Sumter Landing Dental Care (BEWARE)
 

I went to Sumter Landing Dental Care today 6/1/2020 for a follow-up appointment. I was charged a $10 COVID fee. This is ridiculous, they see probably 50 clients a day times 20 business days a month at $10 each client. This amounts to $10,000 additional dollars a month they charge clients to cover the cost of their operation during this COVID crisis. I was told they had to buy different masks than what they normally use, which is BS. They were using the same masks they always use. THIS IS CRIMINAL! What are they using the 10K a month for (because of the virus)? They already use medical-grade masks and already have hand sanitizer. They are taking advantage of the clients to line the greedy owner's pockets. I would love to see them return the unnecessary fee they charged us during this uncertain time. They are a disgrace to take advantage of their clients this way!

that's my dentist, & they charged me a fee, too, but it's no big deal for me. i understand they probably need to change more often. their work is superior, & are available just about anytime, so i don't mind paying the fee. i went 2x in 1 week & was only charged once, btw

Do you have any other complaints about this dentist? Or just the COVID mask fee?

My dentist didn't charge a COVID-19 fee when I saw the hygienist recently.

Yes. I went in for 2 dental implants which required 4 crowns in addition to the 2 implants, (I had 2 bridges removed). Six months later (as of today) I have excruciating sensitivity. I was told by the dentist that there is nothing that can be done. I wish he would have told me this ahead of time. I would have left the 2 bridges in place as I had no sensitivity problems before he did his work. Poor workmanship. I would not recommend them. Cleaning would be about all I would trust them to do. However, I will find another dentist for future cleanings, etc.

It's the principle of the fact that this is price gouging during this COVID crisis. You don't mind paying the extra $10 and that's okay. I owned a business, this would be "the cost of doing business." I could see a buck or two per person, that's reasonable, but $10, that's gouging. We will have to agree to disagree on this point. We went out to eat at Thai Ruby's and did not get charged $10 extra to eat there. They wore masks and some had full clear masks. They were happy to have the business and absorbed the extra costs as a cost of doing business.

Our dentist and staff has always used medical grade masks, gloves, and gowns. Have an appointment in two weeks asked if they were doing anything different? She said no their professional medical standard of protection has been the same since the practice opened.

However they text you when to arrive.

COVID-19 Fee
 

I was also charged a fee from my dentist so I looked this up and the fee requests are from the ADA to the insurance companies.

The ADA has recommended reporting D1999—unspecified preventive procedure by report—as an interim solution to reporting the required additional PPE. As with all CDT codes that include “by report” in the nomenclature, a narrative is required.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with this. The majority of businesses are charging an additional fee. Its not just for masks and sanitizer. Its for additional sterilization, cleaning supplies or even cleaning service. If you dont like it, find another dentist, pay no fee (which I doubt) and chance the place not being cleaned properly. With everything thats occurring the last few months, you should find something more substantial to complain about.

This will be a common practice for many businesses.

I would want to know if they are sterilizing between patients. I would think they would not have done it to the standard it should be done these days pre-pandemic.

Agreed!!!

Got rid o them years ago because of excessive charges

Marion Dental is great.

No fee
 

Village Dental did not charge a so-called COVID19 fee. Charging a pandemic fee is outrageous.

I use this dental practice, and I think that they are top-knotch.

That doesn’t surprise me. I wouldn’t take my dog there. Very poor dentistry.

They wore masks before COVID and they're wearing masks now. That's the price of doing business. My brother and his wife use them, and even if they have an appointment they have to wait (sometimes over an hour) to get in, and then they're there for hours. And there's always something new and expensive that has to be done...something VERY expensive. Just another reason to hate dentists.

Contact the Attorney General's Office. File a complaint online

You have the right
 

You have the right to walk away. No one can force you to pay that fee. This is America. Feel free to use another dentist that is not charging you an extra fee.

Guess who the landlord is at Village Dental...THE MORSE FAMILY. Wake up people, it is all about the $$$$$$$.

Their are charging $10 more, does it matter what the label is??


:shrug:

As a periodontist I cannot believe this post. The cost of masks and special suctions and PPE is through the roof. The dentists and staff are putting their lives on the line and they are protecting you. And you are upset abou the 10 dollar fee.

My husband & I had appointments at our dentist, 3 times in two weeks & each time we paid $10.00. This is in Wisconsin.

I won't go there now, thanks for the heads up.

Hazard Pay
 

I hope the employees are getting a portion of the fee for hazard pay.

That's funny. Won't go there based on a $10 increase..........you don't know their base rates, quality of care, of their professionalism. What did you do after increases in the cost of toilet paper.............gross!!!

What do you know about the coasts of running a dental/medical office? They just should’ve raised their fees by a couple bucks and your shorts wouldn’t have been so twisted.

I saw on the news that a woman in Orlando took her daughter for braces and paid for them and also for the follow up visits to have them adjusted each month. At the first monthly visit she was told there would be an extra $20 fee for each visit because of COVID-19. I can't remember how many months this will be going on. So, having to pay an extra $10 doesn't seem too bad. When this virus crisis is over, I wonder how these dentists are going to justify continuing this extra charge because you know once the price goes up, it usually never comes down!!

I asked my wife, who practiced for 35 years, about this. She just sort of shrugged and said they may have some additional costs such as disposable gowns as opposed to ones they launder. I would be surprised if the dental practice we go to charges any additional fees. We will see at our next appointments. She did indicate that there was a change in procedures and costs when AIDS first surfaced in the early 80s.

Sorry I don’t think it’s right either to charge $10 extra. Dentist fees are high as it is. And if you don’t carry insurance and paying cash, it adds up.

Please name the other business charging because I have not seen any.....and yes $10 si stupid and I would report the state board

I would report to the state board.......this is wrong 100%

What are the fees at SLDC???

I’ve used the same one dentist dental practice for thirty years, over three changes of dentist. Until a couple years ago, the dentist and hygienist didn’t wear mask, gloves, etc. This year, they are wearing higher quality masks, face shields, disposable gowns, and gloves. Masks and gloves aren’t very expensive, but disposable gowns cost quite a bit. I suspect that your dentist is also paying an unusual amount to a cleaning service, every day, for a much higher level of sterilization than usual. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to find that this cleaning is costing $500 a day (cleaners may be charging more than usual, too). I wouldn’t like that fee, either. I’m with you there. But if dentists have extra costs, they can’t just raise their fees, because whatever they charge, your dental insurance will pay the same flat fee per service. I get more annoyed when a thirty second peek inside my mouth with a mirror is billed as a dental exam that pays more than the charge for cleaning my teeth.

Google is your friend. Do research. :ohdear:

There are plenty of good dentist. Best to show by walking away and go elsewhere. Don't know if their all doing the same thing, but we have had great success and service from Marion Dental on 441.

You are very unaware and very wrong. Dentists nationally are being forced to do the same thing. You have no idea the cost, the time, and the extra work that Has to be done. We have just re-opened in Michigan June 1 after 11 weeks of being shut down. You are Another cheapskate who has no clue mouthing off SMDH

I imagine the big cost difference for them is in having to change gowns and masks and sterilize EVERYTHING after every patient. EVERY PATIENT!! You call it gouging, well that's how they feel about the new cost of PPE these days.

They have to dispose of their gowns between patients and are only able to see many fewer patients per day to prepare the rooms. Those masks are covering the N95 masks which are expensive.

Have some compassion my friend .... everyone is suffering and thankfully your $10 will help these people see patients and keep their jobs.