western dental ripoff, took 10 xrays of a child with perfect teeth then stuck me with the bill dishonest ripoffs consumer rip-off fraud redding California

WOW! well it doesnt suprise me at all, so my personal info is ficticious of course, so here is my advice: next time u go if u go, make sure u read the estimator for the services being rendered and before u agree to anything or any type of services make sure u understand them prior to the Dr. sitting you down and preparing for services even in this case of x-rays.

Remember x-rays are always required unless u have ur own copy from 3-6 months prior in this case i think its a insurance error where WDS (Western) did not validate or i should say did not verify insurance info to where as if it was HMO or PPO and type of coverage, also always double check with ur insu company for a listing of providers and call to verify that info, in any case this is what u can do u can write a letter to the president of Western informing him of ur experience at WDS and u can also call them and ask to speak with Patient Relations who usually finds a resolution to the matter.GOOD LUCK

Your local Dental Society should have whats called Peer Review. Call the Dental Society in your city and ask them how to go about taking your case to Peer Review. This is a little like small claims court, but the judges are other dentists.

This is very embarrassing to the DDS being reviewed. Chances are you will win and the fees for the X-rays will be dropped. Peer Review is free. I have been a dental professional for over 15 years and never once have I taken over four x-rays on a child with perfect teeth.

Usually at the age of sixteen an x-ray called a panorex is taken to see where (if any) the wisdom teeth are. Depending on your dentists fees, this x-ray doesn't usually cost more than 100.00 dollars, and this fee would be on the high side.

This dentist nor his staff should have taken any x-rays or done any other treatment without your permission (including flouride treatments) whether he felt they were necessary or not.

This update is being sent several months after your initial posting so I hope you see this, and by this time have resolved your problem.

Kim,

That's outrageous! There are doctors and dentists around the country who abuse and gouge patient's insurance companies by performing unnecessary tests or services. Could your dentist be one of them?

Kim, you contact your dentist and tell him that you didn't authorize the X-Rays and that you suspect him of performing unnecessary services. Tell him you intend to report him to the American Dental Association at http://www.ada.org/, the Attorney General's Office and to your insurance company.

I'll bet he forgives the debt.

Good Luck