To help you decide on a treatment, your dentist should fully describe the corrections needed. This is an area where Checkbook receives frequent complaints from surveyed patients. For instance, if suddenly many silver fillings need to be replaced, several teeth need to be crowned or your gums need extensive surgery. Be suspicious if a new dentist recommends far more treatment than your previous one did. Keep in mind that because various treatments require more or less of the dentist's time - and therefore higher or lower charges - the advice may be colored by self-interest. If a dentist recommends a treatment, always ask for a full description of all the alternatives. Equally important, the dentist should periodically have you demonstrate your brushing and flossing techniques so that he or she can suggest improvements. Your dentist or hygienist should thoroughly explain proper brushing and flossing techniques, and offer tips on selecting a toothbrush, floss, toothpaste and other supplies. More important than anything the dentist can do for your mouth is what you can do for yourself. Checkbook found many dentists who receive high ratings for patient care also charge below-average fees. You don't have to forsake quality to use a dentist who charges low fees. Some will offer discounts to special groups, such as senior citizens, students, fire or police professionals, and more. Others advertise low-priced packages for new patients. Some practices will offer specials on certain procedures. For example, fees for a routine examination and cleaning for an established patient ranged from $54 to $284, and charges for a new porcelain crown for an adult molar, including post and core, ranged from $1,150 to $2,338.Īsk about specials and discounts. Checkbook's undercover shoppers found big fee differences among local dental practices. If you don't carry dental insurance, you need to check prices. 5, Checkbook is offering free access to its unbiased ratings of area dentists for quality and price to Star Tribune readers via /StarTribune/Dentists. In contrast, others got such favorable ratings from 65% or fewer of their surveyed patients. Our independent nonprofit surveyed thousands of Twin Cities-area consumers about their experiences with local dentists.Īmong hundreds that received at least 10 ratings, many were rated "superior" for "overall care and service quality" by more than 95% of their surveyed patients. If you need a good dentist, Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook can help you find one. If you don't have a dentist, finding one should be at the top of your health care agenda.
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