Orthodontics/teeth Grinding Question

Updated on May 17, 2012
S.H. asks from Ankeny, IA
5 answers

Last september i took my son to a local orthodontist because he has frequent canker sores that do not respond to any over the counter medicine. This ortho said they had a special laser treatment...but to use it we have to become established patients of the practice.

So we went to the appt...stated why we were there....and they did photos, etc. they told me that a lower overlay retainer could help because my son is a teeth grinder and maybe that could cause some canker sores.

My son is 12 years old and only lost about 8 teeth. He still had many many baby teeth to lose at that time. They knew this.

We agreed...said my insurance should cover $70 of the $175 fee....ok...I thought..must be worst case. First problem was that they didt even have my right insurance..,,I had to call an december to tell them this. I paid the $105 and that was that.

All was well...he wore the retainer.....still got many canker sores....for about 4 months.

In november the boys had a regular dentist appt which i told him about the retainer. The dentist told me it was a waste of money because he was grinding baby teeth that have yet to fall out.

In January...my son started to lose his baby teeth...about one ever few weeks. He said he could not wear his retainer anymore....and makes sense since teeth were gone and bigger teeth were coming up.

Of course it pissed me off that this was a complete waste of money....but when I got a bill the last week for another $25 because they finally billed my correct insurance and my insurance finally paid....I was livid!!!

I called and called ( they have awful changing hours) finally reached someone this morning and of course the computers were down. They will call me back tomorrow regarding this.

SO......do I have a right to feel like I was scammed? What should I ask them? I most certainly did not want to pay the $25 (which is a lot right now since we are moving and I dont have a job). I really want. My money back. I don't feel that they should have given me this option without telling me that it will only work until his baby teeth fall out ( which maybe I should have realized). Ahh!

What can I do next?

  • Add yourAnswer own comment
  • Ask your own question Add Question
  • Join the Mamapedia community Mamapedia
  • as inappropriate
  • this with your friends

More Answers

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

S.D.

answers from Phoenix on

I would probably try and fight it. Especially since they didn't give you all the information needed to make an education decision. It's $25 which hopefully to them isn't worth the bad publicity they'd get otherwise. If they don't budge at least it's only $25. If you do end up paying it, tell them that you'll have to set up payments.

On a side note, do you have your son take Lysine every day? It's a vitamin. I've suffered from canker sores in my mouth since I was about his age. Stress brings them on really badly for me. I find that if I take a 1000 mg of lysine every day that it keeps them in check. It's really inexpensive at places like Walmart. You may want to give that a try and see if it helps him. To give his body a jump start, you can even have him chew them up and swallow the first few times so it will absorb faster. It's not the best tasting but tolerable. Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

J.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Every doctor has an opinion and neither are necessarily wrong. You made an agreement and whether you are questioning that now and feeling regretful is neither here nor there.

Insurance is not as straightforward as you would think. It's a nightmare to bill and the insurance always makes it the doctor's fault.

On a good note, L-Lysine can work well for canker sores, especially if your son eats a lot of nuts or peanut butter. Nuts are high in an amino acid called L-Arginine. Arginine and Lysine need to be in balance and when people eat foods too rich in Arginine, then the Lysine levels drop and canker sores can develop. Another thing that works well, if the Lysine doesn't work is Cataplex F Perles....which works nearly every time.

Our son grinded his teeth terribly. We found getting him adjusted by our chiropractor helped a lot and so did calcium to relax his nervous system. We also found that growth spurts (the need for more calcium) made him grind more. We have a good calmag (that doesn't contain calcium carbonate) or used Bluebonnett blueberry flavored CalMag at night.

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

C.C.

answers from Houston on

Well...you got the goods...now you gotta pay! Just be thankful it wasn't thousands!

Smallavatar-fefd015f3e6a23a79637b7ec8e9ddaa6

B.R.

answers from Madison on

Well the work is done...be thankful this was a small cost lesson learned! My mom is paying for a BIG cost lesson learned right now!

A.L.

answers from Dothan on

If the insurance has paid & you have paid there shouldn't BE a bill! Call your insurance company & explain the situation to them, see if with the $105 you have paid, there actually should be a $25 balance. If you agreed to this procedure & ordered the retainer & used the retainer unfortunately even tho' your regular dentist doesn't agree, if there is a $25 balance you ARE responsible to pay...bummer, I know... :(

For Updates and Special Promotions
Follow Us

Related Questions