you would break even on airfare, and actually have it performed by a DDS.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by kutra11

You are blowing this way out of proportion. The amount of radiation you are exposed to for a bitewing x-ray once a year is not dangerous. If you want to be paranoid, focus your energies on your cell phone radiation.

Which has proven to be wrong.

[kutra11]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Which has proven to be wrong.

Please don't bring factual evidence into someone's paranoia!

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by hrascona

I know Dr. Paesani at Nova Dental Studio in Falls Church does do x-rays, but they're about the nicest people ever. I'm sure if you asked to not have them taken, they would respect your wishes.

To give you an update - I scheduled teeth cleaning with Dr. Paesani at Nova Dental Studio in Falls Church. But they insisted on x-ray done as a new patient. I told them I had healthy teeth and would only need cleaning. But they insisted that x-ray was mandatory for a new patient. So I cancelled my appointment.

[Ralyks]

They are only supposed to take x-rays once a year. I've always looked for a "low tech" dentist because you know they are not trying to pay off a lot of expensive equipment. I liked Dr. Klioze in Fairfax. But, yes, if you are a new patient and don't have x-rays to transfer from an old dentist, every dentist will insist on basic x-rays. How else can they have a baseline for the condition of your teeth?

[LoveAlbuquerque]

Originally Posted by Ralyks

They are only supposed to take x-rays once a year. I've always looked for a "low tech" dentist because you know they are not trying to pay off a lot of expensive equipment. I liked Dr. Klioze in Fairfax. But, yes, if you are a new patient and don't have x-rays to transfer from an old dentist, every dentist will insist on basic x-rays. How else can they have a baseline for the condition of your teeth?

I have x-ray from my previous dentist taken 2 years ago. But they would not accept it, because they required x-ray taken within a year.

It seems that I must get x-ray taken with any new dentist, since my last one was done 2 years ago. Correct?

Is there anyway I can get this requirement waived? I've found that I've got too many x-rays taken and try to avoid radiation from now on.