Parker Family Dentistry

Complaint[redacted] is charging excessive fees when no work was performed.I have a chipped tooth and that tooth has bonding on it. I called to inquire about the cost to fix it and was told that I had to come in for them to be able to tell me the costs. I came in and the dentist looked at 4 of my teeth for approximately 3 minutes (visual only, no x-rays or tests done) then worked up an estimate of what it would cost to be fixed. His assistant came back with an outrageous estimate and I was not able to pay this. Instead, I was charged a fee of $49 for what they call an "exam". I was never told prior to my appointment that there was a fee to be told how much it would be to repair my chipped tooth and it is not customary for dentist to charge for a consult. I was told that I had to come in to get the repair costs. I drove 45 minutes to get to this dentist when I had plently of dentist in my area to choose from. I believe this is unethical and excessive to charge such a fee and I would like a refund because I do not agree with this charge and I feel I was forced to pay it.Desired SettlementI would like a refund of my $49 fee, no exam was performed as you indicated and I was not informed when I scheduled my appointment that there was any type of fee for you to look at my teeth to assess what it would cost to fix them. If I had know this prior to my visit I would have chosen a different dentist and not wasted my time or gas driving 45 minutes to your office. I feel like your staff forced me to pay this fee because I told them I did not agree with it and I was not made aware of it prior to my visit. Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted]Contact Phone: [redacted]Contact Email: [redacted]The patient called our office about a broken cosmetic bonding that was placed on 7/28/1995. She has not been to our office since 3/12/2008. She was told that I would have to examine the tooth to give a price to fix or replace the cosmetic bonding. The exam code was for a Limited/Problem Focused exam, not a comprehensive exam. Looking at one tooth is exactly what this code and fee are for. However, while looking at this tooth, she also inquired about the other three bondings and the changes she has had to her gumline over the 18 years since they were placed and what would it take to change those as well. No decay was noted so no xrays were needed. She implies there was no work done and excessive fees. We had to provide all paperwork for a new patient and review the health history since it had been 5 years since her last visit. She was placed in a dental chair that was prepared to OSHA standards. An exam tray was set up in the room, she was draped and examined with instruments that was sterilized to OSHA standards. The one tooth that was chipped was examined and the three other bonded teeth were also examined. She was given a written financial estimate for the treatment she requested prepared by my front desk staff and discussed with her by my assistant. So, I must completely disagree that no work was done and that the fee was excessive. There is no other way to tell a patient what needs to be done on a tooth without having seen the patient. As far as any tests being done, there are no "tests" for a chipped bonding. It is either chipped or it's not. No decay was noted so nothing else can be done except to give a fee to correct it. Because this is a cosmetic procedure, no insurance benefits apply, but my fees are certainly within reason. She states that she was not told that there would be a charge for the exam. That is incorrect. She was told over the phone and upon arrival at the office. As far as this being excessive and unethical, I contend that her complaint of being charged is the true outrage. Her fee for the limited exam will not be refunded. Her argument is without merit and I have 3 office personnel who are more than willing to confirm this. She only drove 45 minutes to our office, while bypassing all those other dentists, because she knows our fees in Tipton county are less than in Germantown.