Watch out for Tidewater Dental

[Clem72]

Unfortunately in court, the odds of that holding up are slim. Patients lawyer will argue that he did not fully understand the importance of having the xrays done and they will side with the patient. The amount of radiation you get is far less than being outside for the day yet people will not think twice about the exposure they get at the beach or out on the boat.

While I don't believe the x-ray to be particularly harmful, in the interest of discussion I will point out that there is a hell of a difference between the energy imparted by the non-ionizing radiation you receive from visible/infrared light and what you receive from x-rays.

Your comparison is akin to saying someone who plays airsoft and gets hit several times shouldn't mind being hit with the occasional bullet from a real gun.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-ionizing_radiation

 

[keekee]

The point is not how you feel about the safety of X-rays, but rather whether you have any say in when, if, or how often you have a procedure or test done.
I have been going to Dr. Dabbs office since I was a teenager.
He has NEVER pushed ANY procedure or tried to 'sell' anything.
He tells me my options, gives me honest advice, and then usually tells me a corny joke.
I feel like family when I go there. I adore him.

 

[frequentflier]

My recent experience with a private practice turned "Tidewater" has me looking for a new dentist. First and foremost, I did not like the (new) dentist and his (new) assistant. I thought they were going to get into an argument since they disagreed on how to do what needed to be done! Secondly, the upsell was ridiculous. Third, the issue I was there for was cosmetic and though the temporary fix needs a permanent fix (which will involve a few hours in the chair), the first available appointment is in December! No telling how long the temporary fix will last; the tooth is brittle. Then they called the following day and said they had an opening THAT day and did I want to come in? Although it has not been a Tidewater dental for long (maybe a year or two), I have had probably 5 different dentists in the spam of 11 years.
I am looking for a private practice and someone I like and trust.

 

[jtomcsik]

Inkah,
Thank you for your comments. I am sorry you feel the way you do. I would be more than happy to meet with you and go over the treatment plan(s) in question. I can assure you that our doctors follow the American Dental Associations standard of care guidelines in all treatment plans. They are not up-selling. Dentistry is expensive. Tidewater falls on the lower end of costs for the tri-county area. By accepting most insurances we take an additional 40% loss (approximately) from our standard fees, contractually. Unfortunately it is very hard to get a patient to see how a proactive approach to decay and other dental concerns is much, much cheaper than a reactive approach in the long run. No one complains when we stop their pain... but if you try to get ahead of the pain (prevent it) some people think we're up-selling or overcharging. If you'd like I will schedule a meeting for you and Dr. Cooper to discuss. He's still in charge! We both take great pride in our community and doing the right think by you whether you realize it or not.
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[jtomcsik]

I appreciate a response from your office in this thread. Perhaps I should have added the word "billing" on the end of the title, but it does speak to how I felt at the time (and still do), that people need to be mindful of the billing at Tidewater and maybe as your post explains, learn more about the details of their own insurance(s). As you mentioned, I never have had an issue with the care received or the actual cost of services.

Just a couple of days ago we received another bill from your office for my wife's visit. She, as I do, asked multiple times if every co-pay and upfront charge was paid for, and yet another bill comes stating money is owed (PAST DUE!).

It's not the cost, it's the method of billing I take issue with.

So in general, if you could address just a couple of concerns I think it would go a long way towards making myself (and possibly many others) more comfortable.

1) Please don't send the very first notice of monies owed as "PAST DUE" or on pink paper stock. This feels accusatory as if I did something wrong, despite the fact that I always double or triple check that I have paid everything at the time of the visit.

2) Please add specifics to your statements (what was performed, was is paid and what is still pending). A single line saying "balance forward" doesn't help me understand why or how I owe you money. I shouldn't have to call my insurance company to find out what was submitted to them and not covered.

Thank you for your comments Clem. I hope this helps and it is not too late. We are working on our billing practices and revamping the system as we speak. My goal is to make the billing process as accurate and timely as possible.
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[jtomcsik]

That one bothered me also. The idea that a doctor would refuse medical care based on a prior refusal of diagnostic testing is troubling. The liability issue could be handled with a standard I Decline signature. "Doctor's orders" just added "or else".

After 30 years with Dr. David, the next time I say No could be the last.

This is not true. In a court of law, if a doctor does not follow the protocol set up by the governing body of the practice of dentistry, and a patient dies or is disfigured due to complications with oral cancer, the court would absolutely find the doctor negligent for not performing the minimum standard of care (as set by the ADA) that could have prevented a death or disfigurement due to surgery to remove the cancer. Your doctor may be a nice guy. That does not mean he is doing the right thing by his profession or for your health. In a less detrimental example, without proper x-rays, decay and infections cannot be seen. If you can't see it, you cant treat it. What could have been a simple root canal treatment could quickly escalate to severe pain and the need to remove a tooth and require a dental implant. How is that fair to the patient?

 

[preselector]

This is not true. In a court of law, if a doctor does not follow the protocol set up by the governing body of the practice of dentistry, and a patient dies or is disfigured due to complications with oral cancer, the court would absolutely find the doctor negligent for not performing the minimum standard of care (as set by the ADA) that could have prevented a death or disfigurement due to surgery to remove the cancer. Your doctor may be a nice guy. That does not mean he is doing the right thing by his profession or for your health. In a less detrimental example, without proper x-rays, decay and infections cannot be seen. If you can't see it, you cant treat it. What could have been a simple root canal treatment could quickly escalate to severe pain and the need to remove a tooth and require a dental implant. How is that fair to the patient?

I stand corrected on the legal issue. The ADA and the courts may have created a conflict with the code of ethics.

Section 1 PRINCIPLE: PATIENT AUTONOMY
(“self-governance”). The dentist has a
duty to respect the patient’s rights to self-determination and confidentiality.

The ADA may also be creating it's own legal liability with minimum standards if a patient declines a procedure due to affordability and is denied other dental care. More lobbying to change the law might be a good idea.

For me, fair is gaining information, making decisions, and not complaining about the consequences. I'm kinda into that self-determination thing.

 

[3CATSAILOR]

Good point.

 

[3CATSAILOR]

"Incidentally, if you refused x-rays, our protocol would be to dismiss you as a patient if it causes you to fall outside our "minimum" standard of care."

Wow... At my Dentist's office, I decide how often I get X-rays, and he has always respected my wishes and has allowed me to share in the decisions about my dental health and what procedures I have done.
I listen to, and greatly respect his suggestions and opinions. But the decisions are mine.

Sorry, but the above statement alone would make me run away very very quickly.

Based on the Thread I have seen so far, I am glad I never tried them. It looks like I made the right decision.

 

[snake]

They also schedule appointments with months-long waits for you at the wrong office, then tell you to go to the other location, then once there wait until you are done filling out paperwork to tell you they just stopped taking your insurance the same week.

 

[awpitt]

They also schedule appointments with months-long waits for you at the wrong office, then tell you to go to the other location, then once there wait until you are done filling out paperwork to tell you they just stopped taking your insurance the same week.

I've never had that happen.

 

[Jennalynn]

I am also looking for a new dentist. I'm a Tidewater patient. I had my x-rays and debridement in November, 2015. I have a terrible fear of dentists, and needles. When the woman came in to numb my mouth, she did okay on the left side, but not on the right. When the dentist went to use the needle, I told him I wasn’t numb on the right side. He told me, “Sure you are…” and stuck the needle in. I screamed out, and burst into tears. The dentist said, “Oh… it couldn’t have been that bad…” I now have no confidence that they will numb me correctly next time.

I made a follow-up appt for a general cleaning, with a nitrous certified tech. The first appointment was rescheduled due to surgery I was having. I had to move another appointment because when I confirmed the appointment, the tech was not nitrous certified. Finally, a had another appointment scheduled with a certified nitrous tech, at the end of November 2016. I called and confirmed the appointment. All was well. Then, the DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, their office called me and told me they had not “checked my records”, and that I was going to need to see the doctor and have more x-rays before they would clean my teeth! I was furious! I asked them, “So, if I don’t agree to all of this, they won’t clean my teeth?” She answered, “That’s right…” I cancelled my appointment with them.

 

[getbent]

My recent experience with a private practice turned "Tidewater" has me looking for a new dentist. First and foremost, I did not like the (new) dentist and his (new) assistant. I thought they were going to get into an argument since they disagreed on how to do what needed to be done! Secondly, the upsell was ridiculous. Third, the issue I was there for was cosmetic and though the temporary fix needs a permanent fix (which will involve a few hours in the chair), the first available appointment is in December! No telling how long the temporary fix will last; the tooth is brittle. Then they called the following day and said they had an opening THAT day and did I want to come in? Although it has not been a Tidewater dental for long (maybe a year or two), I have had probably 5 different dentists in the spam of 11 years.
I am looking for a private practice and someone I like and trust.

Sounds like they had a cancellation and were trying to get you in sooner.

 

[Clem72]

I am also looking for a new dentist. I'm a Tidewater patient. I had my x-rays and debridement in November, 2015. I have a terrible fear of dentists, and needles. When the woman came in to numb my mouth, she did okay on the left side, but not on the right. When the dentist went to use the needle, I told him I wasn’t numb on the right side. He told me, “Sure you are…” and stuck the needle in. I screamed out, and burst into tears. The dentist said, “Oh… it couldn’t have been that bad…” I now have no confidence that they will numb me correctly next time.

Reminds me of when I had my wisdom teeth pulled, a long time ago in a far-away land. The dentist numbed up my right side (he was going to pull one side, let it heal, then do the other side), left the room for a bit, came back and proceeded to half pull out a tooth on my left side before I managed to shove him off of me.

His office closed shortly afterwards and I heard a rumor he lost his license. Apparently liked to get high on his own supply.

 

[frequentflier]

I am also looking for a new dentist. I'm a Tidewater patient. I had my x-rays and debridement in November, 2015. I have a terrible fear of dentists, and needles. When the woman came in to numb my mouth, she did okay on the left side, but not on the right. When the dentist went to use the needle, I told him I wasn’t numb on the right side. He told me, “Sure you are…” and stuck the needle in. I screamed out, and burst into tears. The dentist said, “Oh… it couldn’t have been that bad…” I now have no confidence that they will numb me correctly next time.

I made a follow-up appt for a general cleaning, with a nitrous certified tech. The first appointment was rescheduled due to surgery I was having. I had to move another appointment because when I confirmed the appointment, the tech was not nitrous certified. Finally, a had another appointment scheduled with a certified nitrous tech, at the end of November 2016. I called and confirmed the appointment. All was well. Then, the DAY OF THE APPOINTMENT, their office called me and told me they had not “checked my records”, and that I was going to need to see the doctor and have more x-rays before they would clean my teeth! I was furious! I asked them, “So, if I don’t agree to all of this, they won’t clean my teeth?” She answered, “That’s right…” I cancelled my appointment with them.

I went to Dr Sachs in Solomons (in the same building as CD Café) and have been super happy with him and his staff.