I presented my insurance card and the front office girls NEVER looked at it, nor did they call the dental number listed on the back to verify my PPO dental insurance.
My medical insurance is HMO-Point of Service so they ASSUMED my dental was as well.
I was there for a consultation for a sinus lift and tooth peg placement. I was 3D xrayed and eventually saw the doctor. Iw as told I did not need a sinus lift, I would be given IV sedation, the procedure would take about 30 minutes of his time and 30 minutes recovery.
Got to the check out and was given my estimate for a straight up peg placement/sedation/recovery was $4465. I asked if this before or after my insurance. I was told I did not have insurance that they accepted. Then, they told me the x-ray and consult was another $320 due immediately. I was stunned. I paid my bill and left.
Got home, called my dental insurance company and I in fact DID have dental insurance with Austin Oral.....called the doctor's office back and told them I most certainly DID have some coverage and that I wanted my $320 charge FILED and I wanted a rate negotiated for those with insurance.....not the high dollar rate often & most likely charged to those less fortunate without insurance.
They said they'd file with my insurance when I spoke with bookkeeping because, YES, I did have insurance. But......here is the kicker, they refused me any way because they did NOT want to negotiate the better insurance rate......they told me AGAIN they did not accept my insurance.
So....I booked an appointment with Dr. Hunsaker in Lakeway, same organization (Austin Oral). I wasn't ugly at all to the Cedar Park office but felt I was really treated poorly by the staff's incompetence and thy KNEW it so they blocked my care.
When I scheduled at the Lakeway office I explained thoroughly what had transpired at the Cedar Park office. I specifically ASKED about the transfer of the x-rays they took and whether or not they would transfer to their office. I was reassured they would.
Drive to Lakeway today. When I got into my appointment the FIRST thing they wanted was another 3D high dollar x-ray and I stopped them and told them one had already been done and forwarded to their office.
The SAME WOMAN who told me my file was complete and sent to their office, who TOLD me my xray would transfer and all I would owe was $130 consult fee told me the 3D image file was too big to transfer.
So I need to pay ANOTHER $320 for ANOTHER 3D x-ray.
I was polite and told them "No."
I left and will never refer this organization to another soul.
And I do know about insurance negotiated rates. I'm a retired nurse.
I do know how to down complex files from doctor's offices as well......I used to work in the operating room and had to down load all sorts of MRI'S, 3D imagery and such for surgeons.
The office employees are incompetent from the office greeting people to the office managers to the billing departments.

Submitted Oct. 10, 2023

Dr Ding extracted all my remaining teeth and put in 6 implants to support dentures after healing, (I have major tooth/gum problems due to another health issue). I have never been to a Dentist or Oral Surgeon that I felt so comfortable with. After each of my procedures, (3 now), he has called me the evening after the procedure to check on me, (as late as 8pm). He called himself, not his staff or his assistant. He is always friendly and appears honest with me, and has worked with me on some payments. He also worked understood my financial limitations, and gave me several options for my treatment plan. I only wish he did general dentistry as well so I could always go to him.

Submitted Aug. 8, 2011

I did not like this Dentists approach about IV sedation for oral surgery. It was "His way or the highway". He Literally told me if I did'nt want what he would do IV medication wise I should find a different surgeon.

Submitted July 7, 2011