Dentist Co-pay. Am I Being Cheap?

Think about it. If they just "count teeth" and show him the "squirt gun" now...it will be easier in 6 mos...then even easier in a year....
It is an exam, albeit not a very thorough O..

I'd pay it.

BTW, I cannot believe that a dentist's office would "hold down" a 1 or 2 or 3 year old like that! That's horrible. No wonder he hates it.

Molly - I love that you have a dentist that is open and honest with you...

I can't believe you had a dentist that recommended cleaning at the age of 1! Holy Smokes BATMAN!!!

However, the co-pay? Pay it. You have an appointment set up...if he does it - great...if not - you have learned but still used their time.

I would not wait to start until he is 4. My daughter was also very hesitant. We started off small. I would sit in a chair her sitting on my lap facing me. Then the dentist would sit directly in front of me with her head laying on his lap. They started just brushing, counting and sending her home with her goodies. keep at it and hopefully he will be OK with it all in a year or so. Yes, you still need to pay. It is still an appt.

I think you have to pay it because they're holding an appointment for him so it means they can't book another paying patient whether or not he has the treatment... And if they're not recommending he start until age 4 anyway, it's really your call whether they even try.

Yes, you are being cheap. Your kid resisting treatment is not a reason not to pay. Just like a daycare center, you are paying to hold a spot, or a timeframe. Employees still need to be paid & the bills still need to be paid. It's simply business.

i agree with Pam. if they are seeing him and not seeing another patient, they are losing money if you don't pay them. i would not want to pay if nothing was done, but they will be bringing him back there and attempting to get it done, so i guess to a point something is being done, ya know? your call though as Pam R said.

He's being seen and taking a "time slot", so you will probably have to pay for it. He's getting treatment... even if it's just seeing the doctor and getting used to the whole concept!

Our dentist also recommended a "first cleaning" after the age of 3. Kind of silly and scary before then, according to him- unless we saw a problem when brushing his teeth or he complained of pain!

That sucks. Our kids dont have a copay. Everything is covered under thier insurance. I wouldn't want to pay a copay for work not done. I'd deffinately ask if you will still be charged for the cleaning if he's not getting one. I just took my girls 2 weeks ago. My 7 yr did awesome like yours. 2 yr old was not having it. OUr dentist just wanted to look at her teeth. She sat in my lap then went upside down with her head in our dentist lap. She looked at her teeth and that was it.

I think that you are "purchasing" their time.

However, go ahead and ask. Or ask if you can get a reduced co pay if he won't stay still. After all, they will still be billing the insurance full price. So they might tell you to forget it.

We've had to pay when our daughter wouldn't let them go near her. I understand ... we've held a spot on the schedule and their time is money. It's not their fault if my child freaks out.

Here's my big tip for helping your son overcome his fear. Take him when your oldest goes and have him watch the entire thing. Then, talk a lot about it afterward. Did older brother/sister seem to think it hurt? Was there crying or was it not a big deal? Which tool did you think looked the coolest? That seat sure was cool, how it went up in down ... etc.

Once our daughter watched our son get his exam, she wanted hers done right then! We got her scheduled again soon and it finally, at long last, went just fine. This was after years of dental disaster appts.

I agree with others. They are holding an appointment slot, utilizing staff and the room. They are also using supplies, even if the child doesn not agree to the full cleaning. The little bib they usually put on them, gloves for the staff. If they get so far as to run equipment and put the funky toothpast on the zippy brush. If they still offer the toothbrush/floss goody bag at the end, etc. Its still costing them money in all of these ways.

I do agree about the billing to insurance, however. If they, or you, want to try to actualy get the teeth clean, really clean, in a few months, I would ask them about the insurance billing (codes and what not) as most insurance makes you wait until after the EXACT date for your once or twice a year (whatever insurance covers).

Its not as though they wont do anything if they dont do a cleaning. They will still give him an exam, talk to him about oral hygeine, maybe xrays, free toothbrush and instruction on how to use it. It is still the time and effort of a dentist and hygenist, as well as the medical records lady. And it goes a long way to developing a trusting relationship with the new dentist and his staff and helps to make your son more comfortable with them. I would happily pay the $20.

Co pay for clenaings really check with your insurance if that is the case then you have to pay the copay regardless if he has an actuall cleaning thye have a time slot & all the instruments for him ready to go,did you with the other dentist?That's right they will see how he does & proceed from there but at home be on top of the brushing/flossing.Is this a family dentist or a pediatric dentist?

All four of my kids started getting cleanings soon after they turned 2 years old and I think you should pay the copay whether they are able to do the cleaning or not and $20 is a lot less than most of us have to pay.

Good luck!

It's not just about what they are doing for YOU, but what doing something for you takes from THEM. They could easily accept a cash paying patient for a teeth cleaning and make more, because insurance does not pay as much as out of pocket. You are taking their time, and time is money ;)

Pam R gave you the perfect answer!
They are holding an appointment for you so that time could be used by someone else. The thing is... you are talking co-pay but with most insurances, they only allow a certain amount of cleanings per a certain period of time so you need to make sure that they are not billing your insurance for the cleaning which will not allow your son another cleaning for up to six months to a year.
Pam also called it correctly when she said it is your call.

the co-pay has to deal with your insurance. If he does not receive treatment will your ins be billed? If not there will not be a record of your copay (I have 1 co-pay per year for my ins. so if I pay it once I want it to be counted. It is $25). When I had to go to a Dr. Apt years ago the doc was unable to perform the procedure (pap smear and I had just gotten my period that morning. It happens when you have to book 3 mos out you know?). I was refunded the co-pay and rescheduled 1 1/2 weeks later and paid then. Ask them for their policy... they should be fair and so should you. do what is resonable.

I'd ask about it. It doesn't hurt to ask, and dentist know how kids are. I'm basing this on the fact that my childs first dental cleaning took all of 10minutes. It was just to get her used to it, so I'm fine with the charge, but it's not like you're blocking off an hour of time. They're planning accordingly, they've probably even double booked. Most doctors/dentist do. I would not feel bad about asking to pay the co-pay after because you don't know if your child will actually get a cleaning done.

they are still blocking that time for him, so yes, you should have to pay your co-pay whether your child cooperates or not. if you really don't want to pay the $20, wait until your child is older to book him an appointment.

Do you go to a pediatric dentist? I would try one if you don't already have one. I took my 3 year olds to Every Kids Dental and they were wonderful. My insurance didn't cover it so it was $90 which is kinda expensive but so worth it. I would look into it at least for your little guy.

The appointment time is blocked off for you. You are obligated for pay for the Dr's time.

Your son is still being seen whether or not he cooperates. If you don't want to pay or him refusing then call and cancel the appointment. After all the dentist is going to attempt the cleaning so you are still using their time, time that could be used for someone else.

I would highly recommend you try a pediatric dentist. They are trained to be great with kids and can accomplish a good gentle cleaning at the visit. Pediatric dentist offices usually have toys, electronic games, etc. to distract the kids.

You should pay - he is still taking an appointment time even if they don't manage to do anything so they are losing money because someone else who can pay would be in that time slot...

if you know hes not going to go through with it dont pay it and don't have them take him in for a cleaning. but for 20 a peace i don't see a problem thats cheap compaired to where we go and if my 4 year old don't want to i don't force her why waste the money

Certainly the dentist needs to be paid if your kids are seen by him. I can't imagine why any dentist would say you need to send a one year old for cleanings.