how far out is your dentist booked?

[Deleted]

I purchased optional dental insurance through school. I only have access to a single provider (primary care dentist) and it took a month to get on the "roster" before I could book an appointment.

while booking, they told me that they don't do cleanings during the first exam so I'll have to come in another time for that. also, they're totally booked for cleanings through february of 2013.



I'm eligible for 2 free cleanings a year and I can't even get one in 2012? I know it's the end of October, but you don't have a SINGLE opening for over four months?

Is this normal? I'm all ragey and I want to know if I'm allowed to feel ragey.

[Deleted]

Ask about a cancellation list. DH's dentist is booking into January. Mine isn't that bad (about 2-3 weeks out usually), but it's a group of 3 and I'm not picky about which I see.

[my4girls]

that's pretty normal for mine. I always make my next 6 month appointment when I am there and I think most people do that so they fill up quickly.

[Deleted]

Weird. I can get right in, but I've seen the same dentist for over 10 years. I'd ask about a cancellation list as well.

Maybe look on Groupon for a local teeth cleaning deal. I know I see a few every couple months for just a quick cleaning and teeth whitening.

[kittycatlove]

Oct 30, 2012 16:02:25 GMT -5 my4girls said:

that's pretty normal for mine. I always make my next 6 month appointment when I am there and I think most people do that so they fill up quickly.

this exactly.

[noodleoo]

Wow, that is a little nuts. I'm not sure with my dentist because I book my next cleaning at the appointment, so it is 6 months out. But I don't remember being shocked at the wait for my first appt, probably within 6 weeks. If everyone on this insurance plan can only go to this dentist, I guess I'm not surprised. They have a monopoly.

[Deleted]

about 6 months if you want one of the after 5 p.m. or Saturday slots (which most of his clients do). Probably next week if you want to come in during the day.

[Roc A Bee]

My dentist isn't too hard to get into, but the dental hygienist is impossible! I book the next appointment when I'm leaving my current appointment, so 6 months out. I just got a call that she is now going to be out of town. They didn't even try to reschedule me yet, because she is going to have to choose to work a FRIDAY or a MONDAY to get all these people in. That means she only works three days a week.

[Deleted]

interesting.

to be clear, they'll schedule me for an exam for this week(!) -I am going in Fri morning - but they won't actually clean my teeth until the end of Feb/beginning of March. I have no idea how quickly they'll get on the actual dental work that I need done, but their wait for a cleaning doesn't give me much hope.

It's been five years since I've seen a dentist, so I really want to get the ball rolling on things. I know I have cavities and my wisdom teeth have broken through the skin and are giving me pain and need out, like yesterday.

my SO's dentist is fabulous and always gets him in right away so I guess I expected the same . he even sent them an e-mail and they responded minutes later letting him know that they'd squeeze me in and charge us the discounted insurance rate ($180 instead of $350) for a full cleaning/exam/xrays. I want his dentist!

[Deleted]

Wait....aren't your teeth cleaned BEFORE the exam? At my dentist office it's always a quick cleaning, the exam and either set up a follow up for fillings or next cleaning.

Is that not normal?

[ijack]

If I want a prime time appt usually 4-6 months.

[agnes]

I can get right in.

However, my favorite PCP/GYN was always book months out. It really depends on the office and how many patients they have whether it be dental or medical.

[Deleted]

ok, I actually feel less angry knowing this is par for the course.

I felt like I was being cheated out of my benefits before.

thanks everyone!

[Susie]

Oct 30, 2012 16:02:25 GMT -5 my4girls said:

I always make my next 6 month appointment when I am there and I think most people do that so they fill up quickly.

I do that too, but I think I only waited a month or so to get in when I was a new patient at my dentist. I don't know if I just got lucky or if they only schedule to a certain % of capacity that far out.

[steph96]

I am ashamed to say it has also been 4 or 5 years since I have been to the dentist. Oops.

They were booked until after spring break. I told the receptionist my name and now I have an appointment right before the end of the year. Having a good relationship with your dentist can really help when it comes to booking appointments.

[Deleted]

It's much easier to get in with my dentist than a hygienist. This jives with your experience.

[Deleted]

4 months

[rubytue]

I've been to 2 dentists that do that thing with the exam one day and the actual cleaning at another appointment. Both were newer offices. I think its becoming more common.

Not to scare you, but I must admit, I trusted neither of them. Both seemed to be the type that just wanted to jack my bill up. The second one did the exam and said they couldn't even do a cleaning, but I needed a scaling and root planing. I freaked out. Ended up making an appointment with my old dentist (I had just been transferred back to an office near his, he was 2 hours away). He said everything was perfect and I did NOT need anything. I've had perfect gums and no cavities since then either. Those 2 attempts to find a new dentist make me really distrust dentists.

[Deleted]

rubytue, how frustrating.

I have 100% coverage for cavities so I'm happy to get them filled if I need them, but I would seriously cutabitch if they make me go through unnecessary procedures for $.

I just don't know how to find someone I trust - my options are pretty limited on this plan. and my dental work would be so pricey OOP (if I went with SO's dentist) because I have neglected everything for so long.

[Deleted]

Last appointment I made was maybe 3 months out, I think I made it for October in July. I was a new patient though; not sure if they have fewer new patient appointments. I scheduled my next cleaning for April during my visit.

[CloudBee]

I book my cleaning 6 months in advance, at each previous cleaning.

I think the first time I ever booked a cleaning with my current dentist, it took a good month or two to get in. They do Saturday appointments and I took like an 8am slot though.

[magdala9]

When my last exam found a cavity, I had to get a quick appointment. That quick appointment is December 5. That was a cancellation otherwise I would be looking at late January.

[BravoBravo]

The consult is to see if you need to have more than a regular cleaning done.