Dental fees

Press, 23 July 1980, Page 24

Dental fees

Sir, — Do dentists have a scale of charges which remain the same throughout the country, or does one have to take the Consumer’s Society advice and shop around, as one does for groceries? Recently when I was bemoaning to a friend from another city, my latest dentist’s bill of $lOO for repairs to three teeth, she replied by quoting her dentist’s charges. These were: $5 for a check up, and $7 for a filling. Admittedly, one of my teeth was so far’ gone the "filling” was nearly a replacement job, but I still cannot reconcile the discrepancy, in my mind — or in my purse. — Yours, etc., JILL WILCOX. July 16, 1980. [Mr E. B. H. Dick,, president, Canterbury ’ branch. New Zealand Dental Association, replies: “This letter raises several interesting points worthy of elaboration. (1.) There is no scale of fees which applies throughout New Zealand, nor is there a local one. (2.) It may seem that $lOO . “for repairs, to three teeth” is excessive. It

is impossible to judge without knowing how extensive these fillings were or how long it took to complete them. (3.) If the correspondent was upset by the account did she communicate this to her dentist? (4.) I am surprised that the friend quoted could find a dentist who undervalued his skill sufficiently to charge only $5.00 for an examination. To say that he charged $7.00 for a filling gives no indication as to what that dentist would have charged the correspondent because to quote a fee like that is somewhat like saying it cost $45.00 to have the engine of my car repaired; the figure is meaningless unless you know the extent of the work ■involved. (5.) Any dentist will be happy to estimate the cost of treatment before commencement when asked to" do so.”]