- Report: #66383
Complaint Review: Swanson Dentistry Richard B Dentist - Los Angeles California
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Swanson Dentistry Richard B Dentist
427 N Larchmont Blvd Los Angeles, 90004 California, U.S.A.
Phone:
323-467-1355
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Swanson Dentistry, Richard B Dentist ripoff teeth whitening with super inflated price Los Angeles California
I had services done about 2 years ago for teeth whitening including trays of upper and lower with NiteWhite Gel. I was charged $400.00 for this service. I have been very loyal to this dentist for over 10 years and have referred many and felt that he would give me the lowest price. I was also very happy with the result. I referred my partner the last year to this same dentist and told my partner that the whitening would be around $300.00 Now I assumed (and I know you shouldn't) that since this procedure has been around awhile, that the price should be lower. My partner did not ask the price and had the trays done and was shocked at the bill in the mail of $500.00
I decided to see if I was wrong thinking the price should have gone down instead of up so I called a few dentist around that area. Prices for the same procedure was between $200 and $350 for the same service. Then I punched in NiteWhite on the computer search and found that you can get the same exact Gel and mold kit (just send the mold in and they send the tray back) for $110.00 Then a dentist client of mine said that the cost of this procedure for a dentist is about $45.00
Now I think a dentist is entitled to 100% maybe 150% profit, for having them do the procedure (takes 10 min) but this is over 1,000 percent mark-up. This is pure rip off.
I called the office and the billing manager felt bad and said she would see what she could do. He refused to make any adjustment. He loses 2 clients and I will tell everyone about this rip-off.
R tad
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.
I decided to see if I was wrong thinking the price should have gone down instead of up so I called a few dentist around that area. Prices for the same procedure was between $200 and $350 for the same service. Then I punched in NiteWhite on the computer search and found that you can get the same exact Gel and mold kit (just send the mold in and they send the tray back) for $110.00 Then a dentist client of mine said that the cost of this procedure for a dentist is about $45.00
Now I think a dentist is entitled to 100% maybe 150% profit, for having them do the procedure (takes 10 min) but this is over 1,000 percent mark-up. This is pure rip off.
I called the office and the billing manager felt bad and said she would see what she could do. He refused to make any adjustment. He loses 2 clients and I will tell everyone about this rip-off.
R tad
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Amaretto
Northridge,California,
U.S.A.
Regarding Prices ..If you want cheap teeth whitening, go to east LA
#2Consumer Comment
Wed, September 03, 2003
I would like to point out that prices for dental procedures doesn't go down like computers or cars, this is a service that is dependent on a lot of things, like the lease of the dental office,w/c goes up yearly, wages for the employees, etc. etc. I agree that the price for the take home kit is a bit on the high side, but this is totally dependent on the area where the dentist is located. It cost a lot to run a dental office, it cost a fortune to go to school to become a dentist, and the cost doesn't go down, it goes up every year, I don't see logic in prices for dental services going down since everything else is going up. Up in Northridge, the 1 hour teeth whitening is around $500.00, up in beveryly hills, it's around $1000.00 Now the dentist in beverly hills isn't ripping you off, it merely cost more to run an office in that area. If you want cheap teeth whitening, go to east LA and go look for a dentist in that area, it would be cheaper.
Jerome
Los Angeles,California,
U.S.A.
The price of painless dental visits is reflected in this report.
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, September 03, 2003
It should be recalled that a trip to the dentist used to occasion at least one painful episode. Remember, a Dentist is just a type of doctor; no one forces him or her to take that specialty rather than become a regular MD. It is not because the dental candidate is not as smart as the MD counterpart. Quite the contrary, as it is far more difficult to get into dental school than traditional med college. So the point of the matter is pain. Dentists like to hurt you. It is no secret that as the public has forced the DMD to cause less overt discomfort, the price of a dental visit has sky rocketed. The proof is right there in the tables on any medical insurance web site. It should be obvious to all but the dullest reader by now that, if the doc can't hurt you in the mouth, the pocket book is the next best target. This is really the way it is, for Dentistry is about pain and control, pure and simple. For instance, everyone remembers when women started to remember that dentists were feeling them up or worse while they were under anesthetic. If that is not a control thing, what is? So, the situation is simple. If you want dentistry at a reasonable price. Let the doc know that a little "stick" with the needle will be tolerated or show up for surgery in very loose clothing and don't be telling people not to take gas because your butt happens to be sore the next day. After all, it is really nothing but a case of taking your medicine.
